Position Position Position

February 8th, 2010 by Di Heap No comments »

A reminder to all users of Vibration Machines - Being in Perfect Position on the machines for the whole time period is ESSENTIAL to achieving great results.

In fact you could be wasting both your time and your money if you settle for anything less.  The very people who grumble that “it’s too hard to keep in position” are the same ones also grumble when they don’t see the results they are expecting.

No, it’s not “too hard”, but it is “hard” and that hard work pays off with excellent results.  I don’t know of anyone who can’t do the Vibra-Train Safety Program correctly (we are able to assist those with disabilities of course).

Trainers need to take note: It is not cruel or mean to insist that your clients do the workout program exactly.  They are paying to work-out hard and to get great results!  In Vibra-Train studios we remind customers that the sign over the door says Vibra-Train not Vibra-Massage.

Vibration Training – not just about looking good

January 29th, 2010 by Di Heap No comments »

Want to know more about me?Fern Frond - strength

Read My Story at:

vibration-training-advice.com/vibration-training—not-just-about-looking-good

One morning I was explaining to a customer how Vibration Training helps with fat-loss and she remarked (with a grin) that maybe it wasn’t working so well for me. Then the next day I read a forum comment about an Instructor who looked like they ate too many “pies and gravy”. While this wasn’t directed at me I began to think about what Vibration Training really does for weight-loss and what it had already done for me. I’ve experienced life changing results so I’m not fazed by these comments but I want people to know the truth …

Will Vibration Training help you lose weight? What can you really expect?

vibration-training—not-just-about-looking-good

New Year – Back to Vibration Training Part 2

January 19th, 2010 by Di Heap No comments »

Who are our Customers?

Happy People JumpingOver the Christmas weeks the Vibra-Train studio where I work remained open each day with  short hours in the morning and afternoon so customers were able to continue their training  sessions.  Many took advantage of this and have continued through into the New Year.  Others went on holiday or had time off their training to be with family.  This group included many mothers as Christmas/New Year coincides with 5-6 weeks of junior school holidays in New Zealand.  Some of these moms have returned to the studio now; some bringing their children along and I’ve found them all to be very well behaved; the children that is, the moms don’t always do as they are told!

Most of our customers who work in local businesses and come to train in their lunchhour have returned along with those who train before or after work and students who come on  their way to university.  I’ve heard many grumbles that “it’s hard” but the grumbles are usually accompanied with laughter as customers know the first few sessions back show some de-training after only two or three weeks off.

New customers this year already include just about every age group and sector of society.  I’ve noticed an increase in athletes and sports people who have chosen Vibration Training as one of their training methods.  Some new customers are not new to Vibration Training but have moved house and now live in our area.  Most are familiar with our safety program as they’ve been regular at other Vibra-Train studios or studios that follow the Vibra-Train program.

Just a few customers from other vibration studios have needed extra instruction to learn the Vibra-Train Safety Program.  These customers find their body and minds at first rejecting the new ways but they always have opportunity to ask questions, to learn why we do the positions as we do and it takes only two visits before they start seeing the benefits.  One older couple who are very fit and were experienced with vibration training are now so happy, almost ecstatic with the benefits they’re getting from a slight change to the program they’d beeen using.

All customers are being thoroughly watched over this month.  Even though training is always supervised long-term, regular customers can get slightly out of position as they strive to workout harder while their body responds by trying to cheat and make it easier to hold the positions.  Little tweaks to get back into perfect position mean better results.

It’s been a fun start to what’s going to be an amazing year.

New Year – Back to Vibration Training Part 1

January 14th, 2010 by Di Heap No comments »

The New Year is two weeks old and it’s exercise time.  For most people the holiday season is over.  In Auckland we are basking in summer sunshine while other New Zealand cities have unseasonable rain storms.

Basic Squat on Bullet Vibra-Train MachineVibra-Train Auckland City is back to full hours, 6.30am – 10pm weekdays and 9am-6pm weekends.  There’s no excuse not to come in and train and slowly customers are coming back.  Some have, of course, continued on through the Christmas season never missing their three times weekly vibration training sessions.  Others have taken holidays from work and from training.

In Vibration Training, like all exercise, taking a break gives the body a rest but some deconditioning occurs so it’s normal to find the  first few sessions challenging and holding perfect position a little difficult.  Knowing this is normal makes it easier to accept and is a stimulus to “Just do it!”

Newcomers to the studio this week have been some who previously trained at another Vibra-Train studio, some who I recognized from the gym I used to work at, some who are new to any form of exercise, and others brought in by current customers.   It’s a fun week instructing these new people and I’m hoping there’ll be many more in the next few weeks.

As it’s a new year it’s also a time that I carefully watch over all regular customers making sure they are following the safety program correctly, never varying from the position instructions.  Customers are always watched over or fully instructed by our Trainers but those who are regular and know the program well can workout  in a seperate room on higher level machines if they prove they are able and need only minimal supervison.

Who are our customers? – See part 2

Happy New Year – 2010 Vibration Training

January 6th, 2010 by Di Heap No comments »

It’s a NewYear – 2010 – for me the days surrounding its arrival were a noisy fracas of upsets and stress and not the partying, happy time we all plan it to be but the New Year has come.  What will it hold for the Vibration Training Industry and what’s ahead for me?

As I look back, my personal joys of 2009 were many; working for Vibra-Train gave wings to my dreams and then brought me down to earth with a thud, the responsibility of being an effective Vibration Training Instructor is both exciting and seriously demanding.  It’s my job to ensure that customers get the benefits they are paying for.  I also had several articles published online on magazine websites.

My son and daughter both graduated from their respective universities;  my son completing a post-graduate year with high distinction in Computer Science and my daughter graduating with a Bachelor of Communication Studies degree.   My son will soon be moving to Sydney, Australia to begin his PhD research and other studies  involving robots and artificial intelligence.

2010 will be, I believe,  a year of consolidation for the Vibration Training, Vibration Therapy, and Vibration Machine companies.  Those who are solid and ethical will join forces to present a united group.  This will allow for better use of resources (informational, people, and maybe even machines) and even better than before, articles online and in print to inform and teach the public as well as keeping the current and new training instructors and proprietors well taught in safety program use and methodology.

Many new people will get to benefit from Vibration Training.

An Introduction to Vibration Training

December 21st, 2009 by admin No comments »

Part 1 in a series that can be viewed on YouTube.  Lloyd Shaw (Mr Vibra-Train) talks about what Vibration Training really is.  Covering the history of Vibration Training, the types of machines available and how to use one safely.

Learn how Vibration Training works and what it can do for you.

How often do PowerPlate machines Breakdown???

December 11th, 2009 by Di Heap No comments »

Some definitions of ” Breakdown” from my computer dictionary:

  1. A cessation of normal operation
  2. Stop operating or functioning
  3. Separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts
  4. Fall apart

PowerPlate Australia, on their website has a page dedicated to machine repair.  The impression I get from this is that they know their machines will breakdown; in fact they expect it, so they’ve set in place a way for you, the owner of one of their home machines or Vibration Studio, to get your machine fixed.

Should they be applauded for this foresight?

No Way!

PowerPlate – It’s my opinion that you should get your act together and provide the public with high quality machines that don’t break down!

Lazy Women! and

December 3rd, 2009 by Di Heap No comments »

welcome, summer!Yes, you’ve read the title right. It’s Springtime here in New Zealand and each day new customers come into the Vibra-Train Auckland City Studio for their first, free, trial session.  Some have heard about vibration training from their friends or workplace colleagues and they know what to expect.

Others have seen adverts on TV, on internet or in magazines.  Some come in commenting that they have bought “as seen on TV” fitness equipment before and it now sits in the spare room or a corner of the lounge unused except as an extra clothes hanger.  I assure them, we don’t sell home machines; we have very powerful commercial grade platforms in our studios where they will receive completely supervised training.

Sometimes people come in to try a studio machine before they consider buying a home model they’ve seen elsewhere.  I am able to give them a “no-sales talk ” free, trial session and also tell them of websites and people to talk to about their choice of home machine or continued studio sessions.

Where does “Lazy Women” come into this?

Some newcomers who have read about vibration training in magazines or on internet and specifically about PowerPlate brand have seen advertising which says, ” a revolution in health, anti-aging and beauty, a new way to receive health, strength and physical well-being, a wakeup call for your body and soul, 30 vibrations a second”  or “I lost 4 dress sizes in just 21 days”. It sounds so easy and many of these new customers are looking for a quick fix, no effort, easy answer to their lack of fitness or weight woes and they are genuinely shocked at how hard it is to hold perfect position on Vibra-Train machines for 60 seconds, not the wimpy 30 seconds on low force, plastic machines that some other companies offer.

There’s good reason for the program to be intense and hard work.

Vibra-Train machines are high force lineal platforms that cause a strong muscle response.  It must be this way to give the results that people want to see; toning, fitness, muscle build that supports the bones, fat-loss, and more.

We don’t have an option for people who want it easy!

So, why have I labelled this post ” Lazy Women” ?

A suprisingly high number of newcomers this Spring expect vibration training to be easy and simply dont continue coming when pushed to hold positions correctly.  Some complain that it’s too hard and continue expecting an easier option even after the physiology of  strength and muscle build is explained to them.  Maybe they were misled by false advertising of some other vibration companies but the biggest reason is pure laziness. Some women are mentally as well as physically weak and no amount of cajoling or presenting them with the truth that their lack of activity is going to seriously endanger their lives, makes a scrap of difference.  I can’t help these people.

In Vibration Training as in all fitness and sports – No Pain, No Gain – is the truth and it’s those who work hard that see great results.

Vibra-Train, Vibration Training Studios are in Auckland and throughout New Zealand.  Also in Perth and Townsville in Australia, and Bedfordshire, U.K.
Click here for studio locations.

It’s Just Not Working!

November 20th, 2009 by Di Heap No comments »

It’s just not working anymore!  This is what a regular customer told me last week when she came in for her vibration training session.

Starting six months ago, soon after I began working for Vibra-Train, this customer initially had exciting results.  She had a specific goal; fat-loss and toning, with increased overall strength and she found that vibration training, specifically using Vibra-Train lineal machines, really worked for her.  I looked forward to her studio visits and helping her train hard.

We’d chat about nutrition somedays and I often had to encourage her to eat more, not less, and help her understand that weightloss would not occur in a starvation situation, there being a huge difference in how the human body copes with calorie deficit compared with real calorie deficiency which was what she was doing and so causing her body to protect itself  by laying down fat stores rather than releasing fat to be used as part of her workout energy source.  All too often her energy “batteries” were empty.  But as we progressed this customer, who I’ll call Sue, gained strength, lost fat and a few dress sizes.  She told me how she was wearing designer jeans that she’d kept due to their cost but hadn’t been able to fit for three years.

A vacation with lots of eating-out and the long, hard winter in New Zealand bumped up Sue’s weight a little and she was expecting vibration training, which she’d kept on with three times a week except during her vacation time, to deal with it and get her back on-track and slimmed down for summer.  She wanted a body that would look amazing on the beach and she’d was working well toward it, restricting her calorie intake and occaisionally taking a walk.

dreamstimefree_10053288_questionSo what was going wrong ???

Sue had progressed so well in her ability to do the program that she did it alone while I instructed less able or newer customers.  She was supervised though, as are all our customers, and I corrected her positions occaisionally.  I also noticed that she’d dropped down to the level 2 machines whereas

» Read more: It’s Just Not Working!

Is your Workout still Working?

November 6th, 2009 by Di Heap 3 comments »

Vibration Training, on high quality, high force machines, is quite different from other exercise in that it never gets easier.  Quite the opposite, as I tell new customers, the more you relax and maintain the perfect position for each of the poses the more the effect that the vibrations have.

bullet basic squatIt doesn’t get easier but it does become “comfortable”.  Customers who come in to Vibra-Train’s Auckland City Studio regularly, two or three times a week, sometimes find that they can work through the program fairly easily and they are  getting great benefits but mentally they crave for a change or a challenge.  Other customers continue week after week and get ongoing results; with moans and groans about how hard the program is.  These aren’t looking for a change or challenge but they get it anyway.

Customers of other brands of machines and those with home machines often find that they plateau; they barely maintain their fitness gains and no longer make any real progress.  This is a problem and not always as easily solved.

So, is your vibration workout still working as well as you want?  How can you take it to the next level?

For Vibra-Train customers, we encourage them to “mix it up a bit”.  That is, we direct them to do the program on a different machine to the one they “always” use.   As we have distinctly different models of machine within the same levels we can tell a customer to use a different model of machine.  They will be working at the same vibration force level but their body is “shocked” by having to respond to a machine with a slightly different “feel”.  This simple change can bring about increases in fitness and muscle strength.

If a customer is proficient in keeping perfect position throughout the program including the two minute Super-Squat and wants to advance we can move them up to the Force Level 3 Machine or above that to the Sports Level 5 platform.

Another option for customers wanting to extend their training (and again they must be able to hold perfect position) is to extend the time for some positions from 60 seconds to 120 seconds/2 minutes.  There is no inbetween; it’s straight up to double time!  This can be done firstly in position 1, the Basic Squat and later in other positions.

http://www.dreamstime.com

This increase in time can also be a way that users of other brands of machine and home users might be able to push through a plateau and get further benefits but it is also dependant on the force and quality of the machine being used.

More is Not the answer to all things in Vibration Training and we know that more often “Less is More” – - that is, customers get better fitness and muscle build using a short (10-15 minutes), intense (60 second positions) program on a high force lineal platform (Vibra-Train is the best), three times a week rather than a longer time (30min), short period of 30 second poses, or dynamic movement positions on other machines.

I’ve had new customers come into the studio where I work and tell me of the programs they’ve done at other vibration studios where the machines are lower force than the ones we have.  Some are, at first, incredulous that they will get a really good workout when they see our short, intense program but, as I always promise them, they leave quite exhausted and return a few days later very happy at their change of provider.

I do wonder, if the results they were getting elsewhere were so good, why did they even try us?