VRT in the Gym; machines & light weight

[MikeNY]

I have one friend that is using the Gym with VRT. Sounds odd but he likes his Gym membership, he is using 10 pounds on the machines and thinks it improves his form and uses VRT for his real resistance. Sounds a lot like the old fashioned muscle men of 1900, light weight and muscle resistance. VRT rocks

[Alan_OldStudent]

I have one friend that is using the Gym with VRT. Sounds odd but he likes his Gym membership, he is using 10 pounds on the machines and thinks it improves his form and uses VRT for his real resistance. Sounds a lot like the old fashioned muscle men of 1900, light weight and muscle resistance. VRT rocks
Hi Mike,

To tell you the truth, I don't much like it. Machines force your body to adapt to their arcs of motion which are designed for averages. Everybody's joints articulate at unique angles, and limb lengths vary.

Supposedly, machines based on Jones's concepts (Jones was the inventor of the Nautilus machine) put stress on the muscle from a variety of angles, but for me the advantage is canceled out by the disadvantage of forcing you to conform to their design and by the muscle isolation features built into the machines. Moreover, their fixed tracking interferes with development of coordination in tandem with strength.

It makes more sense to do VRTs with light dumbbells in Jowett's manner if one must use external devices than it does to use machines with low weights and VRT. I sometimes use pieces of PVC, which weigh less than 1 ounce, I'm sure. And in using dumbbells, I would emphasize the word "light" because one of the main techniques of VRT and Transformetrics approach is to focus on the muscle in motion as opposed to an external device, and heavier weights can distract from that.

But I agree with you, Mike. VRT rocks. To me, the genius of VRT is that it gives resistance to the muscles at all angles while working the muscle groups in tandem. This develops balance and coordination along with strength through an entire range of motion and at all angles in both agonist and antagonist groups simultaneously.

On the other hand, the machines' design deliberately isolates the muscles and enforces a somewhat unnatural arc of motion for most individuals.

Doing VRTs with light dumbbells might enable one to visualize resistance more. Personally, I tried that and did not like it. To me, the weights became a focus of attention, and I benefit most when my muscles working become a focus of my attention.

The only time I use dumbbells is for heavyhands in the park, and those are 2 pounds and 5 pounds and are really more for aerobics. Even with those, I must exercise caution to make sure my stride does not become unbalanced, thus exposing myself to subtle long-term injury caused by torquing.

But if your friend feels benefit from doing VRTs on machines, I'm the last one to criticise. He at least is being creative, and being creative is key to effective physical culture.

Regards,

Alan OldStudent

[MikeNY]

Alan very well written, when I started VRT I just couldn't focus and had been doing the M7 for awhile. I used a four foot red oak fighting staff as a barbell and two (clean & unused) wooden footrollers as dumbells, and in time was able to put aside the fake barbell and dumbells. Alan i think your right on in your estimate, and I can not see one advantage to using the machines. Maybe he likes that social scene but who am I to be a nay sayer. Obviously no one at the Gym cares he is using ultra light weight for Isometric contractions as long as he is a member. I did wonder if it was the familiarity of using the machines since he is a long term Gym user.

[gruntbrain]

A pulley setup attached to weights is a "machine" that allows for "unlimited" planes of motion. Of course, suspended rope handles would be roughly equivalent to a pulley system.

[Alan_OldStudent]

Alan very well written, when I started VRT I just couldn't focus and had been doing the M7 for awhile. I used a four foot red oak fighting staff as a barbell and two (clean & unused) wooden footrollers as dumbells, and in time was able to put aside the fake barbell and dumbells. Alan i think your right on in your estimate, and I can not see one advantage to using the machines. Maybe he likes that social scene but who am I to be a nay sayer. Obviously no one at the Gym cares he is using ultra light weight for Isometric contractions as long as he is a member. I did wonder if it was the familiarity of using the machines since he is a long term Gym user.


Hi Mike,

Thanks for the kind words about my writing.

You're probably right. He probably just has part of his life in that particular gym. If it's a ritual to him that enables him to get stronger, stay healthy, and enjoy the social amenities, more power to him.

My experience, however, is more in line with yours.


Regards,

Alan OldStudent

[Alan_OldStudent]

A pulley setup attached to weights is a "machine" that allows for "unlimited" planes of motion. Of course, suspended rope handles would be roughly equivalent to a pulley system.

Hi Grunt,

You have a point there. However, it seems to me that VRT and DVR offers a more organic and natural circular resistance than does a pulley setup with weights, somewhat similar to a Nautilus machine.

As a very long-term member of this forum, as well as others, you certainly are much more knowledgeable about physical culture than I and I respect your opinion very much. But to me, it seems that weights on pulleys are not as versatile as DVRs and VRTs.

Of course, with a pulley-and-weight system, you have the objective measurement of work in the form of numbers on weights.

But personally, weights distract me from the subjective focus on the muscles working under resistance, and my goals for a workout are more on aimed at the experience of muscles working in coordinated groups than moving X pounds Y number of times.

I sometimes do visualize doing exercises at a Nautilus type machine or pulling on a pulley-and-weight setup.

I constantly experiment.


Regards,

Alan OldStudent

[gruntbrain]

Alan
In addition to virtual methods, I'd encourage you to experiment with some inexpensive, easily constructed suspension device where gravity & YOUR OWN BODY are used for resistance. Such a setup will challenge you with many ranges of motion. Note JP's Power Belt can be anchored & used as a "suspension device"

[MikeNY]

As an update my friend using VRT in the GYM likes the results, tells me he feels the "burn" and thinks he is getting better results using VRT than weights. Now he has been a member of the GYM a long time and used weights for decades. If he can change maybe others can find the way.