By Di Heap
Sold out for a few hundred dollars......?
A year ago I wrote an article entitled “An Elite Athlete Discovers Vibration Training” telling of the successes of a local personal trainer who, over a two year period, added high force, lineal vibration training to her already extensive gym based program. I told of how she’d seen a noticeable difference in her physical appearance, muscular strength, and endurance compared with only her previous gym program and how she went on to place first and second in Body Sculpting competitions, which she said was “because of the x-factor – vibration training at Vibra-Train, guided by a trained instructor.” Teneka continued to work very hard for her successes coming back after 9 weeks in plaster and another 10 weeks gaining back movement and strength after a broken arm and in March this year she won amateur class and overall title at the 2010 IFBB competitions. She took her pro card and placed 6th alongside the International PRO Figure Girls. Vibra-Train was proud to have been a factor in her success.
Different Types of Vibration Machines
Teneka fully understands the differences in types of vibration machines and how ONLY high force, lineal platforms build muscle and have a training effect. Talking about Vibra-Train she said, “Vibration training is another method of exercise. It plays an integral role in adding variety to a well-rounded training regime and when used on a regular basis it has long-term benefits which enhance other areas of physical performance and sport training. It is safe and easy to use, as there is an instructor on-site at all times to assist with the exercises." She’s seen and commented on how well Vibra-Train high force, lineal vibration training works for people who only do aerobic classes and those who would never, ever, go to the gym. Teneka’s been in the Vibra-Train studio at the same time as other athletes, and housewives; people with disabilities, and office-workers; school teachers and people who are obese; every type of person and she knows that ONLY this form of vibration machine is efficient for training.
The Gymform Vibromax Advertisement
It was a big surprise when Teneka came into the Vibra-Train studio one day and said she had done a TV advertisement for Gymform Vibromax, a cheap low speed, pivotal machine ( Vibra-Slim etc see review http://www.vibration-training-advice.com/machine-reviews ) . She said she knew it was very different to the Vibra-Train machine she used but maybe the advert would help the vibration training industry. I wondered how she could even start to think it would help; she knew that real training machines and the “as-seen-on-tv” units were worlds apart. We’ve even had a low speed pivotal machine in the studio for people to try and to demonstrate the difference between real “vibration training” and “vibration therapy”. The low speed pivotal machines don’t cause the muscle contraction required for the muscle growth that is vibration training. They create the stimulation of increased blood circulation and some can be useful to relieve backache. They are often sold with false specs attached and promises of weight-loss and fitness benefits that they simply cannot deliver.
It was a bigger surprise when I recently saw the video. It is as bad as it could be; a pivotal vibration therapy platform running at about 5Hz during the advertisement. When using that type of machine for therapy it has to run at 15Hz and higher to cause anything even similar to exercise. The presenter said that this was an excellent vibration machine that would help you tone up, lose weight and get rid of unsightly cellulite by just standing on the machine while you watched TV. She said it could run at speeds up to 30Hz, It can’t. Then she said that Teneka , a New Zealand personal trainer and figure contestant and fitness model ,had used vibration training for two and a half years, inferring that it was that brand or type of machine she used.
The video showed Teneka in a squat position on the low speed, pivotal machine. She had, naturally, adopted this pose as that’s the Vibra-Train squat. Then Teneka said....
“Vibration training is great. I use it in my exercise routine to improve my circulation. It has helped firm up my butt and my thighs and they’ve been so saggy in the past. It’s great and I firmly believe in this machine.”..... She moved into other poses and gave the impression that she was very confident and used to using that machine. The video kept moving to other people just standing there being jiggled, all the while telling of their amazing results.
Back to Real Training on High Energy Lineal Machines
Teneka has now continued her vibration training at Vibra-Train and she now says she was silly to do the advert, that she received only a few hundred dollars for her time and she really is aware that low speed pivotal machines are NOT vibration training machines. When reminded of what she had said previously about Vibra-Train machines, “Vibration training has firmed up my 'soft bits,' improving definition and strength in my butt and thighs. My legs have never ever looked so great! I’d never had legs this 'hot' just doing weights plus cardio on the treadmill; Vibra-Train was the only change”, she said she really shouldn’t have done the advert. She agreed that she wouldn’t have got those results using the Gymform Vibromax machine for her training.
It’s too late, the damage is done.......
And I got to see the effects of these misleading adverts up close. Some guys I know who work in electronic banking with my husband told me they have seen the video advertorial that Teneka did. They thought it looked credible but said that it must be a joke as they’ve also watched night-time “as-seen-on-tv” infomercials showing the same looking machines with scantily clad girls and guys on them, the camera zooming in to show their hips and butt wobble violently as they stand on the machines. They can’t believe I work with such a “have”, with such a scam that targets the very people that need to get fitter and healthier. I received some anger from them and I can understand why. The infomercials promise fat-loss, strength, fitness, athletic performance yet they simply can’t deliver and these guys could see this. Most of the infomercials show people standing on the machine lock-legged; Teneka’s squat looks out of place and the guys asked why she did it that way.
I know the Gymform Vibromax video advert is being widely viewed. I took a phone call a few days ago from a person who asked if what we did was the same as that machine. Of course I said No, our machines are very different and explained it to her.
Conclusion......
The guys who think I work with low quality, low speed pivotal machines, the same as the ones in the TV infomercials – they are being challenged to come into the studio and try a real vibration training machine. So hopefully I get to enlighten them about the lies told on these advertorials.
I still find it hard to believe that someone who has trained very hard on high energy, lineal machines for over two years and gained such excellent results was so easily duped into doing that advert. I know Teneka is embarrassed now that she did that advert, and sold out what she knows is the truth, for just a few hundred bucks!
I now know how Lloyd felt working with Power Plate. Betrayed.
