As a fitness professional, people ask me every day “what’s the best exercise or piece of fitness equipment?”
This question used to frustrate me because it’s the root cause of so many challenges people face in fitness. These days I use it as a positive opportunity to help people learn that fitness isn’t as complicated as they think and that it doesn’t require any fancy equipment.
So, what is the Best Exercise or Piece of Fitness Equipment
On the “best exercise question, my first statement is to explain that exercise variety is important, but that any exercise is only as good as the technique with which it is performed (Do it CORRECTLY…EVERY REP!)
As far as the “best piece of fitness equipment” question, I have two answers. Both of them are related and often surprise people. Which one I decide to use depends on how cheeky I’m feeling at the time.
My comedic (but no less true) answer is that…
the best piece of equipment is “the one you actually use on a regular basis”.
The follow-up to that is…
“In fact, the best fitness tool ever created is your own body”.
When they laugh, I say…”No, SERIOUSLY!”.
People are often so caught up in trying out the latest fitness tool or gadget that they forget to master the use of their own bodies.
This is why I like athletic-style training and typically avoid machines and isolated exercises except in very specific and temporary situations that serve to move someone towards a more integrated movement approach.
Movement Spectrum
As a fitness professional, I believe my job is to move people effectively through “The Movement Spectrum” in order to have the greatest positive impact on their health and longevity possible.
Learning effective movement doesn’t require any equipment. Just your body and enough space to do the movements you desire.
You’ve seen it before, but here is the movement spectrum.
Best Piece of Fitness Equipment
When we do use equipment, it should be to add some variety and challenge to a movement pattern. The important thing is that you must still control and coordinate this movement pattern. This is why I like free weights (barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, ViPRs), bands, TRX, and other similar tools. They are a tool, your body is controlling that tool.
Machines, on the other hand, will hold your body in position and take you through a supported and predefined range of motion. They do a lot of the stability and control work for you.
Yes, you still work specific and typically isolated muscles. With machines, your muscles will get strong, but your brain doesn’t effectively learn to control and coordinate the complex movement patterns that life requires.
This is why so many “strong, fit people” get injured from training like a traditional bodybuilder (typically isolated muscles and machines).
When we train based on movement and function for the “Sport of Life”, we have much more fun and produce greater performance along with the aesthetic results we desire!
Best Home Exercises
Here are a couple of simple and challenging “core” exercises using “gliders”. If you don’t have access to gliders, you can use a towel, T-shirt, rag, or even a piece of printer paper (I’ve used them all).
Try them out today at home or the gym. If you use the correct technique, you will be amazed at how much of your body gets worked!
If you need some help getting the right technique, please book your FREE consultation session with one of our expert personal trainers.
One of our Functional Movement Analysis sessions is the best investment you can make in your future fitness. You will learn how to do all 7 of the Primal Movement Patterns.
These patterns are the foundation of every fitness exercise ever invented and will allow you to be better in any workout, with any fitness equipment, class, sport, or activity you participate in.
Not bad for an hour of your time!
Expert Personal Training and Lifestyle Coaching To Help You Thrive
Comments
I never heard of gliders before. It does seem to make this exercise a lot easy. Enjoyed learning about from your video.
Thanks for reading and commenting Ann!
Thanks for sharing this exercise tips with us. i will try them out
Thank you for reading, and good luck!
I totally agree that our bodies are the best fitness equipment that was ever created. And fitness isn’t complicated at all. Thanks for spreading this critical awareness through the post!
Thank you for the feedback. We are glad you find our post helpful.
We bought some basic fitness equipment for our home during Covid but I still love the community feel of group fitness classes.
Great to hear that Vaishali. Thanks for the feedback.
My husband and I bought some weights and a mat a couple of years ago and do a lot of lightweight workouts and body weight workouts. I’ll have to try to add some gliders to our workout routine as a way to change things up a bit.
Yes, exactly, change your workout routine to feel motivated always. Thanks for the feedback!
I don’t own any gliders but hopefully one day I can add it to my gym equipments. Currently, I use barbells for a weighted workout and do plyometric exercises if I don’t feel like lifting weights. I have to admit, plyometrics are hard but dang, they work well in building good overall strength!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
You can use a towel if you dont own gliders. Thanks for commenting!
You know, the human body, was the first thing I thought of when I read this title. Weights and bands and the like are all nice, but all you really need for a good workout is your own body!
Exactly Beth! Thanks for commenting!
I do enjoy every single post of yours. I started with a few workouts and it’s helpful. Thanks
Glad that we can help! Thanks for the feedback!
I had to smile at your comment regarding doing the exercise right! I can be guilty of not focusing on form. We have bands, free weights, etc… in my home, but I had not heard of the gliders. Looks like something I would like to add to our collection.
You can use towels instead of gliders if you like. Thanks for the feedback!
While I do keep a gym membership at Planet Fitness, I also keep a bare minimum of weights at home so I can do p90X workouts if I can’t leave the apartment.
Great to hear that Brian. Thanks for the feedback!
I totally agree that your body can be the best piece of equipment for getting in shape. Doing plilates works wonders for my body type.
Great to hear that Heather! Thanks for commenting!
Hhhhmmmm…thank you for this review on fitness and it’s corresponding equipment. I’ve wanted to get myself a treadmill for a while now. I think this is the motivation I needed!
Glad that we can help! And thanks for the feedback!
Great tips on staying fit. I found it interesting you like athletic-style training and typically avoid machines. I will add this to my fitness routine.
So glad to learn more about exercising! I should start it soon. Thank you!
Glad that we can help!
Staying fit with a variety of movements through exercise is so important. Such interesting thoughts on finding the best fitness equipment.
Glad you like it! Thanks for the feedback!
I need to work on my fitness routine and keep it consistent. Very informative post and helps to improve.
Thanks! And good luck!
Movement is so important! And I do belive that using your body as resistance is best.
Exactly Jennifer! Thanks for the feedback!