Total Gym

Tom's Log – October 1, 2010

Tom here from Sorrento in southern Italy.  My wife, Joy, and I arrived here yesterday. We’re enjoying some downtime before our annual Total Gym International Summit in Paestum for our distributors and GRAVITY Master Trainers at the end of October.

Speaking of international, with the success of Total Gym in rehab and consumer fitness for the past 36 years, many of our consumer customers don’t know that we have launched our GRAVITY Training on Total Gym program in over 23 countries!

GRAVITY Training on Total Gym is a multi faceted program for fitness professionals. 30 to 45 minute GRAVITY Small Group, Pilates and Personal Training routines are offered in a Club or Studio environment. These same workouts are available to our consumer fitness customers through GRAVITY CLUBHOUSE!! It’s free to join and keep your eyes open for all the newest GRAVITY DVD releases.

Back at Total Gym, I wanted to recognize marketing specialist Bonnie Lee, who just donated 14 inches of her hair to Locks of Love. We’re proud of Total Gym employees who selflessly help others. Thanks Bonnie!

I want to end with a Total Gym customer testimonial from Patricia in PA. Thanks for writing us Patricia!

I love my Total Gym! In less than 2 months, I have dropped 2 jean sizes! I am 53 and knew I needed to do more weight training but the gym I belonged to was just not cutting it. So I dumped my gym membership and I am rocking it now! I bought my Total Gym in the strangest place…a yard sale! I was lucky enough to pick it up for $20.00…I swear! I wanted one forever but I am a single mom, unemployed at the moment and I have 2 daughters in college….so I have to pay for books, LSATS etc. This was a blessing and I am looking quite good! I am getting abs!!!!! I am a former Mrs. Pennyslvania and I look better now than when I competed in 2002! I LOVE MY TOTAL GYM!

Yours in good health,

Tom Campanaro

Total Gym Weekly Workout – Overhead Press

This week Tom demonstrates the Overhead Press to work your shoulders, triceps and upper back with the “Wing” accessory.  You may know, Total Gym has several accessories available to perform different exercises.  Most accessories are ideal for multiple exercises*.

We love to hear from you! Is there an accessory you use with your Total Gym that you can’t live without?  Or maybe an exercise that we can have Tom demonstrate for you?  Tell us about it…

*Accessories are model specific so check your Total Gym model number before ordering new items.

Total Gym Weekly Workout – Torso Combo

Today Tom describes a Torso Combo developed by our talented GRAVITY MasterTrainers.  Build upper body strength with with this Torso Combination that includes a trunk rotation for core strength, move into a chest fly and finally a bicep curl.  Change position on the glide board to build a workout that meets your needs.

These and more great workouts ideas can be found at GravityClubhouse.com.  Membership is free and it’s a great way to keep your Total Gym workout fresh. See you there!

Have suggestions for a workout you’d like Tom to perform? Let us know in the comments box on this blog post.

Tom’s Log – Fitness in China

China – a country of over 1 billion people and under 7,000 health clubs. What’s wrong with this picture?

Bao (GRAVITY distributor), Tom and Xoijing at China Fit conference

Let’s put this in perspective:  There are 3,500 clubs in California and 20,000+ clubs in the USA with 330 million people!

However, China’s fitness market is still in it’s infancy stage and with the trainer base growing, there is a lot of room to move. Total Gym is ready to grow with it!

Talking with many people while I was in China last week for the China Fitness 2010 convention, I heard the same story emerging:  Clubs in China are mostly in the business for money and could focus more on the quality of service to the member. Clubs are cutting prices and creating major competition so they are loosing money and not buying new equipment.

The fitness movement here is similar to what we are seeing in America, which is movement into the small box and studio space. The good news is the trainers in China who experienced our GRAVITY on Total Gym education LOVED it!!

Unfortunately, the China Fitness exhibit floor was dead and all the companies have told our Total Gym distributor that they may not be back next year. All of the big companies had small booths, and I also found they’re experiencing a lot of local knock-off competition.

On a more positive note, here are a few short videos from our GRAVITY on Total Gym demo at the convention led by Italian GRAVITYMasterTrainer Matilde Demarchi:

Those are my thoughts from China. Do you have any thoughts on this topic? Leave your comments below.

Tom's Log – Fitness in China

China – a country of over 1 billion people and under 7,000 health clubs. What’s wrong with this picture?

Bao (GRAVITY distributor), Tom and Xoijing at China Fit conference

Let’s put this in perspective:  There are 3,500 clubs in California and 20,000+ clubs in the USA with 330 million people!

However, China’s fitness market is still in it’s infancy stage and with the trainer base growing, there is a lot of room to move. Total Gym is ready to grow with it!

Talking with many people while I was in China last week for the China Fitness 2010 convention, I heard the same story emerging:  Clubs in China are mostly in the business for money and could focus more on the quality of service to the member. Clubs are cutting prices and creating major competition so they are loosing money and not buying new equipment.

The fitness movement here is similar to what we are seeing in America, which is movement into the small box and studio space. The good news is the trainers in China who experienced our GRAVITY on Total Gym education LOVED it!!

Unfortunately, the China Fitness exhibit floor was dead and all the companies have told our Total Gym distributor that they may not be back next year. All of the big companies had small booths, and I also found they’re experiencing a lot of local knock-off competition.

On a more positive note, here are a few short videos from our GRAVITY on Total Gym demo at the convention led by Italian GRAVITYMasterTrainer Matilde Demarchi:

Those are my thoughts from China. Do you have any thoughts on this topic? Leave your comments below.

Total Gym Exercises: Tom’s Weekly Tip- Progression of Pull-up

This is the final video in my rehab series. I recruited GRAVITYMasterTrainer Nicole to help show the progression of pull-ups on Total Gym PowerTower. Watch to learn how to progress with your “plyometric pull-ups” unique to Total Gym only.

I wanted to briefly recap my rehab for my left ankle, which started with exercises on Total Gym, as you’ve seen, including lots of stretching of the ankle and calf for that ever-shrinking left calf. Today, I incorporated vibration training on Total Gym Zen Pro, one of the new Vibration Training Platforms. First thing I noticed was the added ankle flexibility while squating on the platform. It was a nice feeling doing calf raises while on the Zen Pro and I felt a nice loose sensation in my lower body. More to come on my vibration training…

Enjoy the video and your weekend!
Tom C

Always consult your doctor or rehabilitation specialist before performing Total Gym exercises if you are injured or recovering from an injury.

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Inspiring Story of Determination

Talk about inspiration, dedication and GOAL setting!!! This story comes out of Project Walk, a San Diego nonprofit that offers intense exercise-based recovery programs for people with spinal cord injuries.

Total Gym has been a major part of the fantastic work Project Walk is doing for spinal cord injury patients. We are fortunate to have them right here in our own backyard. What a dedicated group!

Can you imagine one day you are whole and the next you are unable to walk? This is what happened to Kendell Hall from Dallas, TX. A bad car accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. During the last three months at Project Walk, Kendell has regained movement in her upper body and is now doing load bearing exercises to help her regain strength in her legs.

Check out Kendell as she goes along her very challenging life road. Here she is doing squats (unassisted) on Total Gym at Project Walk:

Project Walk does not accept insurance so clients must actively fundraise to pay for their rehabilitation. If you would like to donate to Kendell’s cause, visit www.help-a-fwend.com.