Sample
Sample
Exercise Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................1
Chest....................................................................................3
Shoulders..................................................................................17
Back..................................................................................29
Arms...................................................................................37
Core..................................................................................46
Legs..................................................................................51
1
FUNCTIONAL TRAINING ARMSh
unique individuals and what may be effective for one person may not be as
effective for another. Your genetic makeup, goals, and available time are all
specific to you. In addition to reading this book, we recommend consulta-
tions with
fitness professionals such as a certified personal trainer and your local spe-
cialty fitness dealer.
Please remember to start easy and increase the total time and number of
repetitions gradually. Overdoing it in the beginning can cause unnecessary
muscle soreness. If at any time you feel excessive or unnatural pain, stop
immediately! Determine what is wrong before continuing. See your
physician if you have any doubts.
2
Chest
3
CHEST
Bench Press
Adjust the seat back to the upright position. Adjust the seat so that the
bench press handles are even with your chest. The bench press handles
should be adjusted for a comfortable stretch, about even with the front
of your chest. Too far back can cause excessive strain on your shoul-
ders! Grab the handles with an overhand grip and press away from
your chest. Do not lock out your elbows. Return slowly.
4
CHEST
Cable Bench Press
Adjust the seat back to the upright position and the Functional Train-
ing Arms to chest height. Sit upright, exercise grab the cable
handles with an overhand grip, and press away from your chest.
Return slowly.
hi
5
CHEST
6
CHEST
Incline Bench Press
Adjust the seat back to one of the holes in the INCLINE position. Your
comfort will determine which hole exactly. Adjust the seat so that the
bench press handles are even with your chest. Sit back in the seat so
that the seat back forces a forward lean. The bench press handles should
be adjusted for a comfortable stretch, about even with the front of your
chest. Too far back can cause excessive strain on your shoulders! Grab
the handles with an overhand grip and press away from your chest.
Return slowly.
7
CHEST
8
CHEST
Converging Incline Press
This exercise is very similar to the Cable Incline Bench Press, but your
arms converge to the middle as you press. Adjust the seat back to the
upright position and the Functional Training Arms to chest height.
Grab the cable handles with an overhand grip and press away from
your chest, upward at about a 45 degree angle, while bringing your
hands together. Return slowly.
9
CHEST
10
CHEST
Cable Decline Bench Press
Adjust the seat back to one of the holes in the INCLINE position.
Your comfort will determine which hole exactly. Adjust the Function-
al Training Arms to chest height. Sit back in the seat so that the seat
back forces a forward lean. Grab the cable handles with an overhand
grip and press away from your chest, parallel to the floor. Return
slowly.
11
CHEST
12
CHEST
Self Stabilizing Chest Press
This exercise targets the chest muscles, but because it is done without back
support, the core stabilizing muscles are also engaged. You will need to
use a much lower weight than standard bench press exercises.
Adjust the seat back to the upright position and the Functional Train-
ing Arms to chest height. Sit forward on the seat, without back support.
Grab the cable handles with an overhand grip and press away from your
chest. Return slowly.
Variations: Use an underhand grip, neutral grip, or even twist your wrists
(like a karate punch). You can also vary the width of the Functional
Training Arms. Changing the grip and width does emphasize different
areas of the muscle group.
13
CHEST
14
CHEST
Cable Incline Fly
Adjust the seat back to the upright position. Adjust the Functional
Training Arms to their widest position. Sit upright on the seat and
grab the handles with a neutral grip. Bring your arms together and
upward in a circular motion. Return slowly.
15
CHEST
16
Shoulders
17
SHOULDERS
Shoulder Press
Adjust the seat back to one of the holes in the SHOULDER position.
Your personal comfort will determine which hole. Adjust the Press
Arm to one of the holes in the SHOULDER position. Finally, adjust
the seat so that the press handles are at shoulder height. Sit back in
the seat so that the seat back forces a forward lean. The idea is to
align your body with the path of motion of the press arm, so that you
are actually pushing the press handles overhead. Grab the handles
with an overhand grip and press away from your shoulders. Do not
lock out your elbows. Return slowly.
18
SHOULDERS
Cable Shoulder Press
Adjust the seat back to the most upright position. Adjust the Functional
Training Arms to a vertical position. Adjust the seat so that the cable
handles are at shoulder level. Grab the handles with an overhand grip and
press your arms overhead. Do not lock out your elbows. Return slowly.
Variations: Use a neutral grip, or even twist your wrists (like a karate
punch). You can also vary the width of the Functional Training Arms.
Changing the grip and width does emphasize different areas of the muscle
group. As with all cable oriented exercises, this exercise can be performed
one arm at a time.
19
SHOULDERS
20
SHOULDERS
Cable Lateral Raise
Adjust the Functional Training Arms to a low position, about shoulder
width apart. Sit upright on the seat and grab the cable handles with a
neutral grip. While keeping your arms straight, raise your hands out-
ward and upward. Lower slowly.
Variations: Use an underhand grip. As with all cable oriented exercises,
this exercise can be performed one arm at a time.
21
SHOULDERS
22
SHOULDERS
Standing Cable Lateral Raise
Adjust one Functional Training Arm to a low position. Stand next to
the Functional Training Arm and grab the handle with an overhand grip.
While keeping your arm straight, raise your hand outward and upward.
Lower slowly.
23
SHOULDERS
24
SHOULDERS
Upright Row
It is important to use the supplied length of chain on this exercise.
Otherwise, the weight stack can easily “top out” and damage a pul-
ley. Attach the chain to the low pulley station (on some models, this
may be at the front of the leg extension lever), and then attach the
straight bar to the end of the chain. Stand facing the machine, close
to the low pulley. In the starting position, the straight bar should
be at arms’ length. Pull the bar upward to shoulder level. Lower
slowly.
25
SHOULDERS
Shrugs
Attach the straight bar to the low pulley (on some models, this may
be at the front of the leg extension lever). Stand on the foot plate
and hold the bar at arms’ length. “Shrug” your shoulders upward
and rearward. Lower slowly.
Primary muscles worked: Trapezius (upper back), Deltoids (shoul-
der).
26
SHOULDERS
External Rotator
Stand beside your machine and adjust the Functional Training Arm to
elbow height. For some, this exercise is more comfortable if you place
a rolled up towel under your upper arm. Grasp the handle, using a
neutral grip, with your outside arm. Rotate your arm, as if it were an
opening door, away from your midsection. Return slowly.
27
SHOULDERS
Internal Rotator
Stand beside your machine and adjust the Functional Training Arm to
elbow height. For some, this exercise is more comfortable if you place
a rolled up towel under your upper arm. Grasp the handle, using a
neutral grip, with your inside arm. Rotate your arm, as if it were a
closing door, toward your midsection. Return slowly.
28
Back
29
BACK
30
BACK
Low Cable Row
Attach the straight bar to the low pulley. Sit on the floor facing the
low pulley, feet on foot plate (against leg extension pads for GXP).
Keep your upper torso stationary and pull the straight bar to your
midsection. Squeeze your shoulder blades together. Return slowly.
Variations: Use an underhand grip. Use a wide grip with the lat bar.
Attach both single handles for a narrow, neutral grip.
31
BACK
Mid Row
Adjust the press arm to its furthest rear position. Adjust the seat so that
the press handles align with your shoulders. Adjust the seat back out-
ward as far as possible, so that the handles are at arms’ length. Grab the
handles with an overhand grip and pull back as far as possible. Squeeze
your shoulder blades together. Return slowly.
32
BACK
One Arm Row
Adjust one Functional Training Arm to its lowest position. Stand aside
the machine facing the Functional Training Arm and bend at the waist,
holding on to the seat pad for support. Grasp the single handle with a
neutral grip and pull to midsection. Return slowly.
33
BACK
34
BACK
Seated Cable Mid Row
Attach the straight bar to the Mid Pulley. Sit facing the machine
and leaning back slightly. Grab the curl bar with an overhand grip
and pull back as far as possible. Return slowly. Keep your upper
torso stationary!
35
BACK
36
Arms
37
ARMS
38
ARMS
Standing Bar Curl
It is important to use the supplied length of chain on this exercise.
Otherwise, the weight stack can easily “top out” and damage a
pulley. Attach the chain to the low pulley station (on some mod-
els, this may be at the front of the leg extension lever), and then
attach the Straight Bar to the end of the chain. Stand in front of the
low pulley with the straight bar at arms’ length. Try to keep your
elbows and upper arm stationary while you curl the bar upward, us-
ing your biceps muscles. Lower slowly. NOTE: You can use either
the stationary low pulley, or the Functional Training Arm pulley.
The weight ratio for the stationary low pulley is 1:1 (10 pound
increments to 200 pounds). The weight ratio for the Functional
Training Arms pulley is .5:1 (5 pound increments to 100 pounds).
Variations: Use an overhand grip.
Primary muscles worked: Biceps (front of arm), Brachioradials
(forearms).
39
ARMS
40
ARMS
Arm Curl From Mid Pulley
Sit facing back of machine. Using straight bar pull from mid pul-
ley towards face while leaning backwards.
41
ARMS
Triceps Pushdown
It is important to use the supplied length of chain on this exercise.
Otherwise, the weight stack can easily “top out” and damage a pul-
ley. Attach the chain to the high pulley and then attach the straight
bar to the end of the chain. Stand in front of the high pulley and
grab the straight bar with an overhand grip. Pull the bar down-
ward to a point where you can lock your elbows at your sides. The
motion is the opposite of an arm curl; push downward on the bar,
flexing at the elbow. Return slowly. Use a full range of motion.
42
ARMS
Triceps Extension
Attach the straight bar to the mid pulley. Sit upright in the seat and
grab the straight bar with an overhand grip. Try to hold your upper
arm locked into a horizontal position while extending your lower
arm at the elbow. Return slowly.
43
ARMS
Variations: Use an underhand grip. You can perform this exercise one
arm at a time using a single handle in place of the straight bar.
44
ARMS
Triceps Kickback
Attach a single handle to a Functional Training Arm and adjust it to
a low position. Stand beside the machine in front of the Functional
Training Arm. Bend at the waist to near horizontal. Grab the single
handle with a neutral grip. Try to lock your upper arm at your side
while extending your lower arm at the elbow. Return slowly.
45
CHEST
Core
46
CORE
Ab Crunch
Adjust the seat to the lowest position and the seat back to the upright
position. Attach the ab strap to the cable end located behind your head.
Drape the ab strap over your shoulders and hold it in place. Use your
abdominal muscles to crunch forward and downward. Return slowly.
47
CORE
48
CORE
Oblique Twist
Adjust one Functional Training Arm to its highest position and stand
aside of it. Grab the handle and pull it to your stomach. Hold the
handle stationary. Lock your hips into place and twist your upper
torso. Return slowly.
49
CORE
Side Bends
Adjust one Functional Training Arm to its lowest position and stand
aside of it. Grab the handle and hold it stationary at your side. Lock
your hips into place and bend your upper torso to the opposite side.
Return slowly.
Primary muscles worked: Obliques (waist), Abdominals (stomach).
50
Legs
51
LEGS
Leg Extension
Adjust the seat and the seat back so that, when seated, your knees are
aligned with the pivot point on the leg extension lever arm. Sit and
hook your ankles behind the lower roller pads. Grasp the handles, or
the sides of the seat, and extend your legs to horizontal. Return slowly.
52
LEGS
Standing Leg Curl
Stand facing the machine. Adjust the seat so that the connected roller
pads are above your knee. Grab the seat back, or the press arm for
stability. Position your ankles behind the lower set of roller pads. Us-
ing one leg at a time, bend your knee backward and upward as far as
possible. Return slowly.
Variations: If you point your toe, the calf muscle is less involved. If
you bend your ankle while bending your knee, the calf muscle is more
involved.
53
LEGS
Variations: Pointing your toes focuses the work on the Hamstrings, while
flexing your feet also involves the Gastrocnemius.
54
LEGS
Leg Press
This exercise can only be performed if you have purchased the optional
leg press attachment. Adjust the seat back to a comfortable posi-
tion. You should try to get as close as possible to the foot plate, yet
not so close that your knees are against your chest, forcing your knees
outward. Place your feet squarely on the foot plates and press outward
to full extension. Be careful not to lock out your knees! Locking your
knees is extending a bit too far and can result in injury. Return slowly.
55
LEGS
Calf Raise
Adjust the seat back on the leg press attachment so that your legs are
almost fully extended when your feet are on the foot plates. Do not lock
your knees! Place your feet on the foot plates so that the balls of your feet
are aligned with the pivot on the foot plates. While keeping your legs at
full extension (remember, to not lock your knees), push outward, flexing
at the ankle. Return slowly.
Variations: Angling your feet can target different areas of your calf
muscles. Angling outward will emphasize the inside of the calf muscles,
while angling inward will emphasize the outside of the calf muscles.
56
LEGS
Hip Adduction
Stand next to the machine and attach the ankle strap to your back leg.
Stand and grab the seat back, or press arm for support. Using a full
range of motion, pull your leg toward and across your support leg.
Return slowly.
You can use either the low pulley station or one Functional Training
Arm (adjusted to the lowest position) for this exercise. We suggest us-
ing the Functional Training Arm as the weight ratio is half.
57
LEGS
Hip Abduction
Stand next to the machine and attach the ankle strap to your front leg.
Stand and grab the seat back, or press arm for support. Using a full range
of motion, pull your leg outward, away from your body.
You can use either the low pulley station or one Functional Training Arm
(adjusted to the lowest position) for this exercise. We suggest using the
Functional Training Arm as the weight ratio is half.
58
LEGS
Glute Kick
Stand facing the machine and attach the ankle strap to one leg. Stand and
grab the seat back, or press arm for support, pelvis tilted forward. Extend
the hip and pull your leg backward.
59
Sports Specific / Functional
60
Sports Specific / Functional
Golf Swing
Attach a single handle, or the short bar to one Functional Training
Arm. Assume your golf stance next to the Functional Training Arm
and swing as if you were swing a golf club. Position the Functional
Training Arm at different heights to emphasize different areas of your
swing.
61
Sports Specific / Functional
Tennis Swing
Attach a single handle, or the short bar to one Functional Training
Arm. Assume your tennis backhand (or forehand) stance next to the
Functional Training Arm and swing as if you were swinging a tennis
racket. Position the Functional Training Arm at different heights to
emphasize different areas of your swing.
62
Sports Specific / Functional
Baseball Pitch
Attach a single handle to the mid pulley. Stand in front of the ma-
chine, grasp the single handle and throw as if you are throwing a
baseball.
Variation: You can attach the single handle to the high pulley to em-
phasize the downward part of the motion.
63