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Vibration Training – Success Stories

December 31st, 2011

Well it’s New Year’s Eve and I’m sitting at work writing this blog.  That’s not too sad as it’s only 6pm, plenty of time left to celebrate after I finish work at 7pm.

My regular readers will have wondered why I’ve become so lax at getting up articles onto this site – have I lost interest? Absolutely Not!  Have I been on holiday or unwell?  No, no long holiday and I’m fine; in fact I’ve been so busy training people I simply haven’t had the time available to write up articles.

Someone said, “be careful what you wish for!” – it’s true; Vibra-Train used a promotions company to run a 48 hour deal (similar to GrabOne and Groupon) and the response has been huge. We have been so very busy with newbies and then with repeat sales as we did an in-studio special a month later when the promo cards expired. The concession cards give customers 11 sessions over a 3- 4 week period. We explain to people how important it is for their results that they come in at least twice a week, preferably three times (with a clear day between for recovery and growth) and so we’ve had hundreds of new customers, over and over, in a very short space of time.  Of course we have all our regular people as well and the studio has been positively “buzzing”.  The Vibra-Train studio model has been proven once again to be fast and effective for customers and simple and efficient for managers and instructors with just one instructor on the floor most of the time and two over the busy lunch and evening zones, managing around 11 or 12 people, all at different positions of the IVTRB Safety Program.

Customers range from carded athletes through to people with quite severe disabilities and health issues. Some know the program fully and are able to get on with it with barely a glace from an instructor, while others (both new people and some regulars) need constant supervision. All are getting amazing results and they are so common place I can barely list the individual results. All get very much stronger and I hear so many comments about how well people are feeling. Regular exercise does that but for many people it’s just a little more than that.

One young lady (early 20′s) was so unused to exercise that she moaned and groaned about how hard the program was, on every visit. I could see she really was struggling and not just a complainer but I still wondered how someone so well presented in every other way could be so unfit. I’ve encouraged her and watched her slowly grow stronger. She’s not a quitter even though somedays she says, she has no idea why she ever bought the promotion card in the first place as she hates exercise. We are winning! She’s feeling great and she’s getting just a little excited about continuing on and getting even further results.

Another lady (late 30′s)  has a condition where any exertion sends her into a spiral of severe fatigue and exhaustion, frequently resulting in viral conditions like colds and “flu. She has been unable to exercise at all and so had become quite stiff in her joints and had some aches. She does not have depression in any way but of course she does worry about how any new form of exercise is gloing to affect her. We took it all very slowly and her body has responded really well so that she now does the full, standard program and she’s been able to go for walks and do other outdoor activites that she’d avoided in the past few years and she’s had no severe fatigue or other problems.

A number of ladies come together at lunchtime. They work at a business near the studio. Training them has been so much fun as they push each other to hold the positions correctly and they’ve all seen super results in strength and also in toning their bodies, helping them achieve their best.

I love training guys. I push them very hard and they respond with extreme determination. This year I’ve trained guys with muscular dystrophy, morbid obesity, parkinsons disease and each has gained strength and even life ssaving benefits.  I’ve also trained lots of young athletes, our sponsored high jumper and all his mates. They present quite a challenge as they just want to go “hard” with little regard for holding the positions correctly. The Vibra-Train machines are way too hard-core to allow these young guys to mess around so I’m constantly correcting and growling even, sometimes turning the machines off midway through a position if they will not adjust or have moved too far from the correct pose – to these guys when I ask them to stand with feet perfectly, train track straight and go down into a deep, flat footed squat, well; they start out okay but as it gets to be hard work, holding the squat for 60 or 120 seconds, they move out of position and find easier ways to complete the time.  They learnt very quickly that I had “eyes in the back of my head” and would pounce very quickly even if I was busy with other customers.

I’m missing one of my favourite guy customers.  He came in for around four or five months early in the year and with some pushing from me he worked hard and achieved huge results.  He lost his rather large, fat stomach and he gained strong muscle strength in arms and legs.  His job kept him away on some days and his wife would tell me that he wanted to come and train and was jealous of her.  He made it priority twice a week and she came three times. This man had to work very hard to get his results. He already had some muscle strength and was a big guy so he would feel quite a lot of “hard work” pain when he trained. He struggled to get through the program most times but then as he saw results he gave it all he had… Now, he’s too busy – yes too busy. Well that’s his excuse for now. His wife still trains regularly and I’m expecting to see him back in the studio early in 2012 after overeating his way through Christmas and New Year and holiday picnics and barbeque’s through summer… watch this space, he’ll be back and he knows I’ll be here just a little more demanding than before.

Vibration Training is for all your Life – its a training method that needs to be continued, not treated at a get fit quick scheme (more about this in a further article).

I wish all the readers of this blog and all my Vibra-Train customers, A Very Happy New Year – Keep on Training Hard.  To those on holiday enjoy your summer break and in New Zealand I hope the rain soon clears and we see some sunshine.  I’m looking forward to 2012 with a lot of excitement.

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Posted in Benefits, Experiences, Vibration Training, Women, health

Vibration Training – Obesity and Morbid Obesity – THE RESULTS

August 7th, 2011

Back in May 2009, I read a press release reporting amazing results of a scientific study completed by the European Association for the Study of Obesity. This controlled study was performed at the Artesis University College and the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

They stated: “vibration exercise machines may help you lose weight and trim the particularly harmful belly fat from the organs. Participants of the study who were part of the vibration training group lost 11% of their body weight and retained their loss at 10.5% after 12 months. They lost an amazing 47 square centimeters of visceral fat maintaining that loss at the final follow up”.

I was very excited because the study results were verification of what we were seeing on a daily basis at Vibra-Train. We already confidently told new clients they would start to see a decrease in their waist and belly size after just three weeks of training (9-10 sessions). We warned them that initially their weight might increase due to increases in muscle mass but that they’d see small discernable change in their shape; and then it would just get better and better. And they told us we were right – it really worked!

Then along came the detractors – they reminded me that the press release was an early report and the study had not yet been peer reviewed. They said I should wait for all the information before I jumped up and down with glee. They were sure it wouldn’t all add up, when you consider that gyms have been running “weight-loss challenges” for what seems like forever. They told me the gym based group must have performed better than vibration training group; their trainers were the ones with all the experience of working with obese clients and, besides, these naysayers, thought vibration training was a fad, just like a fashion that’s popular for a short period of time and then fades away.

There were some outspoken, highly respected fitness trainers, who had never tried a vibration machine session and refused to, when it was offered, yet they held very strong views on why it couldn’t work – they couldn’t understand it, they didn’t want to even try it, yet they argued about it. They told me the study would be flawed, because it didn’t validate their training methods (gym and outdoor exercise) above using a ‘wobble machine’ (to even call a vibration platform a wobble machine showed how little they really understood).

Then a year later, April 2010, the fully reviewed study was released

It was published in ‘Obesity Facts – The European Journal of Obesity Vol 3’.

No one could argue against the full study – the results were in; visceral (belly) fat reduced the most in the Vibration Training plus Diet group compared with the Fitness plus Diet group.

For the study they used PowerPlate brand, medium energy lineal vibration machines. These machines are lower force than the Vibra-Train brand I work with and this made the results even more exciting.

Here was the proof of the claims we were making and the results we were seeing every week; the academic world vindicated us. Vibration Training on high energy lineal or, as in the study, on medium energy lineal, Vibration Machines was proven to be very effective in achieving fat loss.

Another year ahead, now July 2011

Currently I am training three very obese clients. The first is a guy who has muscular dystrophy. He uses the Vibra-Train machine that has side, vibrating handlebars. He was totally unused to regular exercise although he told me he has been a referee for cricket games in the past and his aim was to lose enough weight to do this job again. That’s his motivation; it’s what is driving him to come into the studio regularly, three times a week.

In just two months he has progressed from managing just one special, 60-second, side handlebar assisted squat position to now completing nine of these special, “ski the slopes” assisted squats. On Monday he moves onto the regular program.

Vibra-Train Vibra MachineTo help understand how hard repeating the “ski the slopes” squat position is; I can only do seven of these back-to-back before my quads and my arm muscles feel such a burn that I have to stop for a long rest before completing the final two of the set.  We use this progression, going from just one minute of this simple, aptly named “Ski the Slopes” position moving up to nine of the same, and then the person moves onto the full IVTRB Safety Program, using the side, vibrating handlebars to assist in holding all squat positions.

The facts and figures of my client’s progress: Over the eight week period he’s been doing the therapy program of assisted squats he has progressed from one squat position to nine of the same; he’s gained 2kg of muscle (this is generally thought to be impossible for people with muscular dystrophy); he has lost 2kg of fat; and has 2% less body fat overall (measurements taken by Body Composition Analyser (BCA Machine) at first session and after 8 weeks of therapy). He can now move on from therapy, onto the full fitness training program.

The second client I am working with is a morbidly obese woman. She started on a therapy program about six weeks ago. Her program started at the most basic – she sat in a chair with her feet on the edge of the machine, with a mat on the machine to prevent her feet slipping. The angle of her knees/legs was the same as the basic squat position, around 110 degrees. Three times a week she did a total of 9 minutes therapy, just simply sitting with her feet on the machine. This provides sufficient stimulation to the legs and buttocks to move fluid accumulation and improve blood circulation. This is all about saving the client’s life! After a month this lady told me how much difference this had made. She said she was able to walk easier, with less of a stoop; she felt very much “better” and so had become more active. She was better able to participate in her family life and as she had a large extended family this was really important. In a very real sense she has been given her life back.

After just one week away due to a family bereavement this client came back for her regular session and told me she was again starting to experience difficulty walking – just one week – that’s all it took for her to lose some of the gains she’d made. She does travel often to visit family so she is hoping not to have too many breaks from her therapy sessions.

Last week she progressed to using the machine for one 60-second side handlebar assisted squat after her seated session. That’s the next step; she’s moving on!

My third client is a guy who is very morbidly obese. He is, by far, the biggest of the three and his sessions are absolutely about getting his legs moving again. He has fluid pooled in his legs and probably in other parts of his body also. If it pools around his heart he will die unless there is some solid medical intervention and as things are now he is already in a serious way for other medical problems, suddenly, at any time. He’s told us several of his relatives have died from obesity related conditions. So, he’s very motivated.

It’s nonsensical telling someone as big as this man to go for a walk or a run – they can’t, yet that’s the advice the fitness industry often gives. By contrast, Vibration Therapy and Training (at specialised studios such as Vibra-Train) offers a safe, effective way to mobilise these people, in some cases to truly save their lives. It’s up to them, really – the method is there and it’s been proven effective both subjectively and in the controlled study (noted above). What they have to do is simply turn up, three times a week, and do the sessions. Then later, when able, move onto the harder, regular training program and keep doing it.

Here in Auckland, New Zealand there are studios offering free or sponsored sessions for morbidly obese people, there really is no excuse!

It’s not too hard – it starts off too easy; later it does become very hard but that’s the price we all have to accept for fitness and health.

This very obese client has also progressed from sitting in a chair in front of the machine for 3x 3 minutes (9 minutes total) to the side vibrating handlebar assisted “ski the slopes” squat position. Last time he was in I saw him do three of these. In total that was around 7,500 rapid movements. This amount of pressure into his leg, trunk and arm muscles will bring a rapid improvement to his overall condition.

In fact this degree of improvement has been so appreciated by the people in one situation where Vibra-Train has a machine available for use by obese and immobile people that the nurse supervising their sessions has been forced to lock the door to the room the vibration machine is in. Sessions are held every second day (three times a week) with a day for rest and recovery inbetween but these people not realising how important that recovery day is, were trying to use the machine every day – they were so amazed at the results and totally happy to put in the effort to get more.

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Posted in Benefits, Experiences, Programs, Safety Program, Studio, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training, Women, health

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Vibration Training Or Death – your choice

June 29th, 2011

Okay, the first thing readers are going to tell me is that my title is very serious – it’s meant to be!

Will you die if you don’t do vibration training? Maybe you won’t but there’s a very high risk of premature death for certain groups of people who refuse to partake in strength producing exercise; and vibration training is the safest and most effective form of fitness training I know of. In fact there are only a few conditions where vibration training isn’t recommended.

Who are the people who would benefit so much and what happens if they refuse or, the much more common scenario, they start training (or therapy using the machines if that’s their starting point) and then they stop – for all sorts of reasons with laziness (just can’t be bothered) being the prime one.

slim shaped girl jumpingOkay, you don’t fit into this category if you are young, active, fit, of healthy weight, and maybe also if you are middle aged and go to a gym regularly (though vibration training on top of a gym session is the extreme that gives amazing results).  It’s not for you also if you are pregnant (as a precaution at this stage, we don’t allow it), if you have a pacemaker (but we haven’t forgotten you; there are small vibrating foot platforms available), or if you have an active cancer (even this contra-indication is being debated).

This leaves a huge population that CAN use a vibration machine and if they aren’t active in some other fitness method, they will benefit greatly if they do.

That’s the nice message – the harder more serious one is this

People who have a disability and can’t easily do other forms of exercise; people who are morbidly obese (considered to be around 40% BMI) and can’t even walk to the letterbox without pain in their knees or hips, or gasping for breath, those who have muscular dystrophy or M.S. and even older people who are sedate – these people benefit so much from Vibration Training or Vibration Therapy.  And I almost forgot to add; those who have diabetes or pre-diabetes which goes hand-in-hand with obesity and has become the Number 1 health problem in New Zealand.  These are the people my hard hitting title really applies to – Do it or Die!

The Joys and the Problems

At Vibra-Train we allow some people to be sponsored and do their sessions free. These are people with true life threatening conditions (very extreme obesity is one) or a major disability they are never going to recover from.  Coming in for free isn’t automatic – it’s done after discussion and generally with the support of their medical helpers (doctors etc). It’s certainly not given to everyone who thinks they’re a little overweight. Some of the people who are given this sponsorship have been in a severe health situation for a long time and don’t have the finances to pay for sessions so this is a wonderful gift that Vibra-Train gives them – and more so as the sponsors are the directors and staff; there’s no outside organisation that pays for this in New Zealand.

These people (the morbidly obese, those with M.S., in wheelchairs, and similar) work hard, some starting out with just a single handlebar assisted squat position. This can mean driving or being driven across the city to do just one single, 60 second position on the machine.  Those who are not able to do even that sit in front of the machine with their feet placed on the platform edge for 3 minutes, repeated once or twice.  Starting with just that one squat, or sitting in front of the machine with feet on edge, the client graduates slowly  into more squats and when they are able we add in a few more positions building up to the full program for some; others do what they can.

The results are truly amazing – they are life saving! I see people who can only walk with a cane or stoop and shuffle begin to stand upright and walk with confidence knowing their legs are stronger and will support them.  Within three or four weeks I’ve seen hugely obese clients gain strength and then start to slim down. It’s a slow change and no one becomes slim overnight despite what advertising for various pills and plans tells us but it is real and its forever if the person keeps training. Their whole demeanour changes, they tell me how much they look forward to coming in for their sessions. It’s very hard work doing the vibration training but that part is no different than it is for other clients – all real training is hard work.

The great thing about using the Vibra-Train brand of machines is that the sessions are fully supervised and the machines are very powerful but designed specifically for use by people who cannot squat unaided what we call “worst case scenario”.

I work with some of the sponsored clients and enjoy encouraging and pushing them as hard as they are able, and some more above that. We get real results from real training in a safe controlled environment.

What happens next is very sad

Sometimes it’s frustration because there’s no instant fix or miracle, sometimes its family pressure, sometimes laziness but there are some clients, some sponsored even, who stop coming after a few months. It happens at any time, even after we’ve marvelled at their results.  They know Vibration Training is working for them yet they stop coming. We usually don’t know why people have stopped – we wonder if they are unwell or moved to another city.  Then they come back – many months later, always so much worse in their condition, and they expect us to fix them.  Ask where they’ve been and they’ve been “too busy” or gone off to try a “magic cure” or just stopped for no real reason.  After the effort the trainers here put in and the effort they used to make, they stopped coming and think they come back and recover, get back on track again. This might be possible but often it isn’t!   Debilitating conditions get worse over time so we’re starting over at a huge disadvantage since their previous time.  We’ve had people come back in a wheelchair where before they could walk in. There are times we simply can’t help anymore!

Title of this article; “Vibration Training or Death?” The choice is serious so choose well.

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Vibration Training after Women’s Surgery

May 17th, 2011

This is a sensitive topic but it is one that I am often asked about.  There are surgeries and medical procedures that are specific to women and we need to know when it is okay (and beneficial) to return to using a vibration machine.

Vibration machines come in varying types, varying energy force, and varying qualities so my statements will be very general and women should always be guided by their medical care practitioners to tell them when they can begin any form of therapy or exercise. If a knowledgable  instructor is available (at a gym or fitness studio) ask for their help also, to get back into the program slowly, safely and effectively.

The studio where I work (www.vibra-train.com) has high energy lineal vibration machines.  These are real workout machines although there are simple ways to use them  for therapy also and that’s often where we start after a customer has had an operation.

Women specific surgeries are often in the pelvic area so we don’t want to directly target that area right away, instead letting healing take place without extra stress, but using gentle therapy positions to improve blood circulation can aid healing.

When to begin is individual and it is very important to recognize this!

Starting a few weeks after surgery many people can sit on a chair in front of a lineal (upright) vibration machine and place their feet onto the front edge of the machine with a mat on the platform to take some of the force. Running the machine for a minute to three minutes this position increases blood circulation through the legs to the whole body.  Assuming nutrition is adequate this is a very good start for healing. It reduces the risk of blood clots forming in the legs due to inactivity. Be aware though; even this simple position might be uncomfortable (including discomfort in pelvic region) and if it is then more time is needed before using a machine.

Remember the time to start or resume vibration training is individual but I can tell of my own experience after a womens surgery. It was a moderate level surgery and I was allowed to begin simple exercise after six weeks. I’d tried sitting in front of a high energy lineal machine a few weeks before this but found it gave an decidedly uncomfortable feeling into my pelvic region so I wasn’t able to do this.

I was keen to get back into the routine so after seven weeks I started with just the basic squat position on the lowest level machine in the studio where I work. To reduce the intensity I place 3 rubber mats, on top of each other, onto the machine platform. I was using the Vibra-Train machine that has side vibrating handlebars so I was fully supported by holding onto these and able to take at least half of the pressure through my arms; so my surgery area was protected from a lot of stimulation.

Vibra-Train Vibra MachineI began training again in this way. I did only one  sixty second basic squat position. I had a days rest then I began doing just that one sixty second squat each day (with weekends off) always remembering 3 levels of mats under my feet.  I slowly progressed to two squats (2 x 60 seconds) and then to three and added in the simple push-up position. By this time I was moving from what we call “therapy” to real training so I needed the usual rest day between sessions. My training days were Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with weekends off. The machines I use are high energy lineal platforms and the training is real – it’s hard work and its meant to be. Some days I coudn’t do it – the stimulation into my pelvis felt too extreme or I felt tired, so those days I did less or nothing at all. It was important to get back my strength as fast as I could but I had to learn to listen to my body and let it heal.

It’s taken four months to get back into the regular safety program, adding in positions as I was comfortable with them. The wide stance squat was the last as that obviously sent some feeling into the pelvis. I was hampered by infection on and off and extreme tiredness but my progress has been excellent.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It’s essential to have your surgeon’s clearance to begin any excercise program after surgery. Also please be aware that a hysterectomy or any operation that required an abdominal or pelvic cut (as opposed to laparoscopic like I had) would require a longer time before using a machine. Machine intensities vary – be guided by how you are feeling. Training is always hard work but pain is not to be ignored especially in the region of your surgery. Be careful and don’t train if it doesn’t feel okay. If you’ve been using a machine before surgery you’ll know what I mean. Train Smart!

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Posted in Experiences, Uncategorized, Vibration Training, Women, health

Vibration Training – The Results of Five Years Training – Lloyd Shaw pics

April 8th, 2011

This photo essay show the results of 5 years of fitness workouts using only Vibra-Train brand vibration machines; a self test done by the owner and designer of the machines, Lloyd Shaw.

Lloyd Shaw at the beginning of Vibra-Train quite chubby

Lloyd Shaw at the start of the Vibra-Train test

Picture 1: shows Lloyd Shaw in 2004. Back then he loved his gym workouts – 1 and 1/2 hour sessions six days a week.  Add in cardio sessions three times a week also, sprints and swimming.

He looks good but decidedly chubby. His muscle definition was better than the average gym goer but there’s no way he would take off his shirt and pose back then. And look at his arms; there’s muscle there but they have a covering of fat.

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Lloyd Shaw VibraTrain

Lloyd Shaw Vibra-Train

Picture 2: Two years into a self test, using only Vibra-Train brand machines and the Vibra-Train Safety Program for workouts; this picture shows a very cut look. It was taken on impulse and looked so good the background was added for use as a poster. Lloyd’s only gym visits were once every few months to check out his strength which was increasing.

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Picture 3: Fast forward to 2011. The picture below of Lloyd Shaw taken April 7th, 2011 – a slimmer profile showing amazing abs and a completely balanced look.

Lloyd Shaw Vibration Training Muscles April 2011

Lloyd Shaw Vibration Training Muscles April 2011

The picture is completely unedited and was taken on a whim. I thought it was so good I had to publish it.

It’s now 5 years since Lloyd Shaw began his “Vibra-Train as only exercise” test using himself as the test subject. This look was achieved solely using Vibra-Train brand Vibration Machines. I know Lloyd well and can attest that his diet isn’t always great (too much fastfood) although he has cleaned it up somewhat this year.

Individual results vary of course; some people are badly hampered by hormonal or overweight/fat issues, stress or injury.  Some people respond very quickly to this form of exercise while for others their body goes through other changes first but for everyone results begin to show after just a few weeks and are ongoing.

Here’s Lloyd Shaw’s  personal Vibration Training Workout: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PikfQv7uwwo

and the Vibra-Train Safety Program:

Vibration Training Safety Program for Lineal Machines

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Posted in Benefits, Brands, Experiences, Industry, Other Articles, Programs, Safety Program, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training, Videos, health

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I have Diabetes Can I do Vibration Training?

February 3rd, 2011

This is a question I am asked quite often when people call the Vibra-Train studio where I work.  Can people with diabetes do Vibration Training? The simple answer is YES, you can do vibration training if you have diabetes but let’s look into it a bit deeper.

People with Type-2 Diabetes are encouraged to exercise yet many don’t even try.  One of the reasons is that they are often overweight and get painful knees, hips, or back if they try to run or even walk for more than a short distance. Gyms can seem very daunting despite their advertising and often very sucessful transformation/weightloss programs.  And really, many people are just lazy – they don’t want to exercise, especially if it means they have to make any sort of effort beyond pressing the buttons on the TV remote and lifting the glass of Coke to their lips.

Training on high force vibration machines is safe and effective for Type-2 diabetics. At the Vibra-Train brand studios there are machines with side handlebars to hold onto; the person’s knees and hips are well supported. Vibration Training causes a rapid drop in blood glucose levels and so can be used to manage glycemic control.  It’s highly effective strength and fitness training and by raising the metabolism and building muscle strength body fat is decreased.

It also helps with muscle uptake and storage of glucose and can sometimes mean the difference between “medicinal” or “lifestyle” control of type 2 diabetes and, very importantly, it helps those with impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes).  My own experience has been exactly this. My blood sugar at fasting or spot checks is now absolutely normal.

blood sugar test dreamstimefree_1044509Some Vibra-Train customers are Type-1 diabetics. This requires different management. These customers always eat before training (it’s the Number One on the “Rules @ Vibra-Train” list for everyone anyway). They test their blood sugar before and after and tell me just 10-12 minutes of training using the Vibra-Train Safety Program really eats through their blood glucose.  We ask these customers to make sure they bring a snack with them and whatever other supplies they might need. Some vibration training companies list Type-1 Diabetes as a contra-indication to training but I can’t see any problem with it as long as the person has some stability and control over their condition. Obviously their doctor will advise them if exercise is not suitable for them at any time.

I have a current customer who has fairly recently been diagnosed with sudden onset, adult, Type-1 diabetes. This is less common but it happens. She told me that she was incorrectly diagnosed as Type-2 at first and now that’s been corrected she’s setting into the correct regime of injectable insulin to manage it.  She’s enjoying coming in to Vibra-Train’s Auckland City Studio – it’s fast, effective excercise she can do and I’m really interested to watch her progress.

Vibration Training is an excellent addition to lifestyle modification for people with Diabetes.

Please remember to inform your instructor. They will then be more aware of subtle signs that show if you’re feeling dizzy; if your blood sugar drops too suddenly. Also that in the very unlikely event that you do faint, they know to call for medical assistance immediately.

A medical study: Efficiency of vibration exercise for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients

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Posted in Benefits, Experiences, Vibration Training, Women, health

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Personal Trainer Infomercial Star Tells it Like it Is

November 10th, 2010

I’ve written before about Teneka Hyndman.  She’s a multi-award winner at BodyBuilding shows in New Zealand and is currently in U.S.A. from where she’s just told us she won first place in the “Open Physique” class at the 2010 INBA Natural Universe competition.  She’s soon off to Reno to take part in the “Natural Olympia”.

Teneka uses the high-energy lineral vibration machines at Vibra-Train as part of her extensive training program so it was very disappointing to see her endorse a low speed pivotal vibration platform, the Gymform VibroMax and take part in an infomercial just to earn a few dollars.  The informercial is still current on New Zealand television and I cringe when I see it. I get phone calls at work and private emails asking me where to buy this machine and I want to simply say, “don’t!” but to be fair it does have some valid uses – it gently increases circulation and tickles the body; that’s about it!  It doesn’t make users build muscle, gain amazing fitness and look like the models that are shown on the machines.  All television advertorial exageration aside the presentation in this infomercial is very sad as it targets the very people who need help to gain fitness and often to lose large amounts of fat (weight-loss) but the only thing that’s going to get slimmer is their wallet. The same, identical machine, with a different brand name stamp on it, can be bought on auction sites and in clearance stores for less than 25% of the TV price.

When she did the advertorial, initially as a stand in for another fitness model who couldn’t make it that day, Teneka realised right away that the machine she was being filmed on and endorsing, as per the script, was totally different to the Vibra-Train ones she trains on three times a week.  She tried at first to justify to herself and to others that maybe, just maybe, all vibration machines did the same job but she knew from the feel of the machine that this wasn’t true.

Now she’s come out and tells it like it really is:

Check it out here: http: Infomercial-fitness-instructor-spills-the-beans

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Posted in Brands, Experiences, Vibration Training, health

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Fitness Programs for Kids – Running, Vibration Training

November 3rd, 2010

Last Sunday was Auckland Marathon Race day in Auckland, New Zealand.  My husband ran the 1/2 marathon event and placed very well, 7th in his age group, and overall coming in just about 200th of 7000 entrants. Congratulations to him!

A new event this year was a Kids Marathon. It was set up as an 8, 10, or 12 week training program in schools for 7-13 year olds culminating in the 2.195km Kids Marathon race at the Auckland Marathon event. Each child finisher received a medal and a downloadable certificate. Every finisher was a winner.

running 5km raceThe kids event was set up to help kids develop life-long fitness skills and and it will help prevent obesity as they grow.  We’ve all seen the figures – childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in developed countries and figures show that 70% of obese adolescents become obese adults.  Anything that can be done to halt those frightening statistics gets my vote.

What about the kids who are already quite overweight or already obese?  To say they are unlikey to enjoy a running program is understating the reality!

Some will, of course, do okay. They’ll plod along, literally, and if their diet has some controls they might even lose some fat and gain some fitness and, over a period of time, come to enjoy the running program.  Okay, I can almost hear some people laughing because most overweight and certainly all obese kids are not going to take to running – many will hate it!  We’ve all found ways to skip school on days there’s a class or event we really dislike so I’m imagining this happening on “running class” days for some kids.

Maybe kids running training classes will be optional but being presented as a life changing program I’m doubting that and pretty sure it will be inflicted on all kids regardless of shape, size, and the ability to even run from one lamppost to the next.

It’s good for them, it will help them, they need to do it – Really?  isn’t there another way?

I”m really against instilling into young minds that any particular form of exercise is the only way to achieve results . Running isn’t suitable for everyone and can even induce injuries in unfit, overweight people. Diet and metabolism play a part in how much muscle and fat a person has and must be a part of any real fitness program.

There definitely is an alternative form of exercise for overweight kids – it’s called  Vibration Training.

Cardio exercise like running isn’t the only way to build fitness and help with fat-loss.  Vibration Platforms are being used under the guidance of Dr Robbie Parker at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, N.S.W., Australia for children and adolsecents who are overweight or obese and have insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.

I believe we will see an increase in the use of Vibration Training for overweight children. It’s fun and very effective.  There’s no denying that it’s hard work but the kids like that and I’d put the parents on the machines to show them how hard it is – and anyway, they should be training alongside their kids. I don’t know of any schools with Vibration Machines; they’d need to be high quality, commercial machines that cost lots of money so for now overweight kids get forced to run, like it or not. I hope they wont be needing knee surgery from all that pounding with their heavy weight.

Overweight and obese adolescents and children are welcome to come into Vibra-Train studios. They do have to be able to hold a perfect pose, like a squat, on the machine and have to follow instructions exactly.  And we’ll look after your knees.  Who knows; you might become so strong you will want to join the running program next year.

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Posted in Benefits, Children and Adolescents, Vibration Training, health

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Vibration Training – Fitness Training – Back at it!

October 22nd, 2010

My posts have been infrequent for a few months as I’ve had some health ups and downs.  A small operation in late May went wrong and I received what is now politely called a “Treatment Injury”.  Basically it means someone stuffed up!  This resulted in a more extensive surgery early June, a long period of recovery and a lot of pain. I’m left with some internal injuries still and expect to have more surgery again quite soon to complete my treatment.

What has this meant for me?  Have I been able to vibra train? What about my fitness?  What about my weight, has it zoomed upward?

After any big operation there’s  a recovery time during which exercise is generally limited to short walks and no lifting or stretching.  I had no choice with that but after a few weeks I was eager to regain my strength so I visited my workplace and was allowed to sit on a chair in front of the Vibration Machine with my feet resting just on the edge of a rubber mat on the platform, my legs bent at about 110 degree angle at the knees.  The machine was turned on for three minutes.

This position requires zero effort and gently increases blood circulation so you feel quite awake.  It can even stimulate some small amount of muscle contraction in the legs and buttocks.  Obviously that’s all good for healing but a lot of care is needed even with this minimal effort position and one person will respond differently to another. It’s unusual but I found It gave me a discomfort in the pelvic region where I’d had surgery and I had to wait a few more weeks.

By then I was wanting to get back onto the machines and do some real training – Again I had to be guided by my healing progress.  Using 3 layers of rubber mat on the machine platform I was able to do the special “ski the slopes” position.  It was great for me as by using the side vibrating handlebars (only on Vibra-Train brand machines) I was able to get an upper body workout while gently working out my lower body; cutting the amount of vibration by using the mats on the platform and by using arm pressure, pushing down on the handlebars with my hands, to take pressure off my legs and pelvic area.

I continued doing only the “ski the slopes” position for 60 seconds, firstly just once, then three times, then up to six times using the lowest force machine in the Vibra-Train studio. Three times a week, just like regular training, I continued this regime for a month and then added in a few other poses.  I lessened the mats under my feet from three down to two and over the next weeks progressed to the full Safety Program.

The process seeBasic Squat on Bullet Vibra-Train Machinemed slow and as I’m a Vibration Training Instructor I wanted to get back onto the machines very quickly BUT my healing and safety comes first.

It’s taken over three months to get back to strength and full healing and now I am fit it’s a bit sad that I have to face the process all over again but “cest la vie”.

I feel very fortunate to be working with the world’s best Vibration Training Machines here at Vibra-Train, Auckland City.

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Posted in Experiences, Instructor, Programs, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training, health

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Vibration Training Instructors

August 10th, 2010

In my last post I reported having many new customers coming into the Vibra-Train studio where I work.  This can make my day very exciting and also challenging as I instruct these new users and put them through The Safety Program, introducing them to safe and effective Pure Vibration Training and answering any questions they have.  I like to leave them with a great impression of what training on high-force, lineal machines can do for them – increasing their fitness and toning their body, along with strength increases and maybe fat-loss and much more, depending on what the person needs. The benefits are too many to list in one sentence!

We often talk about the different machine types and brands available and the Vibra-Train difference.

I worked on Sunday, and two new customers had specific back injuries that required me to make decisions about their ability to follow the standard safety program.  I have the option of giving them fully assisted (side vibrating handlebars) squats so that their lower back, hips, knees and ankles have even more support and allowing them work through the whole program; or, if necessary, they can do only the side handlebar assisted squats, that’s if their medical condition or severity of injury suggests they will be unable to do the regular program.

I have to make the choice.  I’ve gained experience in this and I can always refer back to Lloyd Shaw, the owner of Vibra-Train if I am really unsure but he expects me to be competent in this by now.  Sometimes I wait and and then decide  from how well they handle Position 1 – The Basic Squat – getting them to use the side handlebars instead of front ones, but even before that very first first position, I’ll be thinking and deciding as they’ve filled in a questionaire and we’ll have discussed their health or injury concerns.

Confidence is the thing -  I can make the right decisions for these customers.  I can decide if they can follow a Training program or is they need to start with Vibration Therapy.  It’s really not hard to decide!  I err on the side of caution but I don’t want to send a customer away disappointed because they could have done more.

Vibra-Train Vibra MachineSo, yesterday’s customers – one had a severe lower back problem and had expected to have surgery but was declined by our national accident insurance system.  Despite her injury being the result of an accident there was an element of degenerative plus overuse issues.  She was hoping her private medical insurance would help pay for the needed surgery and told me she was currently unable to lift up and carry her 18 month old toddler.  It was quickly obvious that she was not able to work through the full program so she did a simple set of side handlebar assisted squats and will come back in few days to tell us how she felt afterwards and then we may increase what she does – She did Vibration Therapy.

The other customer with lower back and knee pain arrived later in the day.  Her injuries resulted from years of working in childcare squatting on the floor while she played with children and picking them up from the ground.  I thought she would be able to do the full Safety Program using the side handlebars for support in the squat positions.  Then as my boss walked into the studio I decided to ask his advice.  Lloyd (my boss) took over and put the customer through the program and I observed.  She did the full program – Vibration Training. I noticed she was putting her body weight onto her toes not balanced onto heels and toes.  This was what was causing her back and knee pain as it was the way she regularly squatted down when playing with young children.  Lloyd pointed this out to her and told her how much she would benefit from the Vibra-Train Safety Program; with an instructor supervising her sessions she would quickly learn to keep her heels down and take the pressure off her knees, also keeping her back neutral and relaxed.

I love it when I see Vibration Training giving such benefits that will change a young person’s life so dramatically. I’m excited to be able to watch this new customer’s progress.

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Posted in Benefits, Instructor, Programs, Vibra-Train, Vibration Training, health

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