Exercising with Equipment

 

Do you have a piece of exercise equipment that you have no idea how to use?  We have DVDs in the library that will give you the inspiration that you need. 

A BOSU (which stands for “both sides utilized”) looks like an exercise ball that has been cut in half.  It has a domed side and a flat side.  It adds instability to your workout so that your core has to work harder to maintain form.  But what do you do with it?  We have a DVD titled “Essential BOSU: Pilates for Sports Training” that will demonstrate exercises you can incorporate into your workout.

If you have a regular exercise ball, you can use it several different ways.  For some ideas, we have “Slim Toning on a Ball” by Karen Voight.  In this 30 minute routine you'll achieve strength without developing bulky muscles with Karen’s new approach to strength and stability training. Some exercises are done sitting on the stability ball, other exercises place the ball in various positions to help you target several muscles at once.

For a different way to strength train, try a kettle bell.  Russian body builders have been using this piece of equipment for hundreds of years.  In the past several years, it has come to the U.S.  A kettle bell is a weighted ball with a handle.  There are several ways that you can use this piece of equipment that will benefit your body in ways that traditional weights cannot.  Angie Miller is a great instructor, and she produced the DVD ”Power Body Kettlebell Boot Camp.”

The last piece of equipment that I will mention here is the step.  Remember the craze in the ‘80’s with the tights and leg warmers?  Thankfully the clothing has been updated, but the step has remained an essential exercise tool.  For the step warrior we have “Advanced Step Challenge 3” by Amy Bento.  This workout is no joke, and is high impact and high intensity.  If a good sweat is what you’re looking for, give this one a try.

Want more ideas?  We have a binder in the fitness DVD area.  It has pictures of DVD covers all over it, and has lists to make your DVD searching easier.  The binder has five sections that are sorted as follows:

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Section 1: Call Number

Section 2: Title

Section 3: Keyword

Section 4: Presenter

Section 5: Equipment