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Trying out that foreign-but-fun-looking equipment at the gym is kinda like pairing stripes with patterns.
Especially if it’s your first trip to the gym in, um, a while.
programin New York City.
Looks like a nice place to display potted plants or magazines, right?
Yes, but don’t let your inner Martha Stewart distract you.
Most newbies can tackle an 18-incher.
Try it:Stand in front of the plyo box, feet hip-width apart.
Step back down with one foot, than the other, and repeat.
What it works:Arms, back, butt, legs
Sure, you know what this is.
“Um, self explanatory,” you say.
But have you ever actually used a balance disc at the gym?
Well, now you will.
This move from Jackson takes an oldie-but-goodiethe side plankand adds the balance disc for abs-olutely incredible core cuts.
Raise hips to create a line from feet to shoulder.
Return to start; repeat.
Do 3 sets of 12 reps on each side.
What it works:Everything!
Shoulders, chest, arms, abs, back, butt, and legs.
Remember that ginormous rope you used for tug-a-war as a kid?
Remember how using it always kinda sucked?
(The rope burn!
Feeling ridiculous when you lost your footing!
The rope burn!)
This will be nothing like that.
But the props are pretty much the same.
Next time you see ‘em at the gym, walk straight over and try this.
Squat low, with back flat, shoulders down and chest out.
Continue as quickly as you’re free to for 40 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds.
What it works:Everything!
Shoulders, chest, arms, abs, back, butt and legs.
It’s one of the simplest to master and modify.
Go-to move:Standing push-up
Try it:Adjust the straps so the TRX handles hang above hip height.
Face away from the anchor point with feet shoulder-width apart and hold the handles with your arms extended.
Slowly lower chest to handles, bending elbows out to sides.
Press arms back to start; repeat.
Do 3 sets of 12 reps.
But they’re also awesome total-body toning tools.
Because the Superband is one huge loop, you are the anchor.
Which makes using onealmost anywherecake.
Go-to move:Guess what?
We think the Superband is so rad, we designed ahead-to-toe workoutwith it.
It’ll only take you 10 minutes.
FYI before you jump in: The width of a Superband indicates its resistance level.
So if you’re used to wielding 5-pound dumbbells, opt for a half-inch band.
Comfy with 8s and heavier?
Try 3/4 to 1 inch.
What it works:Everything!
Shoulders, chest, back, abs, butt and legs.
If a stress ball and a medicine ball had a baby, that lovechild would be the Dynamax.
Squat low, then explosively jump up, simultaneously throwing the ball into the air above your head.
Catch it, then return to start and repeat.
Do 3 sets of 10 reps.
What it works:Everything!
You’re in a true athlete training facility.
Second, don’t they look like the world’s smallest parallel bars?
Go-to move:See saw
This souped-up plank will challenge even the hardest of cores.
Plus, you’ll look hella cool doing it at the gym.
2016 Games, anyone?
Try it:Set the bars parallel and about two feet apart.
Start in push-up position, hands gripping center of bars, body in line from shoulders to heels.
Reverse movement to return to start.
But maybe you’ve done a driveby and just thought “Uh-uh.”
But this one’s different.
It uses gravity to shred your abs into Gwen-Stefani-lookalikes.
We know, we know.
Use this bench at the gym, and you’ll be the six-pack benchmark.
Slowly lower your legs until they’re parallel to the floor (and not touching the bench!
