Find the right tools to get into shape

Luis Castro, a fitness specialist at Baptist Healthplex in Jackson, passes a stability ball from his hands to his feet.

Remember when getting (or staying) in shape meant jogging around the neighborhood, suffering through a dozen or so reps of push-ups and sit-ups, or some old-fashioned jump-roping Muhammad Ali style? At most, the investment was a pair of sneakers and a couple of dumbbells.

Those days no longer exist for many consumers, who are focusing less on natural resources and digging deeper into their pockets for the latest exercise equipment, some of which sport price tags that the average fitness buff has to finance through monthly installments.

Consumers spent $3.55 billion on household exercise equipment in 2007, a record high, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

With so many varieties of tools on the market, how does a fitness aficionado choose?

Lisa Newman, an exercise physiologist and professional personal fitness trainer who uses tools daily with her clients, said it is important to select equipment that matches your specific goals and limitations.

The most effective tools, she said, incorporate four essential fitness components - cardio conditioning and aerobic fitness, strength and sports performance, flexibility and body alignment, balance and core stability.

"The fitness tools help to provide an interesting, fun experience that keeps the participants focused on their goals," said Newman, owner of PERFIT Inc. "This makes using fitness tools a challenge for both mind and muscle."

More than 25 million Americans work out in home gyms, according to the SGMA, while millions more use "individual" fitness tools in their homes.

You don't have to spend thousands on equipment or hire a personal trainer, for that matter, to benefit from the latest the industry has to offer.

"The most important part of any fitness program is enjoyment and involvement," said Newman. "If you like working out and look forward to it, you'll keep doing it and see the benefits. If you don't, well, you won't."

Newman said these are the most effective tools on the market:
Cardio conditioning

• The rebounder ($50-$150) is less jarring on joints than other cardio equipment and inexpensive.

• The Bob XL human-like punching bag ($250) is a good pick for men, women and children, and is "empowering for physical awareness to prevent danger, works upper and lower body, builds eye-hand coordination," said Newman.
Strength and/or sports performance

• Weighted body bars, 4-36 pounds ($17-$73), offer a "total body workout, less intimidating than putting iron weights on a barbell, and not as clunky."

• Exertubes with safety sleeves ($7-$15), also work the entire body, travel easily and will not pop the skin if it breaks.
Flexibility and body alignment

• Three-panel folding fitness mat ($39.95-$75.95) is easy to use for basic stretching, relaxation and body alignment.

• StretchRite stretch trainer strap ($19.95) "has knobs to hold that fit great in the hands." The straps assist in active and passive stretching for the entire body.
Balance and core stability

• Stability fitness balls in varied sizes ($15.95-$39.95) help with a total body workout with stretching benefits.

• Airex balance foam beam ($64.95) is "safer to use and the foam texture is soft and less awkward to handle or move," said Newman.