Beginner Exercisers Should Use Machines?

Posted by Chad Anderson CSCS on January 16, 2008 under General Fitness, Strength Training | Be the First to Comment

Throughout the years I have come to notice a heavy reliance on resistance machines by the general population as well as personal trainers working with “new exercisers.” The logic behind this is that free weights require a certain level of coordination and skill to perform. Therefore, it is easier for people who are new to resistance training to jump on a machine and learn the movement than it is to learn a free weight exercise. The idea is to move them through a progression of machine movements (bilateral to unilateral) to free weight/bodyweight movements. But is this approach optimal or even necessary? I don’t believe so. In fact, I recommend the exact opposite. Read more of this article »