How to Use Elliptical Trainers - a Beginner's Guide

You bought the machine, now you need to know how to use the elliptical trainer to take advantage of its many benefits. Ellipticals have been around for a decade and they have become incredibly popular during this time. There are two reasons for their popularity: they are extremely easy to use and they can be used by people of all ages and fitness levels. These low-impact machines are safe to use even by the elderly and those who have experienced joint injuries from exercising on other equipment.nnRemember that just like starting any other physical fitness routine, it’s important to check with your doctor before you begin a new elliptical training routine just to be sure you are healthy enough and that it is safe for you. Once you have approval from your doctor, you are pretty much safe to start out on an elliptical machine. There is low risk of injury on these machines but learning how to correctly use an elliptical trainer first will reduce that risk even more. nnIf you are ready to join millions of others who are benefiting from ellipticals, then you need to know how to use elliptical trainers and how to exercise on them properly. Here are some tips to help you and to build your confidence with elliptical machines even if you have never used one before:nn

• Step onto the machine carefully by placing your foot in the pedal that is lowest to the ground.
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• When just beginning, try not to take a back stride but stride forward instead.
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• Start slowly and allow the machine to guide your motions.
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• Use the low resistance level and gradually increase the resistance only when you feel comfortable and have progressed that far.
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• Stand tall on the pedals and keep your back straight. Posture is important to the success of your workout.
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• Be patient when you first start out. The first couple of tries you may feel clumsy and awkward.
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• Keep your early workouts short - only about 10 minutes. You will be working muscles that don’t normally get worked and you don’t want to overdo it.
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• Remain control and find a good rhythm on your elliptical.
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• Use your hands on the bars to get a full body range of motion and upper body workout.
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• If you increase intensity and lose control, it’s time to pull it back a notch.

nnIf you need help on how to use your elliptical trainer, there are different options for you. Most gyms have employees on staff that can help you learn how to get on and off of the machine properly and how to use it correctly. They can also help you with finding the right settings for you to ensure you are getting the best workout for your needs and that you operate the machine safely.nnBecause they are low impact and easy to use, elliptical trainers are fairly safe for anyone to use and once you get the hang of it, your confidence with how to use elliptical trainers will increase and you will feel more comfortable on the machine. There are also different types of machines and some may be easier to use than others. If using the elliptical in a gym, you can ask about this and use the machines that will be easiest for you to learn on. If you are looking to buy a machine for your home, just do some research to find out which will be the easiest for you to learn to use. nnNow that you know how to use elliptical trainers you are ready to create your own elliptical workout routines and begin improving your fitness today. n