| Most people who use elliptical trainers depend on | | | | instructors recently added two Nautilus elliptical |
| them to give them a full body workout, Granted | | | | trainers to our dojang. They gave a demo of |
| they do have the ability to work both the upper | | | | how the elliptical trainer routines helped give a no |
| and lower body if used properly, One thing they | | | | impact warm-up. Our black belt class soon was |
| do not do is build strength and bone mass that | | | | using the elliptical trainers before every class. Now |
| many people need to maintain good fitness, | | | | if you want to warm up prior to class you should |
| Elliptical trainers are excellent in protecting joints | | | | get there at least an hour early to have access |
| while giving a great aerobic workout, | | | | to one of the elliptical trainers. |
| If you are a free weight lifter or a martial arts | | | | Initially it appears that using the elliptical trainers is |
| enthusiast you have probably developed a regular | | | | helping reduce injuries, Again you still have to |
| routine of stretching and warming up that | | | | complete your forms and stretching prior to |
| protects your joints and muscle during your | | | | conducting sparring, bag and pad work. As a result |
| workout session. As you get older you start to | | | | of the demand for elliptical trainer time the dojang |
| lose some of you flexibility and your warm ups | | | | is acquiring 3 additional Reebok elliptical trainers. If |
| and stretching take longer and in some cases can | | | | you are like most experienced martial artists you |
| be painful. Some of us have begun to use | | | | have several old injuries that require special |
| treadmills and steppers to help in the overall body | | | | attention during warm-ups. We feel the elliptical |
| warm ups. Even more recently we have begun to | | | | trainers really shine in keeping these areas warm |
| use the elliptical trainers in our gym as part of our | | | | and loose. |
| pre-workout warm-ups. | | | | Elliptical trainers do give and excellent upper and |
| Elliptical trainers are great for warming up the | | | | lower body aerobic workouts, At least 3 days a |
| upper body before using heavy free weights. | | | | week should be dedicated to aerobic cross |
| They are also great on days when the weather is | | | | training, An additional benefit of using elliptical |
| cold and you need to do extra warm-ups, The | | | | trainers is there ability to give a full body warm-up |
| goal is to get warm without wasting energy in | | | | prior to intense free weight exercise routines. |
| aerobic exercise, Normally an elliptical trainer will | | | | Elliptical trainers due to their low joint impact are |
| give a good warm-up in less than 10 minutes, You | | | | also an excellent way to warm up joints that may |
| will still need to do your stretching exercises | | | | have been damaged by previous injuries. |
| especially if you are doing heavy benching and | | | | Preventing and reducing injuries is key to |
| squats, | | | | maintaining life long fitness. The use of elliptical |
| In an effort to reduce injuries our Tai Kwon Do | | | | trainers may help in this endeavor. |