Have you been dreaming of finally getting your dream body? If you haven’t visited your condo gym recently, know that a convenient fitness center is one of the perks of owning or renting a condo unit.
Condo living today has made it easy for you to incorporate fitness into your busy schedule. From making you happy and beautiful to giving you more energy, exercising will make your dream body a reality. For condo dwellers who want to stay fit, it’s essential to know the available fitness equipment to reach your goals. But you’re probably wondering, “What are the gym amenities in a condo anyway?” Here are 8 condo gym amenities you should know (and use) to achieve your dream body.
1. Stretch with the Ever-Reliable Fitness Mat
Stretching is one of the best condo exercise tips for fitness beginners and experts alike. Using the humble yet ever-reliable exercise mat in your condo fitness center, you can easily and safely stretch with moves like the leg raise and the standing side stretch. With the mat, you can also stretch as a warm-up routine to prepare for more difficult exercises.
The leg raise is a fantastic stretch to engage and improve your hip flexors and ease up some of your body’s joints, tendons and ligaments. To perform a simple yet effective leg raising stretch, begin by lying on your back and placing your hands at your sides, palms down. Then, gently raise your legs to form a 90-degree angle. Return to the starting position and repeat the process 8 to 10 times or depending on your fitness level.
2. Tone and Sculpt with Weights
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No gym equipment in a condo fitness center is truly complete without weights. It’s common wisdom that weights are great for building muscle. But did you know that weightlifting is also great for fast weight loss? Weightlifting is your best friend for both weight loss and muscle building. While cardio exercise in your condo gym is certainly effective for weight loss, combining it with weight training can do wonders for your body. For safety and efficiency, remember to adjust the weight of the machine or equipment (be it dumbbells or kettlebells) according to your body’s capacity. A good rule of thumb is this: it’s too light if you’re lifting the equipment easily, and it’s too heavy if you cannot properly complete a move.
3. Firm Up Legs and Butt with the Leg Press Machine
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Gym amenities in a condo are convenient for owners and renters who want fitness results fast. To quickly and efficiently firm up your legs, hips and butt, consider the leg press machine as a nifty equipment to reach your goals. Note that the leg press is the single best resistance machine that develops body strength using your lower muscles. What you get is body efficiency and functional strength. To perform an effective leg exercise, lie on your back on the machine’s seat. Place your feet shoulder-width apart on the plate, push with both feet and then gently lower the load until your reach a 90-degree angle. Repeat the move for 8 to 10 repetitions or depending on your fitness level.
4. Build Strong Upper Body with Plate-Loaded Machines
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A fun gym equipment for better curves is definitely the stability ball. What’s great about this equipment is it allows you to focus on your core muscles (read: abs) while leaving room for simultaneous exercises such as stretching and light weightlifting. As a versatile piece of equipment, the stability ball is used from pediatrics to geriatrics as well as in clinical rehabilitation. How’s that for flexibility? Try this move: with your lower-middle back firmly against the top of the ball and your hands behind your head, slowly and deliberately crunch your abdominal muscles. With this simple exercise for your curves, you can get that killer abs faster.
5. Bounce Away Fat with the Stability Ball
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A fun gym equipment for better curves is definitely the stability ball. What’s great about this equipment is it allows you to focus on your core muscles (read: abs) while leaving room for simultaneous exercises such as stretching and light weightlifting. As a versatile piece of equipment, the stability ball is used from pediatrics to geriatrics as well as in clinical rehabilitation. How’s that for flexibility? Try this move: with your lower-middle back firmly against the top of the ball and your hands behind your head, slowly and deliberately crunch your abdominal muscles. With this simple exercise for your curves, you can get that killer abs faster.
6. Run for Fitness with the Cardio Machines
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The cardio machines are some of the most essential gym equipment in a condo fitness center that you should put to great use. These machines include treadmills, rowing machines, stationary bikes and rowing machines. Use any of these machines for a total cardio workout that can make your condo weekend activities less stationary and boring. A cardio exercise is a great weekend activity to burn the excess calories you’ve accumulated throughout the week. To burn calories faster and better, combine high intensity interval training with these machines to effectively reduce body fat and improve your overall muscle tone.
7. Glow and Detoxify with the Sauna
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Working out in your condo gym is always relaxing and detoxifying when complemented with a sauna session. Did you know that spending time in a sauna could potentially protect you from developing fatal heart diseases? In a long-term study, experts found that the more people used the sauna, the better their health was in the long run.
Sitting in a sauna for 20 to 30 minutes can relax your muscles after working out and can flush out toxic building through sweating. So the next time you hit the your condo gym, include sitting in the sauna after your exercise to complete your fitness session.
8. Discuss Fitness and Nutrition with the In-House Trainer
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A vital aspect of great condo gym amenities, fitness trainers help gym users with safety and effective training. Maximize the benefits of having a fitness trainer in your gym. To avoid injuries and ensure efficiency, clarify with him or her any exercise move or equipment you’re not sure about. Nutrition is also another topic that you can consult. Remember that all the hard workouts will go to waste if you do not eat right. Getting your dream body is about effective exercising as much as it is about proper nutrition.
With this list of gym equipment and how to use them, you should no longer be clueless about what to expect in a condo fitness center. In places like DMCI Homes, there are even gym classes you can check out to integrate fun group activities into your dream body goals. With a great fitness center within your condo community, condo living in the Philippines has indeed made convenient for you to have a fit, beautiful, and healthy life.