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.

Teneka recently took part in an video advertorial that’s showing quite often on morning television.  She states how much Vibration Training has done for her and credits it to the advertorial machine  – the Gymform Vibromax (a lowspeed pivotal machine, much like the VibraSlim, see: www.vibration-training-advice.com/machine-reviews).

We all know that advertisements contain hyperbole and infomercials are rarely to be believed but I’ve been told that this advertorial looks credible; being promoted by an obviously fit, slim, competition winning, personal trainer. In fact the whole advert is deceptive and it’s format lacks any integrity.  It is aimed at people who need to lose weight and gain fitness and says this is possible by simply standing upright on the machine while watching television.

That is not true; It isn’t going to happen and it’s important to set the record straight.

Read my full article here:  www.vibration-training-advice.com/you-just-can-t-trust-anyone

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.

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

Vibra-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

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.

So 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

she’d been using a higher level, and she was doing only the basic program, which is enough for most people, but as she’d pushed herself harder earlier in the year and was holding perfect positions we’d advanced to a higher force machine and also added in a few repeat positions to give her an edge on faster fitness and toning.  Sue had told me the highest level machine (Level 5 Sports model) gave her some pain in an old injury so she prefered the lesser force, levels 2 or 3.

Sue was adamant that vibration training was not working anymore for her.  I talked with Lloyd about her concerns and he reminded me that, for women, hormones play a part in setting our body shape and also asked if Sue was “mixing up” her training by varying the level of machines she was using rather than the same all the time.

I got Sue to do a Body Composition Analysis on our studio BCA machine and, while most results were acceptable, her body fat percentage was high and her resting metabolic rate was low.  Somehow we needed to give her metabolism a “kick-start”.

Sue is now pushing herself very much harder in her training sessions.  She’s using a level 5 Sports machine, not the one that aggravated her old shoulder injury but one that has a very smooth feel, high force with low amplitude.  She’s doubled up on the time spent on some positions, from 60 seconds to 120 seconds.  She’s looking at her diet, and I still advise her to eat more not less as I’m sure that’s the biggest factor in her lack of progress; it’s not how much she eats but learning to eat foods that will give muscle growth and burn calories.  Sue has also started doing water aerobics and so added cardio exercise to her fitness routine.

For Sue, vibration training is definitely playing a part in improving her strength and fitness, she readily says this.  It’s giving her the stamina to take on other activities and now that she’s increased the effort she’s putting into her training I’m confident she will see the results she wants.

It’s important to note that while results are individual I can guarantee muscle growth if a person makes the effort to seriously train three times a week (it can’t work for lazy people!).  Strong muscles support the bones and give great shape to the body, while also increasing the rate of calorie use.  Unless sabotaged by an inadequate diet or overindulgence the body shape changes; slim people gain a healthy look while larger people slim down.  The only other variable is the quality of the vibration machine and with the ones at the studio where I work, there’s no question as they’re the best!

It 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.

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?

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

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.

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.

Let’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.  This is sometimes done to make up for a lack in the power or force of the machines or to simulate a sports action.  The program linked above has static (non-moving positions) only.  These are very effective when the program is carefully followed and also reduces another cause of headache or vertigo, which is moving about whilst the machine is turned on.  It is recommended that machines be set to 40Hz  (40 movements per second) and the Safety Program positions held for the recommended 60 seconds – see the pictures on the linked page.  It’s very helpful to have an experienced instructor but if one is not available or if using a machine at home ask a friend to read out the step-by-step instructions and watch over you ensuring you get into and remain in correct position.  The program is hard but achievable by anyone who is willing to make the effort to get good results.

Another cause of neck or head discomfort is straining the jaw or neck, as in saying, Aaarrgghh! when finding the positions hard to hold.  It’s essential to relax the neck and face muscles and singing (quietly of course) is one way to do this.  Relaxing into the  exercise positions becomes easier over time.  Head position is very important and again, it’s covered in the above instructions.

All exercise causes a rise in blood pressure and although vibration training places almost no strain on the heart many people experience very temporary and slight increases in blood pressure when their head is down (push-up or pelvic-stability positions) or when they find an exercise position difficult.  This is not dangerous in itself but a minute or two taken to recover before moving on to the next position is wise and this also  prevents headache after using the machines.  Sitting quietly or taking a walk around the room gives an effective break before moving on with the program.

Customers of vibration studios should not feel pressured to quickly complete their program.  If this happens have a talk to the instructor or studio owner and explain your needs.  If a long program of many positions is being used print out and insist on following the Safety Program instead.

Vibration Training and Therapy is very safe and effective with a little attention to detail. All the above “rules” are really common sense and are followed in every studio where the owner and instructors care about their customers training and results.

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”.