Cardio Training

One Huge Cardiovascular Room                                                                            

The Simple Facts About Cardio                                                                           

Before we talk about how much cardio you should do, you should at least have an idea of why it's so important.  Cardiovascular exercise simply means that you're involved in an activity that raises your heart rate to a level where you're working, but can still talk.  Here's why do you need to do cardio exercise:

• It's one way to burn calories and help you lose weight
• It makes your heart strong so that it doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood 
• It increases your lung capacity
• It helps reduce risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
• It makes you feel good
• It helps you sleep better
• It helps reduce stress
• I could go on all day, but you get the point

Bottom line: you need cardio if you want to get your weight under control and get your stress to a tolerable level. 

Here is some of the equipment we offer:

† Actual model & brand of equipment may vary slightly.

Elliptical Trainer The elliptical trainer is a great way to build endurance while protecting your aching joints from high impact activities. Plus, if you use one with arms, it's just like using a cross-country ski machine. The elliptical trainer is also a good choice for runners looking for a break from pounding the pavement. A 145-LB person burns about 300 calories in 30 minutes.
Recumbent Bike Recumbent bikes offer a wider seat and more back support than a traditional spinning bike. Because the pedals on a recumbent are positioned in front of you rather than directly below, you will work your glutes and thighs differently than on a traditional bicycle, which will give you new results from your cycling workout.
Treadmill The treadmill is unsurpassed for a cardiovascular workout. It works the large muscles in your body. According to a study done by the Medical College of Wisconsin, calories burned on the treadmill for 60 minutes averaged 865 - 705. Because the deck of the treadmill is cushioned, the impact to knees, ankles and other joints is much less than running on a hard street or sidewalk.
Stairclimber Stair climbers build leg muscles, tone the buttocks and provide a good all-over aerobic workout. But technique is more important here than on any other machine: Use a stair climber incorrectly (or cheat) and you're wasting your time. You can get a substantial workout from a stair climber, provided you don't support yourself on your elbows or lean in too much.
Rowing Machine This is an often overlooked machine in the gym because most people are confused about how it works. Vigorous rowing can really get your heart rate up while working your arms like crazy. Plus, it's probably not something you do very often which means you'll burn even more calories. In 30 minutes, a 145-LB person can burn about 300 calories.