Posts Tagged ‘Vibration Training’

Lazy Women! and

December 3rd, 2009

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

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

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

Where does “Lazy Women” come into this?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

www.vibration-training-advice.com

September 28th, 2009

Remember to visit the industry’s new Vibration Training Advice Website:

www.vibration-training-advice.com

There’s articles for consumers, about studios, types of machines and exercise positions. Also lots of vibration training advice about buying a machine for home use, and a section dedicated to Instructors and Studio owners.

There’s also a discussion forum where questions can be asked to clarify what’s written in the articles or for special information needed.

NEW – Vibration Training Consumer Advice Forum

September 6th, 2009

Vibration-Training-Advice.com is our new Consumer and Industry Website.  There are articles written specifically for consumers who want to know more about Vibration Training and Vibration Therapy covering topics such as:

  • Safety Program and Instructions
  • Machine Reviews
  • Health and Disability

The other section is for Trainers and Studio Owners with articles covering topics like:

  • Vibration Training and precise joint angles
  • The “Ups and Downs” of the studio concept

Click on the link above to visit the website.  Read the articles that interest or help you make an informed choice about what machine to buy or studio to visit.  There’s also a discussion forum available.

Cardio as part of a fat-loss program

July 3rd, 2009

We now have a treadmill and an exercycle at the Vibra-Train studio where I work.  This is available to customers after their vibration training session.  The treadmill is set for incline walking and customers can use it for 20 minutes of easy walking to aid their fitness and fat-loss.

dreamstime_8066223Of course this increases the time that customers need to spend in the studio so it wont suit those who rush in to train on their way to work but it’s great for those who have more time available.

It’s wintertime in New Zealand so the treadmill looks set to get a lot of use.  I’d much rather take my walk along the harbourside looking out at the yachts and enjoying the fresh air and health benefits of being outdoors but not if I’m going to get rained on so I’m also using the treadmill a few times a week.  I plan to up that to 5 or 6 times as I’ve stopped my outdoor walking program and I’ve noticed my weight has increased with less exercise taking place so I’m going to do the same program we’re giving to customers; vibration training plus cardio, 20 minutes on the treadmill, three times a week.  Working in the studio I’ll also be able to use the treadmill two or three extra times each week.

Vibration Training alone gives great toning benefits and fat-loss but for cardiac fitness walking, biking (outdoors or on an exercycle), swimming, or playing with the children are all good choices.

Thin Women – Thin Bones?

June 11th, 2009

dreamstime_6478097

As our society fixates on slim being attractive and models starve themselves to achieve “the look”, then parade “the look” on the catwalk, in magazine advertisements selling everything from clothes to cosmetics, women of all ages try to emulate that style, with teens and young women even competing with each other to become thin, severely restricting their diets and sometimes exercising to extreme and in the process starving their bones.  Doctors have spoken out about the dangers but women still think that Osteoporosis is a disease that their great-grandmothers had and they don’t realise that it is becoming more prevalent today and in younger women too.

Underweight women have below normal levels of calcium, and sometimes estrogen, making them more likely to fracture bones and putting themselves at increased risk of Osteoporosis, a progressive disease that can strike at any age.  Larger women rarely get Osteoporosis; the increased weight supports and strengthens the bones while estrogen metabolites produced by fat cells also help with bone strength.  Even after menopause hormones produced by the adrenal glands are metabolised by fat cells and coverted into the estrogen needed to protect the bones.  Of course, being overweight brings its own risks and causes wear and tear of the joints of the ankles and the knees.

Low body weight with it’s associated low bone density is a serious problem and it affects men as well as women.  If blood calcium levels drop too low over time from decreased calcium intake increased parathyroid hormone levels stimute bones to release calcium, further depleting them.

It is impossible to consume all the nutrients required for good health, bone growth and maintenance on a low calorie diet alone. Women who insist on attaining thinness must supplement their diet with calcium and other nutrients and are advised to do this under the guidance of a medical professional or qualified dietician.

Stop Smoking! Smoking also puts the bones at increased risk of Osteoporosis. It is not yet fully known how it does this but it robs the protective effect of calcium and works to prevent bone reformation.  Nicotine also inhibits estrogen release and causes it’s breakdown by the liver.  Smokers have twice the risk of hip fracture as non-smokers.  Smokers also tend to be thinner than non-smokers.

It is possible to be slim without putting bones at risk. Healthy Bones require healthy eating along with regular exercise to strengthen muscles and bones; particularly resistance exercise and this is where Vibration Training can help.  By increasing muscle strength bones are better supported while increased blood supply allows the bones to receive the nutrients needed for strength and growth.  Forces like tension or vibration cause electrical activity in the bone which stimulates osteoblasts to enhance bone growth.

If dieting has become an obsession, EDEN can help.

We’re in this together!

March 7th, 2009

The Vibration Training Industry is dis-jointed.  Brands and Studios set their business goals and work  hard to achieve a positive balance sheet at the end of the financial year and to further their business, keeping current customers happy and engaging new ones.  Some work to further public understanding and acceptance of Vibration Training, with or without strong advertising to “buy my brand”.  Some have the added job of designing new units and getting them into the market.  All good but what I see is that most do this alone.

Alone and opposing other Vibration Training companies often means turning a blind eye to the negatives that abound, » Read more: We’re in this together!

Who Can You Trust?

February 18th, 2009

pic-strength

You can trust this guy!

The Vibration Training Industry needs to come clean.  There’s still so much misinformation, so many misleading claims for home machines.  There’s lies and more lies about brands of Studio machines, brand and geographical area rights, types and specs of machines, programs, and benefits – what the user will achieve.  So much of the “lower spec machine” marketing is simply to make “fast money”.

Lloyd Shaw is the founder of Vibra-Train and has set up the International Vibration Training Regulating Body (IVTRB).  You can trust him to tell you the truth in published articles and to give honest answers to your questions.

(above pic used with permission. Copyright to vibra-train.com)

Visit to Melbourne

February 17th, 2009

melbourne1I spent the weekend in Melbourne with my son, Brad, and enjoyed a little sightseeing and visiting friends.  It was a rather subdued experience with news of bushfire casualties and damage still being updated but the response to helping survivors there is fantastic.

We took a 60km train trip and later heard of a minor fire in an area we passed through so the danger is ongoing. The ground is dry, trees are oily (so they burn easily) and the temperature is hot with a dry wind.

While there I visited a Vibration Studio just outside of Melbourne CBD. The studio had Vibro-gym machines and I did a gentle workout.  Still having pain in both shoulders and arms I was very careful to have the machine set low.  I found it hard to hold correct position with sore arms and It was my first real workout on a lineal machine in almost a month. 
(Note: In Auckland I’ve been so fortunate to have been using a wonderful, newly designed, big, pivotal, therapy-machine with vibrating side handlebars to relieve muscle tightness in my shoulders and arms and help keep my legs and core stable while I recover).

The Melbourne Studio was busy with people who looked like athletes, doing regular poses with extra positions and some dynamic work. It differed from my regular studio by the machine brand and program.

I expect to go back again later in the year and as I know there are two other central city Vibration Studios I want to visit them also. Melbourne is a bustling city with a central shopping and business district visited by many thousands of people daily including at the weekends.  There are performance areas where street performers are welcomed and large theatres and performance stages.  The people are friendly and there’s a great community spirit .  In the central city area of Melbourne there is huge scope for more Vibration Training  Studios.  In the suburbs even more so.

What’s wrong with this pose?

February 9th, 2009
Girl on Vibration Machine

Girl on Vibration Machine

Type Vibration Training into Google to read articles about Machines, Training and Therapy, what a vibration training program looks like, weightloss, and more.  The site invites questions and discussion.

You’ll soon learn how to evaluate a machine for your specific needs and also a lot about vibration exercise programs.

So what’s wrong with the picture at right?  I don’t know the machine brand so I wont comment on that except to say that Straps are basically a waste of time.  You pull on the straps while the platform vibrates and that works out your arms – well that’s the reasoning but you wont be pulling the straps evenly so each arm will be getting a different force plus you will tire and lessen your pull so that’s even less force. My suggestion is to use the straps with the machine turned off.

How long will it be before manufacturers design machines with side handle bars and do away with straps?

» Read more: What’s wrong with this pose?