If you are looking to score extra points this holiday season by giving unique and innovative fitness gifts, then the SMART Core Wheel should be on your list.

In fact, get one for yourself AND your fitness friend and introduce a #corewheelchallenge to your 2020 fitness routine.

Do they really work?

One word. Yes.

But don’t take our word for it. Try it for yourself and see!

If you need some further insight, one study at California State University discovered that muscle activity was notably higher in participants that were performing exercises with a core wheel when compared to traditional ab exercises.

Core wheels are a great combination of isometric and dynamic exercise making it the real deal when it comes to functional fitness. It’s not only a perfect tool for abdominal training but an extremely effective tool in the overall development of your midsection and upper body.

The Inside Scoop: How does it work?

The true power of the core wheel lies in its simplicity. The basic premise is that you start on your knees or standing, grab the handles with your hands, and set the wheel on the ground. Next, you roll forward until your body is fully extended, then roll back to the starting position. Additionally, because our core wheel also comes with foot straps, there are a whole host of exercises that you can do with your hands on the floor, feet strapped to the pedals, and use the wheel to roll your feet back and forth. 

You may not think that this tool will give you a tough workout from a distance, but don’t dismiss it just yet. You will see from the first roll that it is working.

The core wheel rollout exercises engage your entire mid-section, and when working altogether, these muscles act like a corset pulling everything in. The core wheel actively recruits your stabilizer muscles to keep you from falling over –internal obliques, external obliques, and transverse abdominis. Rolling the wheel fires up your rectus abdominis. Your upper body even gets in on the action by engaging the erector spinae (muscles along your spine) and latissimus dorsi (broad muscles on both sides of your back), as well as your deltoids (shoulders), chest, biceps, and triceps.

But the real key here is all about synchronized control. The whole chain of muscles from your hip flexors and up toward your shoulders has to work together to stay in form with no breaks in the chain.

Form Matters!

Remember, it takes a lot of control and strength, from both your core and your entire body, to use the tool correctly. Proper form will help you from straining your lower back or putting too much stress on your joints. It’s always better to do one good move in proper form than ten moves in poor form.

Be sure to keep your spine neutral, chin tucked, and brace your abs.  Your goal should be to avoid arching your lower back as you roll out. If you feel this happening, reduce your range of motion (shorten the roll).  

Here are your first three #corewheelchallenge moves to try with your friend.

1. SMART Core Wheel Knee Rollouts with Opposite Knee Plank Mountain Climbers

2. Plank Hold on SMART Core Wheel with Fiesty Floor Sprints

3. Round the World Pike Ups with the SMART Core Wheel

Give the Gift of Innovative Fitness!

If you want to give the wellness enthusiast in your life a fresh, innovative piece of equipment for their fitness toolbox, this will fit the bill. The SMART Straps Body Weight Training System adds a different dimension to standard strength training.

Our SMART Straps use a series of bodyweight exercises that utilize heavy-duty straps to leverage gravity and resistance.

This type of training covers a lot of ground in your fitness routine.  It can improve muscular strength and endurance while even improving joint mobility and flexibility. Because you are constantly working on stability, the exercises engage your core and improve your balance.

What do I do with those straps, anyway?

Have you ever stared at those dangling straps at the gym and wondered what to do with them? Bodyweight training using straps can be intimidating to a novice, but we’ve developed our SMART  STRAPS with our signature self-guided exercises printed directly on the straps for easy reference. Your gift recipient will appreciate this!

Three Reasons to Try Body Weight Training using our SMART Straps

1. It’s an amplified version of your regular body-weight exercises
2. It’s accommodating for people of all fitness levels – from novices to elite athletes
3. It’s completely portable making it easy to take your workout with you anywhere!

Don’t be deceived by appearance, because you will get a killer workout, and our self-guided product makes it easy to learn!

We’ve made it easy to learn.

12 self-guided exercises printed directly on the straps for easy reference.

No more wrestling with floppy straps; easily place your foot in the pre-formed cuffs either facing down or facing up to perform even more core and leg exercises!

Use the two-door anchors to secure the straps anywhere! Toss over and loop tightly to a pole OR place them over a sturdy door, close, lock and you’re good to go.

Easily adjust strap length by simply tilting the buckle lever and sliding the strap to the desired length; this allows for quick exercise transitions. Match buckle placement on both straps for balanced exercises. Slide the slack manager towards the anchors to hold the excess strap up and out of the way during exercising.

Two individual straps allow for changing anchor widths for desired difficulty levels and different exercises. A neutral spacing for the straps/anchors would be shoulder-width apart. To make the movements slightly easier and stable, spread the anchors further apart, so they are wider than neutral. For more instability and a greater challenge, bring the anchors close together.

Use the Strap Connector to join the two Smart Straps together and create free motion dynamic muscle balance and core intensification. This durable connection piece can be tossed over a pole, goal post, monkey bars or tree branch for exercising anywhere.

Here’s your jumpstart!

Three moves to start with:

1. Chest Fly

2. 60 Degree Push-up

3. 60 Degree Pull-up

Do you have a fitness fanatic on your holiday shopping list? Or, maybe someone who needs a little more TLC in their life? We will be rolling out some featured products over the next few weeks that would make great holiday gifts (or a perfect treat for yourself). Let’s start with our SMART Stability Ball.

SMART Stability Balls

According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a stability ball is considered an effective tool for strengthening your abdominals and other core muscles. Using an exercise ball as opposed to weight bench or on a flat stable surface is that the body responds to the instability of the ball to remain balanced, forcing various muscles to be engaged.

The core muscles in your body stabilize and support all your movements. The “core” is not one specific muscle, but a word used to describe a group of muscles in your trunk and pelvis.

These muscles work together to protect your spine and help with everyday activities. Bending, throwing, lifting, reaching, and running all use stabilizer muscles. Keeping them well-conditioned is very important to overall health. Without conditioned stabilizer muscles, simple movements like pulling, walking, and running go unsupported and leave you at risk for injuries.

Training on a stability ball is one way to work this group of hard-to-reach muscles. Even just by sitting on the ball, you’re able to activate the stabilizer muscles and improve your posture.

Those muscles become stronger over time to keep you balanced on and off the ball.

More than just a core workout!

While it’s true that many people associate stability balls with core work, there are many exercises you can do that will also engage your legs, and upper body to increase strength. SMART Stability balls can be a strength training tool for the rest of your body.

Stuck for workout ideas? Our Self-Guided products are the perfect solution.

Are you stuck in your current routine? Our innovative, self-guided SMART Stability Balls feature 13 exercises that are printed on the ball for easy reference, making it easy to create a challenging workout on your own.

Need a jump start? Here are three moves to try:

1. T’s, Y’s & I’s
2. Russian Twists
3. Mountain Climber/Push up with SMART Stability Ball Hold

Make the most of that extra hour of sleep!

Don’t let a lack of rest sabotage your workouts. Sleep deprivation not only affects your mind but also your physical body.

At one time or another, we’ve all experienced a sleepless night that left us irritable, off-kilter and exhausted. One night doesn’t do that much harm, but over time the long-term effects of sleep deprivation put many people at risk for mental, health, and physical problems.

Mental fog or memory issues are common among people who don’t get enough rest, but there are other consequences that can have negative effects on your fitness goals.

Studies show that people who do not get the recommended 7-8 hours per night are more likely to gain weight, experience high blood pressure and suffer from a weakened immune system—despite working out and being healthy in other areas such as eating right.

Not getting enough rest stops your body’s ability to defend itself from things like the cold or the flu. If you are sick, it takes longer to get better. Over time, the effects can lead to bigger issues like diabetes.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, experts have known for years that not getting enough rest is directly linked to your body hormone levels and the ability to regulate and metabolize glucose. People who do not get enough are at a higher risk for weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Sleep deprivation increases the levels of insulin after you eat. Higher levels of insulin increase fat storage and your risk for diabetes.

Your body needs more than a healthy diet and exercise.

When you sleep your body is hard at work repairing and resetting itself and when you don’t get enough sleep it can’t do that. Bottom line—without rest your body systems don’t work as they should. Multiple studies show that getting less than 6-8 hours of sleep increases the risk of early death by 12 percent.

Here are a few tips provided by the National Sleep Foundation:

• Stick to a sleep schedule all week long
  • Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual.
  • Exercise every day
  • Set your bedroom temperature, sounds, and light levels to promote sleep.
  • Choose a comfortable mattress and pillows.
  • Alcohol and caffeine are sleep stealers
  • Turn off electronics before bed and store them in a different room

SMART Recovery

3 Foam Rolling Moves for a better night’s sleep

Solid foam rollers contour to the body and provide mild compression to the area. Foam rollers release tightness and discomfort caused by sitting, poor posture sustaining the demands of a long day.

Try these moves in the last 15 minutes before bed to relieve stress-related trigger points which will help you catch your zzz’s better every night.

1. SPINE ROLL RELEASE
2. MID/UPPER BACK RELEASE
3. LOWER BACK RELEASE