What the heck is that and what do I do with it?

Have you ever been to elements™, or any gym for that matter, and seen a weird, uncomfortable contraption and you think to yourself, "What in the world would I do with that?" Well, all you have to do is ask! Let's uncover those mysteries and help you create "out of the box" workouts to keep you on your toes and excited about fitness.

Let's start with that little moon shaped, air bubble, formally known as the Bosu Ball. Basically, this is a stability ball cut in half. The name is an acronym that stands for "BOth Sides Up", a reference to the two ways a BOSU ball can be positioned for use. The device is often used for balance training.

Upside Down : As the name suggests, the device can  be flipped over so that the platform faces up. In this position, the BOSU Ball is highly unstable and can be used for a wide array of exercises involving balance.

When the dome side faces up, the BOSU ball provides an unstable surface while it itself remains stable. This combination of stable/unstable allows for a wide range of users, from the young, elderly, or injured to the elite level athlete. With the dome side up, the device can be used for athletic drills and aerobic activities.

So now I know what it is, but how do I use it? Stay tuned...

elements™ in the News

Check out the feature that the Charlotte Today Show did about elements™! View the facility, meet some of our members, and hear what we have to offer from Lifestyle Coach Ewanda Thompson!

>> elements™ on the Charlotte Today Show <<

Join elements™ during the month of October and help out a good cause, as partial proceeds will be donated to the Charlotte Chapter of >> Girls on the Run <<

The Katie Challenge

In order to gain the true elements experience, we have decided to accept the challenge to train with Lifestyle Coach Jenny Craven 3 times a week...and blog about our progress. Yes, we work at a gym, but we ourselves are not trainers, and therefore have room to improve! With each others' help (the power of Katie Squared,) we plan to get healthier, and along the way inspire others to do the same! Here we go...

It begins...look at that enthusiasm!

What does air have to do with it?

When you think of a gym, what do you see? Hear? Weights banging, plated weights on pulleys, big dumbbells, pull up bars, dip machines, incline benches, medicine balls? So then what does air have to do with working out, other than when I gasp for breath?

Ladies, the answer is everything! The latest addition to the fitness industry is air-pressure strength machines. Air-pressure technology provides safer and more effective exercises for a wider range of people of all different fitness levels. Sports injuries are on the rise with women between the ages of 25-65 and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission claims the increase in weight training injuries is due to age and technique, but more so due to the shock loading to aging joints from conventional weight stack machines which cannot occur with air-pressure! The weight distribution and smooth, fluid motion is constant on air-pressure machines; no matter the weight or how fast your method/reps are.

Now, combine that with smart-card technology, and that workout that used to take you 2 hours to complete will now be 30 minutes! Think I am crazy? Smart-Card technology will save your weight used, sets needed, desired reps, count your actual reps, tell you what exercise to do next, and even tell you when you need to be re-assessed by a fitness professional!

elements™ has it! 

HUR Health and Fitness Equipment

To Sauna or Not to Sauna.....

Why infrared saunas? Why do I need to sit in that small box and sweat even more after I workout?

Unlike traditional Finnish saunas which use steam to heat the air, and thereby the user, infrared saunas use infrared radiation to directly heat the user. An infrared sauna uses a specific type of heater that creates infrared waves that heat your body directly, instead of just the air. Radiant energy produced by these heaters is the same as the heat from the sun, but without the harmful ultraviolet rays. In a warm environment, an infrared sauna could be open-air and still heat your body in the same manner, because the heaters don't rely on the air being hot. 

An infrared sauna is typically a wooden box, or small wooden room, containing a number of infrared heaters. Scientific studies have found that a 30 minute session in an infrared sauna can result in the loss of toxins and stored fats in the body - up to 6 times the level that a traditional sauna or exercise can achieve! Because the skin is the body's largest organ, frequently sweating in a far infrared sauna helps decrease the toxic load, and contributes to better health and vitality. Infrared sauna use is beneficial for a wide range of ailments through the increase in circulation that it causes in the body. A 30 minute session in an infrared sauna is also equivalent to walking or jogging for 10 to 15 kilometers. An added health benefit is weight loss! Infrared heat penetrates deep into the tissues of the body to melt away cellulite and fats.

Extensive testing has shown that infrared saunas are a safe place for anybody to relax! As a result, users are able to stay in infrared saunas for longer periods of time, resulting in greater benefits. Bottom line, the infrared sauna is a safe and effective detoxification therapy, which is of value to everyone, regardless of age! 

Come check out elements' infrared sauna!