Posts Tagged ‘Experiences’

Position Position Position

February 8th, 2010

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

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 1

January 14th, 2010

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

It’s Just Not Working!

November 20th, 2009

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

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?

Good Business means letting customers do what they want – NOT!

October 15th, 2009

It’s been an interesting morning here at the Vibra-Train studio where I work.   I started the day excited in anticipation of the many early morning customers I expected but alas, it’s raining and the “before work”, 7am rush didn’t quite happen.  Instead customers have come in steadily throughout the morning and the studio has been full and happily busy.

Regular customers become “addicted” to the sessions; the rain doesn’t stop them. One of the best points about our fast, effective, 10-15 minute workout; it can be easily fitted into a busy routine.  Newer people sometimes take extra days off but then come back saying they missed their workout and felt sluggish through the day and, of course, rain sees more cars on the road, slows the traffic and people find themselves short on time before work.

This morning has been a little difficult for me as an instructor.  I’ve been very strict on one customer ensuring he gets into and remains in perfect position on the machines.  A discussion with another customer to clarify aspects of her special-needs program left her annoyed and feeling that I was being unhelpful.  She will talk with my boss and I have his full backing.

Good pre-workout food

Good pre-workout food

A customer came in at 8am for her second session and I asked if she’d had breakfast.  She told me no but she’d had lots of water and taken tablets to enhance fat metabolism.  There’s a strict rule here -” no food = no workout” – and there’s good reason for this.  The short, sharp, 60-second positions on the machine uses up blood sugars very quickly with no time for the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and send it into the blood.  I explained to her again the reasons she must eat before her workout then with rain pouring down and knowing she’d made the effort to come in I let her do just the first few positions and the anti-cellulite massage but not the whole program.  We have a cafe a few shops away but this customer needed to get to work whereas some people are very happy at my suggestion they go off for a coffee and muffin and then return for their workout session.

Add in regular instruction of customers and supervising those who know the program well; many phone calls with questions from people who want to come in for their first, free, trial visit, explaining to them that they MUST eat before their session; ensuring customers of neighbouring businesses don’t use our carparks (on a wet day customers need them rather than having to walk up from roadway parking spaces) and all the regular tasks that make up my job.

This is the sort of work day I enjoy; not the small difficulties although I have learnt to be very strict as customers are paying for a quality program and it’s my place to ensure they get it, but the happy busy-ness of a full studio and seeing customers getting amazing results.

Basic Rules for using a Vibration Machine – Part 2

August 19th, 2009

Back to the question asked in the previous post;  “how to prevent getting headaches after using the machines”.

I’ve covered the eating “rules” so now to a few other causes of headache, neck, shoulder, or head discomfort, and vertigo or dizziness while using a vibration machine or soon after.

bullet basic squatLet’s look at the machine and the program being used.  There are many articles available about finding a studio that has quality machines or buying a home machine so I will assume that this has been considered and look at the program of positions used.

An excellent Safety Program for use with lineal (upright vibration) machines is available on the Vibra-Train website  with step by step instructions.  It’s freely available to be printed out.

Some studios, those using PowerPlate machines are one, get people to move about on the machines.  » Read more: Basic Rules for using a Vibration Machine – Part 2

Basic Rules for using a Vibration Machine – Part 1

August 19th, 2009

PowerPlateThis morning I took a call from a lady who had just started going to a PowerPlate Vibration Studio in another city.  She had some questions about using the machines and as they are basic to all machines I’ve decided to answer them in this article.

Her concern and main question was how to prevent getting headaches after using the machines.  Despite having an instructor take her through the program she found that very soon after the session she developed a headache or dizziness.  She wanted to continue training as she could see the value of it but her questions were not being answered at the studio and she felt a little rushed through the program.

I answered her question with a question; did she realise that she must eat before going to the PowerPlate studio?

Vibration Training is intensive, short period exercise.  As such it depletes the body’s blood sugars very quickly.  It’s unlike other exercise where the liver releases glycogen (sugar) into the bloodstream as needed.  There simply isn’t time for that process to occur.  So the starting point is to have eaten (a banana is a good choice) and you can eat as you walk in the door of the studio without feeling nauseous during the session.

The second “rule” is to ensure that adequate water is drunk during and after the session.  This rehydrates the body and helps eliminate toxins and waste.  Vibration Training helps with lymphatic drainage so drinking water is the end part of this process.

Thirdly, vibration exercise gives a “feel-good” feeling due to a rise in serotonin levels in the blood and into the brain.  This neurotransmitter helps reduce fatigue and pain, regulates the onset of sleep, reduces food cravings and generally calms and encourages well-being.  It’s important to remember to eat after your Vibration Training session and I advise protein foods to help with muscle growth.  I doubt anyone feels so ecstatic after their training session that they don’t eat all day but a reminder is needed as, I’ve already said, blood glucose levels will be depleted.

It’s part of the instructor’s job to make sure customers know and follow these “rules”.

Older Women and Vibration Machines with Side Handle Bars

August 14th, 2009

It feels like spring in New Zealand as the air temperature has risen and we’ve had blue skies this week.  Alas, it’s only August and there’s more cold and wet weather ahead before we get to enjoy the long balmy days of summer.

This week has seen an lot of newcomers coming into the studio for their first free trial visit and some of these have been older women.  These women tell me their reasons for coming in; improved mobility, fat-loss, fitness and general well-being.  Some say they want to ensure their bones remain strong and prevent osteoporosis.  It’s exciting to get these women into the studio as they are usually not sports oriented but have lived active lives and now having slowed down a little they recognise the need to rebuild fitness or they simply want to keep the muscle strength they already have.

Ski The Slopes Vibra-TrainI feel privileged to work for Vibra-Train as we have a vibration platform that’s perfect for these women to use.  It’s called the Vibra (or Vibra-Train) and as well as the platform having upward vibration it has vibrating  side handlebars.  This machine’s handlebars were specifically designed for people who find it difficult to hold a 110 degree angled squat position.  By holding the side handlebars users are able to push down with their arms to take some pressure off the quad muscles (the thighs) while  more easily holding their body in the correct squat position.  » Read more: Older Women and Vibration Machines with Side Handle Bars

HyperVibe – Premium Speed Pivotal Vibration Machines

May 13th, 2009

On a recent visit to Sydney, Australia, I was privileged to visit Debbie at Beach Body Vibe, Vibration Studio at Bondi Junction, near beautiful Bondi Beach.

The machines Debbie has are the HyperVibe platform. These are controlled premium speed pivotal machines. Debbie holds classes for muscle toning, weightloss, overall body workout and more. Her customers range from athletes to the elderly and she runs classes for up to 5 people or private sessions.

HyperVibeMurray Seaton, the General Manager of HyperVibe, had dared me to try out his machines as I’d previously written that Pivotal Vibration was suitable for Therapy and Light Training only. Murray told me that his machines were definitely work-out models and that he’d told Debbie to “go hard” and to give me a gruelling session.

I was still recovering from a shoulder injury and when I arrived at the studio, very tired after an early morning flight from Auckland, so I was just a little concerned. My previous experience of large pivotal machines was not at all positive as the machine had an uncontrolled rapid see-saw effect that made me feel dizzy.

I’m pleased to report that my experience was very good. HyperVibe machines run at a tested, controlled frequency of 6-28Hz and 11mm peak to peak amplitude. This means that the see-saw effect is so fast that the machine feels quite similar to pivotal/vertical vibration and, Murray, I agree, your machines definitely give a workout. I used the machine on approx 25Hz and hesitated in doing more than simple squats due to my injuries and tiredness. My friend did a more rigorous workout including single-leg squats and push-ups. Next day we both felt a little sore which was the only negative as we don’t get this from the Vibra-Train Studio vertical platforms we regularly use.  HyperVibe machines can also be purchased for home use.

Visit the HyperVibe Australia Website for more information:  www.hypervibe.com.au

or Debbie at Beach Body Vibe