Explore Top Gym Equipment Choices for Your Fitness Journey

Our Full Guide to Gym Equipment

In this blog post, we are bringing you all the information on gym equipment so you know how to make the best choices for your exercise needs when visiting Elevate Training.

To the beginner, gym equipment can be so confusing. When you first step into a gym and you see rows and rows of different machines, all with different buttons and mechanisms, it’s almost impossible to know where to begin.

We are going to break down some of the most commonly found, and commonly used gym equipment you’ll find out at our Elevate Gyms, or in pretty much any gym in the world.

It’s well worth reading this article because learning how to use gym equipment safely is very important in helping you to have a safe workout and helping you to avoid injury.

A Tour of a Typical Gym

Let’s set the scene. You’ve just walked into a gym for the very first time and you’re at the entrance door looking on at the scene unfolding in front of you. You can see people all across this indoor space performing a myriad of different exercises and you’re now wondering how you go about joining them without showing yourself up.

The first thing we’d like to point out is that at Elevate Training this would never happen because one of our personal trainers is always floating about and would be delighted to support your first steps into our gym. Even if they weren’t around, we’d be pretty sure one of our friendly community would also step in and help you out if you needed it or If you are looking for a nearby gyms, we can also help you to find one.

Also, a good first step before entering any gym is to familiarise yourself with some gym equipment names, so you know exactly what you need for the exercises you wish to perform. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered and we’ve rounded up the most common gym equipment names and their functions for you below.

Cardio Equipment

Definition of cardio exercise:

This type of exercise sees you perform activities such as running or cycling and raises your heart rate into higher zones which helps to burn calories and fat. Here is some gym cardio equipment that’ll get your heart rate raised and get you sweating.

Machine-Weight Gym Equipment

Definition of weightlifting exercise:

Weightlifting exercise is undertaken by those who wish to build muscle and get stronger. It involves progressively lifting heavier weights as part of a workout plan until you’ve hit your desired goals. Regularly lifting weights will help to stimulate muscle growth, strength, power and endurance.

Here is some machine-weight gym equipment that’ll help you on your muscle-building journey.

If you are new to gym and want to know more about gym work out, read our other article to get started with a gym workout plan.

Free-Weight Equipment

And here is some free-weight equipment that’ll help you to create the best version of yourself.

We’ve covered what we think are some of the most popular gym equipment in the above tables, and what we think you should consider using first as a beginner.

Gym Equipment Names and Pictures PDF Download

You could also check out our gym equipment names and pictures pdf download for information on gym equipment names.

• Improving cardiovascular fitness
• Helping to build muscle
• Helping to build endurance
• Helping to reduce stress
• Helping to reduce blood pressure
• Helping to reduce body fat
• Helps to promote good sleep

Cycling is also a great form of exercise because it’s non-weight bearing, meaning you’re not pounding your joints as with running, so it’s very friendly to people who have experienced previous knee or ankle problems.

One of the issues with outdoor cycling is that it can be dangerous because of traffic, and not every country is cycle-friendly. Also, the weather has a huge impact on the distance you can cycle, or if you can cycle at all.

This is where indoor cycling comes to the fore because you can cycle indoors any time of the year and any time of the day. The downside with indoor cycling is that you’re not going to get the scenery you get on an outdoor ride, but the recent developments in online cycling platforms such as Zwift and Trainer Road have helped address some of those issues.

Here’s a roundup of some of the best indoor gym cycling machines:

Peloton

Aptly named, Peloton is an amazing piece of cycling equipment that also comes equipped with an immersive touch screen. These gym cycling machines can also be bought for home use and can be connected to online cycling platforms through Bluetooth.

Wattbikes

Tthere are many versions of the Wattbikes, but unless you’re a pro rider you’re likely not to notice the difference. The Wattbikes are a great option for gym cycling machines as they come equipped with their own cycling workout apps and can be connected to other cycling platforms.

Other gym bikes

There are a plethora of other brands and models of gym cycling machines available but consideration needs to be taken about whether they are suitable for the workout you’ll want to undertake.

Taking to the treadmill in Oman

As you are aware, Oman is a very hot country and somewhere that’s not ideally suited to outdoor running during extremely hot times of the day. With temperatures regularly exceeding 30 degrees it can be dangerous to run outdoors and you must be mindful of keeping yourself safe when undertaking exercise.

This is where the treadmill is a very useful piece of kit. Treadmills in Oman are a popular choice because you can still get to run but it can be done out of the extreme outdoor heat and in an air-conditioned gym.

Here at Elevate Training, we have a fully-kitted gym to help you stay out of the heat and hit your weekly running mileage total.

Pro gym equipment

Do the professionals do anything different?

One thing we hear a lot at Elevate Training is questions and comments about whether the professionals do anything differently, in terms of training and exercise.

The honest answer to this is no they don’t! Very often there’s no pro equipment they use that’s far beyond the reach of regular gym-goers. What the professionals do have though is commitment and dedication to their exercise routine and their diet, which is imperative if you want to see results.

And while you’ll need to appreciate that you may never be a World Strongman or an Olympic gold medalist, you can work towards being the best version of yourself. If you are working towards dropping body fat, building muscle and leading a generally healthier and happier life, it’s a good idea to look at the routines of pros and try and replicate their successes.

Conclusion

We hope this article has been useful and informative to help you find your way around the gym for the first time. This article is meant to help you take your first steps into a healthier world, and we hope you continue on this journey. If, after reading this article, you’re still unsure of how to approach the gym, book a free consultation with one of our experts who can guide you on the first steps of your fitness journey.

Common Questions and Answers