As an in-home personal trainer, what is your favorite piece of equipment to use with clients?

Who needs equipment? Bodyweight exercises are great! You don't need any equipment and you can strenghthen the entire body all at once not to mention work on balance, flexibility and endurance. Check out www.globalbodyweighttraining.com.

Jocelyn, as you can see from the responses, that was a great question. I agree with Phillip and Debbie. The TRX Suspension System is compact and portable which makes it easy to train with. As a PT and a NPC Figure Competitior it is hard to find a gym when traveling that will allow my muscles to train in the capacity that I need to. The TRX helps me and my clients to achieve this. The other great dynamic about the TRX that as trainers we overlook is that it is a FUNCTIONAL Training piece of equipment. Functional meaning; we need to train our muscles for everyday functions. Most weight equiptment is in a seated position which makes the movement restricted and less likely to cause muscle confusion. The TRX can be used in every plane of motion which gets better results. Throw the Rip Trainer in there and its the best workout you will ever experience on your own. ;0)

I too love the TRX system, however my clients have amazing workouts with simply using their own bodyweight and a set of dumbells; using multiple muscle groups, altering movements in different planes, and constantly keeping them engaged and challenged is essential.

A sturdy chair and a 4 or 8kg kettle weight.

I love the unique challenge of holding the chair for presses or lifts; that I can use it for step-ups, dips, incline push-ups, or jump training; and that I can use it to make "squats" comfortable for very novice, severely deconditioned or functionally inhibited clients.

The lighter KW makes everyone comfortable using momentum t... read moreraining and provides for creative, dynamic exercises that are "non-standard." It also helps develop grip strength in my arthritic clients.

If I could have a second training item: 4 or 6lb Dynamax medicine ball. Everyone likes to throw and catch and most people enjoy the rare opportunity to work on the floor NOT doing sit-ups.

One ball, one bell, one great workout.

Dunte H, Lubbock, TX

Hi Jocelyn. Ok, I know that I'm cheating here but I have to say TWO are my favorites because of their flexibility in use, and their ability to be easily transported: resistance tubes (with all of their accessories/attachments) and medicine balls.

I hope this helps.

LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness@yahoo.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com

Heart Rate Monitor Clients don't love it, but they love what it does for them.

I have to agree with Philip on his choice!

The TRX is compact, (everything fits neatly into a small tote bag) makes it ideal to take into situations where traditional exercise equipment would be impossible to bring. It's ideal for those clients either living in small apartments, or who have limited floor space in their homes

The TRX is so versatile and can be used to hit any body part to develop core strength, balance, cardiovascular conditioning, and flexibility.

I'll go with dumbbells and HR monitor.

I rarely train in-home but when I do, I always take a dyna disc along. It adds in a very compact way great balance challenges whether you use it as a chair cushion, stand on it or sit on it on the floor.

I would have to go with resistance bands and aerobic step. With these two tools I can get anyone to break a sweat and work every muscle group.

I LOVE the Lebert Buddy System as well as the Equalizer (both by the same company). It is versatile, easy to carry, and fun to be creative with. I do a 'basement bootcamp' for a few clients using these tools and the feedback has been incredible!
Manual Resistance...As long as you are skilled, it is a wonderful built-in tool (you are the equipment). I have found that using manual resistance has another benefit for my older senior clients and that is the benefit of human touch.

We all realize that you really don't NEED a piece of exercise equipment to get a good workout but Jocelyn did ask what are favorite was to "in-home" so you need to consider portability (size & weight of equip), the size of the area at your clients home where you will be training and just how many different workouts can you ideally get from that piece of equipment and how appropriate they are for most fitness levels.

You get it all with the TRX ....cardio, strength, balance, stretching for flexibility and core stabilization.

Give me some resistance tubes, a few dumbbells, enough room to put a mat down, and we'll get in some quality exercise.

As an in home personal trainer I have a complete gym in my garage so I use whatever suits the clients goals. When traveling I take bands, TRX, and a kettlebell or two.

I can give a killer in home workout with body weight exercises! But if I had o chose 1, my weapon of choice would a kettlebell.

While I have a whole gym full of machines, I simply love body weight exercises and dumbbells. Give me a couple sets of dumbbells and I can give the client a complete workout. I incorporate them in many of my sessions. That is not to say machines are not used, just that with dumbbells you can do almost anything!

Scott

TRX is my first choice but a very close second would be my BOSU! So many fun ways to modify body weight exercises adding a stabilization/balance element. Very useable piece for both the 12 year old athlete, and her 67 year old grandma.

A sturdy chair and a 4 or 8kg kettle weight.

I love the unique challenge of holding the chair for presses or lifts; that I can use it for step-ups, dips, incline push-ups, or jump training; and that I can use it to make "squats" comfortable for very novice, severely deconditioned or functionally inhibited clients.

The lighter KW makes everyone comfortable using momentum training and provides for creative, dynamic exercises that are "non-standard." It also helps develop grip strength in my arthritic clients.

If I could have a second training item: 4 or 6lb Dynamax medicine ball. Everyone likes to throw and catch and most people enjoy the rare opportunity to work on the floor NOT doing sit-ups.

One ball, one bell, one great workout.

Dunte H, Lubbock, TX

A Stopwatch!

Try it and see how creative you can get.

I like to use SO many that it's hard to pick just one. Bands, dumbells, aerobic step. stability ball, medicine ball, Reebok balance board, heart rate monitor and jump rope just to name a few that can easily be transported to a client's home.

As many have said, no trainer should need equipment; but I'm pretty sure you already know that, given your question.

If I personally had to choose one piece of equipment I would probably choose the ViPr. It has so many varied uses as a means to add load, momentum, etc. to challenge (and in turn enhance) movements (i.e. function), which at the end of the day is the only reason we use equipment. Plus, due to it's shape and varying hand positions, the tool itself has built in progression (e.g. ability to change the lever arm length) as opposed to say a dumbbell or resistance bands. I also believe it to be more authentic in regards to the drivers of movement than the TRX, though of course the TRX is an absolutely fabulous tool that I use often.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Good luck!