Product Reviews

Echelon Smart Connect EX5 Bike Review

If you are looking for a spin bike or a spin bike with interactive training, check out the ECHELON EX5. It is a well built bike and offers interactive training without breaking your budget. I like that the bike does not come with a built in console.

Product Reviews

Octane Fitness RŌ Rower Review

The RŌ Rower is the quality I would expect from Octane Fitness! This is a magnetic/air resistance rower with a nice bright colorful console. The machine is heavy duty and very smooth! The console has HIIT training, normal interval training as well as goal training and manual.

Product Reviews

Horizon Evolve 3 Elliptical Review

The Horizon Fitness Evolve 3 is great home gym solution for Elliptical Lovers who don’t love the footprint they traditionally come with. It cuts it’s length in half, going from 69″ to 41″ folded. It has a stout 300lb weight capacity, weighing 175lbs assembled.

Product Reviews

Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmil Review

The Horizon Fitness 7.8 AT is a beefed up treadmill for runners that want to pay for engineering more than screens and technology. This is no doubt a heavy duty treadmill coming in at more than 300 lbs with a powerful 4.0 hp Johnson Digital Drive motor that responds 33% faster than its competitors.

Product Reviews

Octane Q35X Elliptical Review

The Octane Q35x is a step up in quality over introductory brands of ellipticals. This is an elliptical for people who actually plan on using their elliptical regularly. This elliptical has a very solid feel to it, it does not feel like you are on a toy. The quality parts used in manufacturing will ensure that you have this elliptical for years, even if the whole family is using it.

Product Reviews

Octane Q37Xi Elliptical Review

The Octane Q37Xi is one of the most popular cross trainers in the specialty fitness field and for good reason. Fitness professionals like myself always talk about balanced fitness with customers and clients. Something I always like to tell my clients is “I can get you good results with cardio training.

Product Reviews

NordicTrack Commercial X32i Treadmill Review

The X32i incline trainer is a treadmill that I would categorize separately from a standard treadmill. This unit has the capability to incline up to 40 degrees while also declining down to -6 degrees.

Product Reviews

NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle Review

The Nordic Track S22i is one of the more unique style spin bikes currently on the market. As this unit works off a magnetic resistance the unit is quiet as it adjusts the resistance levels for you automatically.

Matrix TF50 XIR Treadmill
Product Reviews

Matrix TF50 Treadmill with XIR Console Review

The Matrix TF50 with the XIR screen is perfect for every fitness level, whether you’re planning your next half marathon, or you’re just trying to reach your step goals for the day. The TF50 framing has assisted folding and four transport wheels for easy folding and moving.

Product Reviews

Echelon Smart Connect EX3 Max Indoor Cycle Review

    An Echelon Bike Review of the Echelon Smart Connect EX3 Max Indoor Cycle by Bob Cooke In this Echelon Bike review I’ll go over the quality of the exercise bike itself as well as the Echelon Fit App.   The Echelon Smart Connect EX3 Max is a high quality indoor spin cycle that […]

Product Reviews

Matrix R50 Recumbent Exercise Bike with XIR Console Review

Matrix R50 Recumbent Bike with XIR Console – Review by Nick Gregory, Fitness Consultant in Woodbridge, VA The Matrix R50XIR is an investment in quality. It emulates the Commercial Gym experience, while being personalized to facilitate your preferred training style. It’s easy to track your workouts with ViaFit, which syncs to top Fitness Apps like […]

Yoga for a Run, Running
Fitness

Use Yoga to Improve Your Run: Part I

When training the muscles of our thighs, athletes tend to naturally focus on the power houses of the quadriceps…the force behind the kick that drives us forward with each step. It’s easy to target the quadriceps in both our strengthening and stretching exercises (squats anyone?) and if the knee position is aligned, these muscles tend […]

5 Ways To Improve Mental Clarity And Reduce Stress
Wellness

5 Ways To Improve Mental Clarity And Reduce Stress

If you think “trying to relax” just doesn’t work, then you need to read this. Here are 5 super practical ways to improve mental clarity and reduce stress.

Fitness

Adding Strength Training Into Your Cardio Routine: Part 2

If you’re seeking to gain greater muscle definition, visible strength, or want to better address muscle imbalances, there’s no need to add expensive equipment to your strength training workouts. Incorporating a few dumbbells and resistance bands isn’t a big investment in time or space and you can even tuck some into an ottoman or under […]

5 spring workouts to do that are free
Fitness

5 Free Ways to Get in Shape This Spring

Spring has finally begun to blossom. The days are getting longer and warmer, and soon trees will be lush and flowers will be in full bloom. Summer will be here in no time, which means tank tops, shorts, and bikinis for some. For others, it means rock climbing, swimming or long bike rides. Unsurprisingly, spring […]

Fitness

Adding Strength Training Into Your Cardio Routine

Are tight schedules and a lack of equipment keeping you from getting the benefits of strength training? If you find yourself making excuses rather than making your workouts, it’s time to develop a program that works with you and your schedule. Low equipment and no equipment forms of strength training are excellent ways to build […]

Fitness

How to Train to Walk Your First 5K

My life was forever changed when I crossed the finish line of my first 5K. For starters, I never thought I could finish a 5K. And two, the journey to the start line taught me that when I put my mind to something, I can achieve it. Sign up and get motivated. The key for […]

Fitness

Strength And Cardio Training: Should They Mix?

Strength and cardiovascular training methods are often at odds. Many people train in strictly one or other, believing that the neglected training style will somehow hinder their progress. Gym myths and misunderstandings just add to the confusion, promoting ideas like “running burns muscle.” Other exercisers simply don’t know how to incorporate both strength and cardiovascular […]

Get Your Body ready for the beach
Fitness

How To Quickly Get Your Beach Body In 8 Weeks – Weeks 5 & 6

Congratulations on making it halfway through the challenge! Weeks 3 & 4 focused on increasing your intensity and introduced more weight with resistance bands and dumbbells. Coming up with weeks 5 & 6 we will add on additional workouts throughout the week. Some days will have both an AM & PM exercise. Saturdays will also introduce […]

Alleviate soreness from your cycling workouts with the best hamstring stretches.
Fitness

Best Hamstring Stretches for Your Cycling Workouts

If you’re hooked on cycling as a no-impact, high quality, cardiovascular workout, you already know that these workouts build strength, improve fitness, and even reduce body fat.  Cycling is easy on the joints and a great complement to running, weightlifting, and other forms of training.  Unfortunately, if you ignore mobility related to cycling, it could […]

Indoor Cycling- woman on a Matrix Fitness Exercise Bike.
Fitness

Best Indoor Cycling Hacks to Burn the Most Calories

Indoor cycling burns serious calories.  Cycling workouts get the heart pumping and leaves your metabolism jacked for hours, without impact on your joints.  So if a calorie churning workout is what draws you to your indoor cycling training, it makes sense to maximize efforts to increase the calorie burn.  Wondering how to do it?  Here […]

Beach Body Workout in 8 weeks
Fitness

How To Quickly Get Your Beach Body In 8 Weeks – Weeks 3 & 4

I hope weeks 1 & 2 of our Beach Body Series went well for you. If you haven’t started yet, that’s okay, it’s never too late. Starting this week we are going to increase our intensity and start challenging ourselves a little bit more. To accomplish this we will add in some weight training with […]

How to do a Snatch - A woman performing a snatch.
Fitness

Mastering the Snatch – Olympic Weightlifting for Functional Training

Olympic Weightlifting, also simply called Weightlifting, is growing in popularity, due largely to its inclusion in functional fitness style workouts.  The Snatch and Clean and Jerk (more on these later) are the only lifts included as competitive events in the sport of Weightlifting, though home and functional movement workouts include variations of these lifts.  This […]

Woman weightlifting with barbell
Fitness

When to Increase Your Weights – Here's How To Know.

You shouldn’t lift the same amount of weight for months or years on end. You need to challenge your muscles to continually work harder and become stronger. Here’s how to know when you’re ready to increase your weight.

Woman on stationary bike, an upright bike.
Fitness

The Benefits of Using Stationary Bikes

New exercise routines and regimens seem to appear on a daily basis, and treadmills and ellipticals continue to be the most popular cardio pieces in the gym, but don’t overlook the stationary bikes. The benefits of using an stationary bike are numerous and diversified. It is a great workout for beginning exercisers, elite athletes, and those […]

Beach Body Workout
Fitness

How To Quickly Get Your Beach Body In 8 Weeks

Can you feel it?! The warmth is coming . . .  and with that means summer is coming too! Get in shape and get ready for the beach (and a beach body)! Our wonderful Joli, certified personal trainer, has put together this amazing 8 week program to help us feel and look great on the […]

Woman excited about her fat burning treadmill workout.
Fitness

Fat Burning Treadmill Workout -Easy to Follow Steps

Now that you’re all set up with the basics of exactly how to run on a treadmill, it’s time to get more specific and use your treadmill to reach certain goals. For many of you, the number one goal is fat loss. Below are some easy to follow steps for a successful fat burning treadmill workout. […]

Knee Strengthening Exercises
Fitness

4 Knee Strengthening Exercises to Build Muscle and Alleviate Pain

Chances are, if you’re a regular exerciser you’ll suffer from the occasional ache and pain. And knee problems are right up there when it comes to those who experience some type of exercise-induced pain. If you’re one to suffer from occasional knee pain that comes out of nowhere and throws a wrench into your fitness […]

Belly Fat - How to lose Belly Fat Fast
Fitness

See How Easy It Is to Lose Belly fat

Wondering how to lose belly fat?  Belly fat contributes to the development of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and risk factors for heart disease.  Piling on a few extra pounds around the middle is a vicious cycle of insulin resistance and easy weight gain.  How do you break that cycle? You can lose belly […]

Woman holds onto a treadmill
Fitness

How to do High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Treadmill Workouts

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is one of the top training trends in the fitness industry today. In addition to being a good challenge (the words “high intensity” in the title give that away), HIIT treadmill workouts can be quick and very effective. While there are many ways to get in a HIIT workout (bodyweight […]

Face Pull Pull and Release with a resistance band
Fitness

The Face Pull: Get the What, How, and Why

Many might be fooled into thinking the Face Pull is just another easy corrective exercise. The fact is it’s a versatile exercise that can be programmed as part of your dynamic warm-up or as part of your upper body strength routine. Face Pulls primarily work the rear deltoids (shoulders), rhomboids and the external rotators (infraspinatus […]

Fitness

Quick, Intense Circuit Training in the Comfort of Your Own Home

Let’s face it, there are times when we just can’t get to the gym for a workout. Maybe you have a little one at home, or have a tight schedule, or you simply don’t want to deal with the hustle and bustle of a busy gym and having to fight the crowds. Sounds like the […]

Product Reviews

Echelon Bike Review – Echelon Smart Connect EX1 Indoor Cycle

Echelon Smart Connect EX1 Indoor Cycle – Review by Bob Cooke Have you ever wished that you could enjoy the live spin class experience from your own home for a more affordable price? If so, then this Echelon bike is for you! Check out the Echelon Smart Connect EX1 Indoor Cycle! Before we get into […]

Single Leg Romanian Deadlift with Weight
Fitness

How To Do A Single Leg Romanian DeadLift The Right Way

Master the Single Leg Romanian DeadLift Next up in my “Exercises You Should Be Doing” series is the Single Leg Romanian Deadlift.  Also known as the Single Leg RDL, this exercise not only provides an excellent lower body workout, but also carries over to work other key areas. This makes it an ideal exercise for […]

Sprint 8 is the perfect fitness solution for beginners to experienced athletes.
Fitness

Have the Courage to Try Sprint 8 – It's for Beginners too!

You may have heard about the scientifically proven Sprint 8 program that will blast up to 27% of your body fat away in just 8 weeks. If this sounds intimidating, it really isn’t. You can accomplish this goal in exercising for 20 minutes a day for 3 days a week. The goal of Sprint 8 […]

Fitness

5 Ways Exercise is Good for Your Brain Health

Like most people, my brain wasn’t always the first thing on my mind. At age 22 doctors diagnosed me with a brain tumor. Seven years later, my dad suffered a brain hemorrhage that left him severely disabled. These two experiences have changed the way I think about brain health. Now I strive to keep both […]

Benefits of joining a gym or working out at home.
Fitness

Working Out at Home vs. Joining a Gym: Which Will Get You Better Results?

The new year has begun with a new opportunity for making your fitness goals happen. Sticking to your fitness goals is going to take some planning. You may be finding yourself weighing the benefits of joining a gym and working out at home. As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, I spend a lot of […]

Man on Upright Exercise Bike doing a HIIT exercise bike workout
Fitness

Why You'll Love HIIT Exercise Bike Workouts (and How to Do One)

High Intensity Interval Training is one of the most popular and effective approaches to cardiovascular exercise. Research demonstrates that HIIT bike workouts reduce body fat, increase cardiovascular capacity, and even help to control type II diabetes.  On top of that, HIIT exercise bike workouts are efficient.  Replacing one or more of your moderate intensity cardio […]

improve heart health with exercise
Fitness

How to Improve Heart Health with Exercise

Exercise for appearance or performance often takes a back burner to getting (and keeping) our body healthy.  National Heart Health Month is a great time to incorporate ways to improve heart health with exercise. Heart disease and stroke remain the number one killers of men and women. However, many of the causes of heart disease […]

Medical professional holding a fake heart to fight heart disease.
Fitness

Heart Disease: When to Worry About Heart Health

February is National Heart Health Month, an effort to increase awareness of heart disease, which is the leading killer of both women and men each year.  Whether you’re worried about heart health or don’t really know where you stand, this is a good reminder to check in with your doctor. While genetics, age, and gender […]