Don’t be fooled by the Bosu’s bright blue squishy dome-like exterior; it is not a children’s bouncy toy or a ginormous whoopee cushion! The Bosu is a multi-faceted, medium-sized piece of exercise equipment; incorporate it into your cardio warm-up, use it to spice up traditional weight exercises such as squats or lunges, or use it to breathe new life into your core routine.

So far in my “How to use X” series I have tackled everything from how to use the treadmill to how to use cables.

I have — until now — shied away from a column on the “all-in-one gym.” Why?

Recently I have been writing a series of “How to use X’ blogs, covering how to use everything from cardio machines such as the elliptical and the treadmill, to free weights, to small pieces such as the stability ball and foam roller. I even broke down how to properly warm-up and cool-down. By now you are all glorified exercise mavens — or at least on your way there!

What have we not talked about thus far? Larger pieces of workout equipment such as cable machines or full home gym equipment. Today we fill the void.

Over the past months I have been writing a series of “How to use X’ blogs, covering everything from the treadmill, to the bike, to free weights, to my personal favourite — the foam roller. Today, the elliptical! For many the elliptical offers a low-impact, joint-friendly, slightly less intimidating cardio option.

I am sure you have seen the roller — a long, cylindrical foam tube. Now is the time for you to start using it! Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT just for injured runners and Pilates devotees. Everyone can — and should — use the roll! I use mine daily — both personally and professionally. It is incredibly versatile; use it to massage sore muscles, improve posture, challenge your balance and core, and even as part of a sleep routine.

If getting to the gym is a hassle that you avoid it like the plague…make it easier. Buy a few small weights & workout items to have at home, so you can get a workout in without having to travel to & from the gym. You don’t need a lot of space, just a few key pieces of equipment. One of the best additions to your home gym is a set of kettlebells. As you progress and add you to your gym you might decide to expand your kettlebell collection, but to start, one (or ideally two) kettlebells will set you up well.

Welcome to the fifth installment in my “How to use X” series of blogs. In each blog I highlight a different piece of equipment -- I outline the pros and cons, who might benefit, and how to best use it. The equipment of “the hour” is -- you guessed it -- the stability ball. My personal favourite aspect of the ball is that it helps me “find the joy,” lighten up, have some fun -- and giggle. Taking training too seriously (the ‘no pain, no gain’ philosophy, etc.) can be a deterrent.

This blog will give you the rundown on how to use your stationary bike -- blog number four in my “How to use X” series. The bike is a particularly awesome investment if you live someplace that gets a lot of snow and you can’t see yourself exercising outside on frigid and unsafe winter days. Plus, the ability to watch TV while you cycle is often a huge workout motivator.

One of the best parts of dumbbell workouts is that they are convenient: owning just a few sets offers options for a full-body workout. Convenience is key. To achieve any fitness goal you have to be consistent. Convenience breeds consistency; the workout you do once per month is far less important than your daily movement habits. Plus, dumbbell training is functional, effective, and fun.

Today’s topic is training with dumbbells. “Dumbbell training” is a two-part blog. In this blog I outline basic strength training principles so you know how to organize your dumbbell workout. In my next blog I will outline my favourite dumbbell exercises. Put the two together and voila — success with dumbbells.