Elliptical

ELIPTICAL WHAT IS IT.

Elliptical as the dictionary explains is relating to or having the shape of an ellipse which is a closed conic section shaped like a flattened circle. That’s cleared that up then!  Sounds a bit complicated and what has this got to do with working out?

Ellipticals relationship with working out is that it is a type of exercise machine. Elliptical trainers also known as cross trainers are machines that stimulate running or walking but put less stress on the joints so there is less risk of impact injury. So they are a cardio machine.

These machines are a design that is half way between a bike and a treadmill. They have peddles that your feet press down alternately to stimulate walking or running but the difference to a treadmill is that your feet do not leave the surface of the peddles as they do the surface of the treadmill. So this has a lower impact on the body. Some machines have shoulder height handles that are attached to the peddles so the arms can share the exercise with the legs, giving an upper body workout as well as a lower body workout.

So are they any good?  I have had a go on one and found it slightly weird at first but once I got used to the movement it was fine. I did about 15 minutes on it and decided it wasn’t a machine that I would rush to a gym to use or one that I would buy. I think it was a bit to low impact for me. But that said the I one I tried was in a big gym that I visited while visiting family in another part of the country. They had about 12 of these machines and they were all constantly in use, so I think they are quite popular with a lot of people.

They are a cardio machine so if you use one you are going to get a cardio workout, and a benefit of these machines must be that they put less stress on your joints as there is no pounding like on a treadmill. Are they better than treadmills or exercise bikes ? I think to be honest that has got to be a personal choice based on an individuals experience with these different types of machines and the results they get from them. Remember we are all different and our bodies respond in different ways.

So the best thing to do is try one out and see what you think. In the meantime here is one that you can have a look at to get an idea of how they work

Esprit EL-5 Elliptical For over 2 decades, Spirit has been known for product innovation and the Esprit Series is no different. The Spirit Esprit Series was designed to keep you motivated and to keep you moving.Features 20″ stride Institutional size frame architecture Heart Rate Control program interface (3) position pedal angle adjustment to vary workload Increased wattage/resistance for challenging workouts Bottle caddy Structural aspects Platform: Standard institutional footprint Pedals: Oversized with 2 degree inversion, Pedal adjustment: (3) positions with twist lock pin Flywheel: 30 lbs., steel Guide rails: (4),heavy chromed steel Wheels: (4) concave, commercial grade, high durometer Resistance mechanism: Electronically controlled magnetic brake Frame: Institutional grade structural steel Upper handle grips: High density, sweat resistant rubber Colors: Titanium/White Assembled dimensions: 82″ X 27″ X 67″ Assembled weight: 200 lbs. User weight capacity: 350 lbs. Electronic specifications Power: 110V AC Console display: Large blue backlit LCD with alpha-numeric message component Active buttons: Membrane with one button programming Heart rate monitoring system: Contact heart rate sensors or telemetry belt (not included) Programs: (6) + (2) custom user & Heart Rate Control (with telemetry belt) Watts: 1000 Resistance levels: 20 Warranty (residential) Frame & resistance brake: Lifetime Parts: 5 years Labor: 1 year Ships common carrier curbside delivery.

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