The title of this blog post gives my answer – the advertorials for this vibration machine are, in my opinion, a scam. There are so many inacuracies and downright lies in the text and on the websites that offer this machine for sale.

Things like -

• The Gymform Vibromax is the ONLY massager which tones up muscles, firms up your figure and massages the whole body
• 10 minutes a day on our new Gymform Vibromax correspond to:  2 hours of tennis or an hour of swimming
• it promotes Strength and Power Conditioning, Fat Burning, Advanced Aerobic and Anaerobic Training

The machine works with a see-saw/pivotal action – when you stand on the machine one foot goes up while the other goes down; up/down, up/down. Watching a person on this type of machine you can see their body shake and it looks quite funny or even quite attractive if the model on the machine has a good figure or a well build muscular body BUT don’t mistake this shakey wobble for true muscle contraction – it isn’t!

The advertisers claim that the machine platform frequency is 30Hz – that’s 30 movements a second – It’s been independently tested and found to run at 9Hz which is a huge difference.  The advertorial that showed on Television New Zealand’s Good Morning Show in May and June 2010 showed an Auckland personal trainer on the machine and it was clearly running at about 9Hz. It was so slow that you could count the Up/Down movement.

And then there’s the Price – well someone has to pay for the TV adverts and that someone is, of course, the buyer. Television is an expensive yet effective method of advertising a product – it’s on TV so it must be good, right? Wrong!  There’s nothing about expensive advertising that guarantees a product will be good for you. And, the price is around three times that of the same machine bought elsewhere.

Then there’s the Shame. The consumer buys a product, uses it just like the advert tells them to and they don’t get the results promised. They don’t get amazing, firm, toned muscles, they don’t lose lots of fat, and they certainly don’t feel like they’ve been playing tennis for two hours, in fact there’s no fatigue at all.

What then? They quite often blame themselves, thinking they are doing something wrong – the Personal Trainer on the infomercial looks great and she/he said they use that machine to look the way they do, to get their firm and toned  “beach body”. The poor consumer then blames their parents for giving them non-responsive  genes or they rue their lack of willpower.

It’s the machine that’s at fault, not the consumer – although I have little sympathy for the person who buys a product without checking it out first. Google is like a lifesaver on a calm beach, pointing out the rips -

And to help you – check this out: Vibration-Training-Advice.com for Vibration Machine reviews and many articles about Vibration Machines to help you choose the right one for your needs and to get the results you want.

So, is the Gymform Vibromax good for anything? I’m tempted to say it makes a very good Clothes Hanger like many others of the ‘As seen on TV” fitness products but Yes, it does have an excellent use – it’s a low speed, pivotal, Vibration Massage and Therapy machine. It gently improves circulation and helps a little with mobility. It can also enhance mood and help with relaxation. These benefits are great for the very unfit, the very obese, or older person who will gain from them but for most of us – there’s simply no way that standing upright on this machine for twenty minutes while watching television is going to give  the body that the person in the Advert has. For those results you need a High Energy, lineal machine, an excellent Safety Program, and you need to be prepared to work hard!

That last part is funny because when they copy another person they are very often copying a Therapy Position, given to a person who is unable to do the full program due to injury or long-term disability.  It’s funny to watch and when I question or, as more often happens, I turn the machine off, the customers gets mildly annoyed as they think they are missing out on some special position that will help them train harder and faster.

I totally applaud their dedication but Nope, No, the program alone is all that’s needed when it’s done with that same strong dedication and effort.

It’s essential to follow the program exactly for Safety and Excellent Results.

Only when a person can show that they’ve mastered the full Safety Program can they add in some extra work and even then it’s optional and not needed for many people.  Some add in an extra position, like the one they find the hardest, or the pelvic stability position followed by the stretch are popular additions.  Some, especially the guys, do extra upper body work, a pull-up position or a full body tri-ceps dip, using the Vibra-Train “Vibra”, handlebar machine.  See the videos here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNaEcOqG-oU

The ONLY Optional work is what’s added at the end IF the customer can show that they’ve mastered the program and can get into and remain in Perfect Position throughout. And then, the extra positions come with very strict instructions how to do them.

No one ever makes up their own positions or program at Vibra-Train.

The program, as I’ve said before, is specifically designed for Safety and Excellent Results and happy customers are proof of that.

So customers – the ones who carefully follow the program; the cheerful ones; the ones who seem to question everything; the ones who always have some new little ache or pain that they worry over; the ones I need to instruct every time even though they might be expected to know what to do by now; and yes, even the “difficult” ones – are why I am here at Vibra-Train every weekday morning.

So, who are they and why would I even suggest a customer seems “difficult”?

The customers who appear difficult are the ones who will not accept instruction and think they know better about how to do the positions than the instructor who works with these specific vibration machines every day.  I’m not talking about customers asking questions or getting the pose a little wrong but about the few customers who bring their gym based positions or what they’ve read in the latest fitness magazine and that’s how they insist they are going to do the positions.

The Vibra-Train Safety Program was specifically designed to work-out the whole body.  Everything about how the positions are done; how to get into position and how to maintain it; and even the exact order of the positions is “set in concrete” and must not be changed.  There are alternatives for cases where a person has limited movement.  Also  if a customer really excels in holding positions there are some advanced positions and higher level machines but no one (customer nor instructor) is allowed to “do it differently” just because they do a similar position elsewhere in a gym or another brand of Vibration Studio.  Instructors at Vibra-train are trained to teach the Safety Program and the few allowable alternatives, they will lose their job if customers are seen to be doing whatever they want to do instead of the program.

So, there’s no choice involved. In Vibra-Train studios and now in many other Vibration Training Studios worldwide we use the Vibra-Train Safety Program following the step-by-step instructions on every visit.  Those who argue about it are reminded that they have a huge amount of force coming up at them from the machine platform (or handlebars) and they’d be wise to do as they are told.  There’s always the Exit Door if they refuse.

For more information there’s a series of short videos on YouTube that show each position in detail with instructions and explanation by Lloyd Shaw, designer of both the Vibra-Train brand Vibration Machines and The Safety Program. Starting from The Basic Squat the series is for instructors and anyone who wants to view it.

We’ve had many first-timers at the Vibra-Train studio where I work. I’m wondering if people are looking forward to summer and know that now is the time to improve their fitness and strength; and look great.

Last week’s customers all had questions about Vibration Training or they had specific desires, several wanting to only work out their upper body, telling me that they did a lot of running and that was all they thought they needed for their legs.

These customers are “the best” – they haven’t just come along because they’ve seen an TV advert for Vibration Training or an article in a magazine and come to try us out for a few visits, kind of like trying the latest flavour of icecream and then off to try some other fitness facility – they’ve come because they’ve already done some research or talked to a friend who’s getting great results – these are serious, long-term, new customers and they want their questions answered.

Those who are regularly walking or running need to understand how different Vibration Training is; how training on high-force, lineal machines builds muscle and is considered a form of resistance training whereas running is for cardio fitness. They soon realise that despite frequent running they must follow the full Safety Program to get the results.  If they vibration train regularly two or three times a week they soon be telling me how much easier their running is becoming because they’ll have increased their overall fitness; those who sprint get faster and those who walk or run longer distances find they have more stamina and don’t tire so soon.  An advantage runners and regular walkers have over other “newbies” is that their leg muscles are strong so they manage the squat positions very well.

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.

So, 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.

BUT

there’s a problem – and it’s a good one – there’s no Vibration Machines left to me to use.  We have 9 machines in the studio, of varying levels and I can use any one of them; if there was one unoccupied.  We have a walk-in system with no appointment needed and I’m really happy to see so many people here and what’s more it’s been happening often over the past few weeks.

I have my own theory on why we are so popular right now – Winter in New Zealand has been very cold and wet and it’s raining today but the temperature has risen a little so maybe people are dreaming of Spring with thoughts of warm breezes, barbeques at the park and long walks along the beach in the evenings and weekends.  It makes us think of “getting into shape”, shaking off the winter excesses, eating healthy and exercising to build fitness and strength so we can fully enjoy all the free or low cost, outdoor activities that are available in New Zealand Summertime.

Yesterday I worked the early shift, from 6.30am and also a few hours in the evening.  I had many new customers, some who had never used a Vibration Machine before, others who had tried out another brand in their gym or a cheap, low quality pivotal massage machine in someone’s home.

Without exception, all enjoyed, and were challenged by, their first visit! There was no particular “type” of new customer; this didn’t come from advertising or promotions, it’s simply word of mouth and people reading articles in magazines and newspapers or online blogs where people tell of their experience of Vibration Training and the results they’ve achieved.

I’ve had some very fit people try us out lately, guys and girls with great looking bodies achieved by hours and hours of gym or at-home workouts along with careful eating.  Some are skeptical that Vibration Training can offer them anything and they expect to be bored or find the program very easy especially as it’s only around 15 minutes long.  Well, the army guy last Friday was almost crying during the last position of the Vibra-Train Safety Program; the muscle-man LifeFM radio dj didn’t get past position 1 without grunts and complaints about how hard it was; the enthusiastic gym goer who came in with a friend last night left feeling totally fatigued and pushed to her extreme limit as well as happy and mentally alert.

What these already fit people found out was that when they use a high-energy lineal Vibration Platform such as the Vibra-Train brand and the full body Safety Program, they are working with their already developed muscle mass, extending themselves in a way they would find hard to do safely at the gym.  They are getting great benefits, maintaining and building muscle without injuring the origin or insertion points where the muscle attaches to bone, so while they feel fatigue they don’t ache and take days to recover.

Of course you don’t have to be already fit and have good muscle tone to do Pure Vibration Training, it’s for everyone and the results are truely amazing.

We use a Safety Program specifically designed to give a safe workout with excellent results. Customers are fully supervised and quickly learn the steps to get into and maintain perfect position on the machines.  Over time, however, people tend to cheat a little, usually unintentionally, and their body moves slightly out of position making the workout easier (and less effective) so I still have to watch them.

Early this morning I had many regular customers in the studio; ones that I don’t have to watch too closely.  One couple come regularly every Monday and Thursday morning on their way to their office.  They started at another Vibra-Train studio five years ago and have been coming into the Auckland City Studio for about a year so they know the program very well, so well they could just about do my job and instruct others BUT this morning I, foolishly, left them alone for a few minutes while I cleared rubbish bins in another part of the studio.

Walking back into the room I laughed as I saw them both struggling with a position that involves having a mat on the platform while doing the position.  They had both chosen the wrong mat; one that fits our larger, “Bullet”  machine platform so it overhung the “Vibra” machine platforms they were using.  I asked them to look at the platforms and the mats and both said, “the mat doesn’t fit;  it was hard to hold position”.  They still didn’t realise they’d done anything wrong yet  they had both walked accross the studio and taken mats from beside another machine instead of using the ones right by them, ones that perfectly fit the “Vibra” platforms they were using.

Maybe they’d had a busy weekend and had Monday-itis!

As I’ve talked with my daughter and her friends I find that many young people in their late teens and early 20’s dismiss Vibration Training as a form of exercise because  they think they wont  enjoy it, BUT these are young people who don’t do any exercise other than a quick dash between classes or to the latest movie or party.  They are completely lazy about any form of exercise that requires them to make an effort.  Later, when they hit their late 20’s or early 30’s they’ll panic and search out a simple, time-sparing way to exercise and Vibration Training will be available.

But what about those who are regularly training, for fitness or sports?

Yes, there are teenage athletes who love Vibration Training.  It allows them to gain strength and stamina in a way that also lets them challenge their own ability each time they come into the Vibra-Train studio.  In my opinion it’s far safer than allowing these young people to lift heavy weights and risk injuring themselves.

It’s important that they workout with an experienced Instructor so that their form is continually checked and Perfect Position maintained throughout the time of each position of the Safety Program.

I’m currently working with a very young athlete, a 13 year old girl who loves Netball and wants to improve her arm strength and force.  To get the results she wants she’s simply doing the full Vibra-Train Safety Program, nothing more and definitely nothing less.  I’m as excited as she is about seeing the results we’ll get.  She’s a little overweight which probably doesn’t matter in an active girl of that age but I’m thinking she’ll lose a little fat as well as gaining muscle and overall strength.

In just a few months time this young lady is going to be a force to be reckoned with on the Netball courts this, New Zealand, Summer.

I don’t recommend Vibration Training for every young person as it’s an individual thing.  Many teens, especially younger ones, get all the stimulation they need from their daily lives and those who are serious athletes often workout hard with practise sessions for their chosen sports and a fitness program built around that.  There are some, however, for whom Vibration Training works very well and the young netballer In am working with is one. We are very careful to ensure she is always in Perfect Position; important  for everyone and even more so for her as she’s still growing.

I also enjoy travel – usually this is just a quick weekend away; an “escape” from home and work and all the stresses of daily life.  A two or three day weekend out of town is excellent for relaxation, for trying new activities, going to a show, or sightseeing.

Last weekend I was in Sydney where I went to a show, “West Side Story”, and did some shopping.  It wasn’t really a rest travelling from Auckland early Saturday and back Sunday night but it was a very much needed break.

So where do Vibration Machines feature in my short weekends away?

There’s the increased fitness and strength to power me through up to 24 hours from when I get up at 3am until I get to bed in Sydney the following night.  With a two hour time difference and lots to do and see I can be active for a very long time with my only rests being the waiting time at Auckland International Airport and onboard the aircraft for three hours.  Once I arrive it’s all go!

The Vibration Training benefit I appreciate the most when I travel is that of increased circulation. I try to train immediately before I travel, at least the afternoon before.  Then I can sit for long periods of time without discomfort in my legs and my risk of d.v.t. is decreased.  I try to stand up at least once during a 3 1/2 hour flight but having a window seat can prevent this; it’s easier to stay put than clamber over two other people to stand.

If I have travelled over three hours by car or aircraft my first stop apon arrival is the local Vibra-Train or VibroGym Vibration Training Studio.  There I work through the Safety Program which again gets my blood circulation stimulated and my mind alert and ready to go (Shopping !)

Unfortunately The Vibra-Train studio in Sydney is too far out of town to visit on a weekend trip and there’s no alternative.  I hope that one day we’ll see High-Force, Lineal Vibration Machines available for use at Airports with Instructors to guide travellers through the session.  Premium Speed Pivotal machines would also be useful as they can be used to mimic the natural walking gait and relieve the backache that comes with long periods of immobility.

So here’s a business idea that someone might want to run with – a Vibration Training Studio within an airport complex – There’s certainly enough people about to make it commercially viable if the owners do the setup right and provide suitably experienced Instructors to work with customers.

I’ve had two small operations and a time of recovery and even though I’ve been back at work for a month I’ve been taking things easy BUT now I’m back and I’ll be providing regular updates on

The Benefits of Vibration Training Machines and how to use them for fitness and health. There’s some exciting articles coming so keep looking back.

For now here’s another video: In this one you’ll see my boss, Lloyd Shaw of Vibra-Train doing his personal workout.  It’s the same workout that Vibra-Train customers do and he’s very careful to maintain Perfect Position – This is non-negotiable at Vibra-Train.  Sometimes customers have their own way or think they know how a position should be performed but they don’t get that choice here – there are strict step-by-step instructions for each position – that way customers get the results and benefits they are working out for.