HQH Fitness to offer new Total Gym

HQH Fitness, the distributor for Total Gym® in Australia and New Zealand, has added the new Total Gym Core Trainer to its line of Total Gym commercial products.

Total Gym, a globally recognised brand for over 35 years, is the leading manufacturer of functional and bodyweight resistance training equipment for fitness, athletic training and rehabilitation professionals.

To remain at the forefront of innovation and continue to grow its customer base, Total Gym has launched a new, single station unit, the Total Gym Core Trainer.

With the use of abdominal machines ranking among the top 10 health club activities in 2012, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), Total Gym, has entered into the growing abdominal strengthening market, with a new take on an "ab exercise" machine – train the entire core, not just the abs.

The company's first muscle targeted training station, the Core Trainer works the core musculature as a whole to enhance abdominal muscle definition while improving overall stability of the trunk.

HQH Fitness will debut the innovative and game-changing Total Gym product at the Australian Fitness & Health Expo 2013 in Sydney from 19th to 21st April 2013.

Fitness professionals worldwide have acknowledged core training to be an essential part of any strength and conditioning program. Undoubtedly, the most prescribed core strengthening exercise by personal trainers and physical therapists is the plank. Total Gym's Core Trainer is designed to safely facilitate a proper plank with various options to increase or decrease difficulty based on a user's strength and ability.

While most ab exercises concentrate on a crunch movement, requiring you to curl up, the primary function of the abdominals is not to flex the spine, but to work together with the back muscles to maintain erect posture and stabilize the spine. Meaning, the best exercises for abs are ones that engage the entire core in order to stabilize, balance, and support the spine for everyday activities and sports performance.

The Core Trainer works to not only strengthen the abdominals, but to train the core muscles in your pelvis, back, hips, shoulders and abdomen to work in unison for better balance and stability. Strong core muscles make it easier to do everything from throwing a ball to bending down to tie your shoes. Weak core muscles leave you susceptible to poor posture, lower back pain and muscle injuries.

Total Gym Commercial President Jesse Campanaro stated "when we looked around, we saw several pieces of equipment that targeted the abdominals, but virtually nothing that addressed the entire core.

"As a company founded on the principles of functional training, we recognize the importance of building a strong core and not just isolating the abdominals – so that's what we did – we created a machine that anyone at any fitness level can use to safely and effectively engage the core muscles without putting undue strain on their back."

Unlike traditional abdominal exercise machines which only allow for spinal flexion movements, the Core Trainer offers two primary movements that facilitate a plank in different ways: the Dynamic Plank and SCRUNCH™. Built on an incline, the Core Trainer makes a plank attainable for de-conditioned populations that may not be able to perform a plank on the floor. Additionally, by changing body position or adding movement with the Core Trainer's rolling glideboard, each exercise can be progressed to also challenge elite level athletes.

Dynamic Plank - one of the most beneficial exercises, the plank, can be performed on Total Gym Core Trainer at varying intensities by simply altering your foot positioning and/or applying a moving force by rolling the glideboard with your arms, requiring the core muscles to engage and work harder to stabilize accordingly.

Similar in theory to the Ab Wheel, where the greater the distance between your extension and your base the more difficult the exercise, the Core Trainer is designed to be more practical for those whose shoulder and upper back strength are limited, and whose core abdominal muscles are not yet developed. While the Ab Wheel requires a certain amount of existing athleticism, the Core Trainer offers greater accessibility for a more diverse exercise population to reap its benefits because it is built on an incline, making the dynamic plank accessible for less conditioned people.

SCRUNCH® - a move derived from abdominal workouts with the SCRUNCH accessory on a Total Gym incline bodyweight training unit, mimics a hanging leg raise or exercises on a Captain's Chair. Contrary to most popular ab machines which work on the theory of bringing your chest towards your knees and applying force from above, the SCRUNCH motion works by bringing your knees to your chest – training your abdominal muscles with forces applied from below. Meanwhile, the upper body remains stabilized and strong on the arm rest, contributing to additional strengthening of the core.

The SCRUNCH can also easily be modified to either accommodate an individual's fitness level or target distinct core muscle groups by simply adjusting your body position.

HQH Fitness Chief Executive Greg Doherty added "Total Gym's pioneering new Core Trainer allows us to provide a high quality piece of equipment that's in-line with the latest, proven methods in fitness.

"We view the Total Gym Core Trainer as the first commercial product to address core training and make it accessible to all fitness levels."

For more information click here to view HQH Fitness' entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory. 

14th May 2011 - HQH FITNESS REBRANDS AND AIMS TO LIFT STANDARDS