Youth Fitness Equipment: The demise of the “Universal Gym”!

Universal started the fitness revolution in 1957 with the development of the first weight training machine. This machine incorporated several exercise stations into one unit allowing users to train in a circuit. The unique weight key system allowed users to easily change the amount of weight resistance. Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi believed in Universal Gym Equipment. It was the only weight-strengthening equipment he ever endorsed. Over the past fifty-two years, the Universal name has become so much a part of the sports and fitness vocabulary that the name is synonymous with fitness equipment. “Universal” is used interchangeably the way people say “Kleenex” instead of “tissue” or “Xerox” instead of “copy.” And there’s probably not a professional athlete alive who hasn’t used a Universal at least once..

That was all true until now!

Have you ever used a “Universal Gym” in your school? If so, you would likely recognize the large 6 station chrome painted futuristic machine that seems to have found its way into most school gyms across North America. This machine is a blessing and a curse all at once! It is a blessing in that it illustrates the ability of school officials to commit to a real solution when it comes to getting our students into shape. The curse is that the “Universal Gym” was built with poor biomechanics and it poses a real risk of injury to those individuals who use it. Like any other fixed motion strength machines, the “Universal Gym” lacks comfort and effectiveness for the user. SchoolFit would never endorse the use of such equipment, and we are working very hard to remove all inappropriate fitness equipment from school facilities across Canada. Would you ever use a “Universal Gym” these days? Of course not, so why do we expect our kids to use it? We owe it our children to make available the most effective and safest methods of exercise within all schools!

At SchoolFit we specialize in providing age appropriate fitness tools and support to students of all shapes and sizes, regardless of individual fitness level or goals, from the beginner to the elite athlete! We do this while creating a fun environment that engages kids, allowing us to convey the message that fitness is cool! The ultimate strategy for the SchoolFit program is to ensure that each student completes the government mandated 20 minutes of DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

We focus on the implementation of a complete fitness initiative within all schools that provides an effective and enjoyable workout experience for all individuals, in a comfortable and safe environment. The two essential components of a proper fitness program are quality equipment and qualified hands-on instruction, or the physical element and the non-physical element.

The Physical Element

Remanufactured Commercial Grade Fitness Equipment: Why blow your budget on new equipment?

SchoolFit has partnered with Keystone Commercial Fitness Equipment Superstore, Canada’s leading provider of remanufactured commercial fitness equipment! With over 30,000 square feet and more than 2,000 machines in stock, Keystone Fitness offers the largest inventory in Canada. As a member of SchoolFit, your school will save thousands on top quality commercial grade equipment. This will ensure that your school will have durable equipment which will last for many years, preventing replacement costs and expensive service calls. A school gym is used by several individuals daily, no different than a commercial health club, yet many Phys-Ed teachers make the mistake of purchasing “Light Commercial” or “Residential” grade fitness equipment. This is a costly mistake, only “Full Commercial” grade equipment is built for constant use and abuse. In addition, only “Full Commercial” grade equipment provides the effectiveness and comfort that we must provide to all students. Keep in mind that such machines can cost thousands of dollars brand new, such as a top commercial grade treadmill which most often sells for about $7,000! As a member of SchoolFit, your school will now have the ability to purchase that same treadmill for $2,000 to $3,000. That is less than half of the original price!

Cardiovascular Training Equipment: Give your kids a healthy start to a healthy heart!

Treadmills, Ellipticals, Bikes, Steppers, etc… These machines are essential in providing an avenue for prolonged heart rate increase in a controlled setting, especially when confined to the indoors as a result of the cold climate that persists in our geographical region. The greatest barrier to schools looking to purchase cardio training equipment is that this type of equipment is very expensive, and school budgets rarely afford the amount of money needed to purchase quality machines.

Click here to see the many cardio machines that we recommend: www.keystonefitness.ca

Bodyweight Training Equipment: The world’s oldest method of strength training is back, and it’s here to stay!

As the oldest form of resistance training, the once forgotten techniques of Bodyweight Training is now emerging as the chosen method of exercise for beginners and experts alike. Professional athletes and industry leading personal trainers are utilizing Bodyweight Training tools more than ever before, and the common belief is that this form of exercise is the wave of the future. Using your own bodyweight as a form or resistance is the safest and most natural method of exercise available, and is also the most affordable!

Would you like to lead your entire class through a group exercise that is affordable and easy to implement, and guarantees safety and effectiveness? Gravity based Hang Training equipment from Hangtime Fitness is the answer, and it is the first exercise tool of its kind! Using their own body weight for resistance, your students will hang from the apparatus while pulling or pushing themselves against the natural forces of gravity. Specifically designed for the school environment, the Post-Up Hang Training System provides a fun and challenging workout for a full class of students at once. This unique training device is more than just a piece of exercise equipment, it is a fully comprehensive workout program that enables students to train the entire body in a very short period of time. We guarantee that you have never seen a workout like this before, Hang Training is a revolutionary method of exercise that is appropriate for all individuals. This style of training is completely safe and youth appropriate, as it eliminates the risk of spinal compression and impact on the body. We highly recommend this style of resistance training, and encourage all schools to offer Hang Training equipment options. One of the most important features of Post-Up Hang Training System is that it is highly effective and accessible to both elementary and secondary school students.

Click here to see Hang Training in action!: www.hangtraining.com

Another important part of the SchoolFit recommended resistance training program is the Lebert Fitness product offering, Lebert Fitness is a world leader in innovative bodyweight training tools. Created by personal trainer and Taekwondo black belt, Marc Lebert, these products are utilized by pro sports teams, personal trainers, athletic departments, boot camps, health clubs and more. These extremely versatile tools take strength training to the field, ice, gym and court like no other. The Lebert Buddy System encourages kids to work together, as it requires two users to participate in each exercise. This encourages camaraderie and teamwork amongst the students, and also eliminates the competitive atmosphere that persists in most school weight rooms. The Lebert Equalizer is a versatile training tool that is perfect for teaching large groups at one time, and is very easy for teachers to lead an effective class instruction. As a member of SchoolFit, you will also have access to instructional demonstrations led by Marc Lebert himself! Your school will also have access to discounted pricing on all Lebert Fitness products that is only available to SchoolFit member schools.

Click here to view all of the great Lebert Fitness products: www.lebertfitness.com

Functional Cable Motion Machines: Safe, Easy, Simple!

SchoolFit promotes the use of cable motion strength machines, as opposed to traditional fixed motion selectorized weight stack machines. Similar to the “Universal Gym” that we have all come to know and hate, individual fixed motion machines provide the same poor quality workout and pose a similar threat of injury to the user. Fixed motion strength machines do not allow for natural movement, and restrict the user to motion which is not proper for the body. Cable motion strength machines allow for natural movement, and ease of operation due to the selectorized weight stack provided. Such machines include: Lat Pulldown, Low Row, Cable Crossover, Functional Trainer, etc…

As a result of our many years of experience in the fitness equipment industry, we have developed a complete line of custom built cable motion equipment that is custom built to meet the individual needs of your school! You may choose the colour of all frames and upholstery, you may modify the dimensions of the machine to fit your space, and you can even design your own creation with assistance from our design team!

Click here to view our catalogue of SchoolFit recommended cable motion machines: www.keystonefitness.ca

Free Weight Training Equipment: Lift your spirits, experience great feelings of accomplishment!

Challenging, yet calming. Repetitive, and also exhilarating. There is no feeling quite like lifting more than your own body weight, it leaves you with a fantastic feeling of accomplishment that becomes addicting. The use of dumbbells and barbells to build strength is prominent worldwide, and free weight training remains as the most popular form of resistance training. Many of today’s teachers grew up with some exposure to standard exercises like the bench press or deadlift, amongst the many other exercises that have become mainstay in the athletics and bodybuilding world. The problem is that most schools offer a limited inventory of free weights and related training apparatus that is unsafe for youth. Dumbells and barbells get loose over time and break, potentially causing unnecessary injury.

At SchoolFit, we offer a complete line of high quality barbell and dumbbell training equipment which includes all of the necessary benches and racks that your school will need. All of our free weight equipment is commercial duty and is accompanied by a lifetime warranty. We provide a full catalogue of custom built strength equipment that is designed to suit the needs of youth and adults alike, and we only offer equipment that we know is “age appropriate”!

Click here to view our catalogue of SchoolFit recommended free weight equipment: www.keystonefitness.ca

Core Training Tools:

Otherwise known as “Studio Product”, core training equipment includes the many balls, bands, mats and accessories that are essential to any complete fitness program. These are important tools that allow youth to exercise comfortably and safely, and they can be really fun! In addition, core training products are portable and affordable. Teachers can take these items outside, use them in small areas, and they may also use them for group training!

SchoolFit has partnered up with STAK Fitness, a leading national provider of fitness products across Canada. The STAK Fitness team is comprised of an extensive national network of professionals who possess many years of experience in the Canadian fitness industry. STAK is a licensed dealer for such top brands as Precor, Twist Conditioning, Expresso, etc… STAK Fitness also provides the company owned STAK brand of core training products, such products include: BOSU Balance Trainers, Stability Balls, Stretch Bands, Aerobic Steps, Stretching Mats, Yoga Mats, Slide Boards, Medicine Balls, etc… Your school will also have access to discounted pricing on all STAK Fitness products that is only available to SchoolFit member schools.

Click here to view the catalogue of SchoolFit recommended core training equipment: www.stakfitness.com

Sports Flooring Solutions: Increase comfort and safety, while enhancing the look of your facility!

Proper flooring is an essential component to any fitness facility, as the floor covering in your gym can either make or break the opportunity for your students to achieve an effective workout. SchoolFit has partnered up with Edgewood Matting in Calgary, Alberta to provide our members with a wide assortment of top quality sports flooring options at specially discounted prices! All of our flooring options are easy to install and last for many years, we even offer used flooring depending on available inventory.

Click here to view the catalogue of SchoolFit recommended sports flooring solutions: www.edgewoodmatting.com

Our typical proposed fully stocked fitness facility provides a complete and effective workout for all students. Teachers will provide the appropriate education and instruction based on the current fitness level of each individual student. SchoolFit will provide a wide assortment of applicable resources, allowing us to support and further educate teachers who lack the required knowledge of our modern exercise methods. These resources will focus on mainstream fitness for all individuals, and will utilize techniques from the following disciplines: Bodyweight Training, Hang Training, sports specific training, sports injury rehabilitation, basic movement, rehabilitation, weight loss, nutritional counselling, tai chi, yoga, kickboxing, and basic lifestyle coaching for all individuals. These non-physical components will allow us to provide a complete and highly effective fitness regimen, one that is sure to fulfill the needs of each individual student.

Building a complete fitness facility in your school could take some time, why wait! Contact SchoolFit today for a free consultation, one of our experienced professionals will be happy to assist you in creating a success plan for your fitness program.