When you head to the gym, what is your go-to cardio machine? Is it the elliptical? The treadmill? Stationary bike? Those machines are great and all, but you are likely overlooking a machine that can do it all, the Versa Climber.
The Versa Climber is a machine from the past, made popular in the 80s. It’s kind of a mix of a stair climber and an elliptical. The Versa Climber places you on an upright climbing adventure that forces you to use multiple muscle groups at the same time as you “climb” your way to a sweaty calorie burn. You might be walking past this machine because you have no idea how it works. So, we put together a few helpful tips to help you get your climb on!
1. Ask A Trainer
Ask a trainer to show you exactly how the machine works (if you have one around). This machine takes some coordination, so the easiest way to learn how to use it is to get some expert help. No trainer? No problem. Keep reading.
2. Make Adjustments
If there’s no trainer in sight, start by adjusting the machine to suit your height. You should stand on the
foot pedals, then adjust the handles so that they come to the height of your shoulders.
Add some tension using the controls on the screen, this will make the climb as hard as you need it to be. If it’s your first time, try to keep the resistance in the middle range. Less resistance will make for a hard cardio workout, while higher resistance will give you a tough strength workout.
3. Strap In
Strap your feet into the pedals and start to climb, reaching your right arm up at the same time you lift your left leg up, then switch sides and continue to alternate at a rapid pace.
Your first time (or first few times) might feel awkward, but the temporary discomfort will be worth all the trouble, we promise. Your Versa Climber workout can burn more than 300 calories in 30 minutes if you do a mix of high cardio and
high-strength intervals and really push.
This machine is more effective than a similar workout on the treadmill or the rowing machine because it calls for so many muscle groups to work. First, your core will be working the entire time because you have to counterbalance when you move your arm and the opposite leg as you climb. Next, with the right amount of resistance, your legs will be given a good amount of challenge, much like the stair climber to get you up that wall.
Your arms are also a big part of your workout as you pull yourself up over and over again. Then, the faster you go the higher your heart rate will go while you make those strength gains. All in all, this workout is a one-stop-shop for your gym time and should help you get in and out of the gym even faster.
If your gym doesn’t yet have a Versa Climber, don’t worry. Boutique studios are popping up all over the place dedicated solely to Versa Climbing group fitness classes. You can get the support you need to learn the machine and push as hard as you can in a live group workout.
Have you tried out this machine yet? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.
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