There are many forms of strength training. When you think of this type of fitness activity, perhaps the first things that come to mind are weights or weight training machines. While these are certainly valid ways of strengthening your muscles, there is another way that you can control all without the weights.

Did you know you can actually strengthen your muscles just by using your own body as resistance? Over the years various fitness machines have been developed, some of which actually use no weights. Instead, your own body weight is used as resistance, thus creating a very natural effect. Exercisers such as the Total Gym are equipped to enable users the advantage of exercising every muscles group all without actual weights. Here’s how it works.

These devices usually have a bench, must like those found on weight benches. This bench can be positioned so that it is either flat or at an incline. The incline can be set to specification. The machine is equipped with usually a bar that can be lifted and lowered. This bar is affixed to the fitness machine. Various other parts are included that attach to the machine in different places.

Various exercises can be performed once these pieces are assembled. The trick? There really isn’t a trick. Your body serves as your resistance, making it difficult at times to complete some of the exercises. The different levels of incline will provide different levels of resistance. It really is as simple as it sounds. If you want more resistance, simply change the incline.

Such machines often come with instructions explaining how to assemble each piece. It is usually not possible to assemble them all at once, but you can, however, develop quite a fitness routine by alternating different exercises on different days. Assembly is also quite easy. The instructions also include the various exercises that can be performed and show you how to devise your fitness plan accordingly.

While this is probably considered a more nontraditional form of exercise, it can be a quite effective way of staying physically fit. Such units can usually be folded up and stored, thus making them a great choice for putting together a home gym when space is an issue.