You go to the gym a few times a week and find yourself surrounded by various equipment like air dyne bike’s, barbells, battle ropes, weight plates and more.. but do you really know what they all are and what they’re used for?

Let’s break it down and make you the expert at the gym!

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Airdyne bikes: A stationary bike with pedals and two handles. User controls speed and fan (“wheel”) because there are no preset programs. You set the pace with your pedaling.

Barbells:This can be the large 45lb bar often used for main lifts. There are also pre-loaded bar- bells (like EZ bars or straight bars) that are anywhere from 20-100 pounds. Used often for moves like squats, deadlifts, overhead press, etc

Battle Ropes: Large, weighted ropes used in various exercises for strength and endurance. Often used for slams, alternating slams, snakes, plank ropes, etc.

Bumper Plates:Similar to weight plates, but all larger in size. Made out of a rubber material that allows you to drop the weight on the floor without damage. Often used in deadlifting or olympic lifts.

Cable Machine: Equipment used in weight training consisting of a cable/pulley machine with various attachments for various movements. The cables create extra resistance. Used for moves like cable row, lat pull down, cable bicep curl and more.

Captains chair:Tall seatless chair with back rest that allows you to do hanging ab exercises while still sup- porting your back.

Dumbbells:Weight that can fit in one hand. Vary anywhere from 5 pounds to 120 pounds or more. Used often for moves like tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, renegade rows, etc

Kettlebells: a large cast-iron ball-shaped weight with a single handle on top. The center of mass is extended beyond the handle. Often used for movements like goblet squats, deadlifts, kettlebell swings, etc.

Landmine:A barbell placed in either a swivel/pivot landmine machine or often in the corner of the room, making only one side accessible.

Medicine Ball: Large, weighted ball. There are a few different types. The first are regular medicine balls which can be used in place of weights for exercises like Russian twists, squats, etc. The second are slam balls, which are large balls able to slam on the ground. They usually stay on the ground and are specifically designed for throwing/slamming exercises. There are also larger, softer medicine balls that can be used for slamming, weighted exercises and more.

Roman’s Chair: Piece of equipment used often for lower back or glute exercises. Often also used to work hamstrings and abdominals.

Rowing machine: Cardio machine with a sliding chair and handle used to simulate rowing.

Smith Machine:Squat rack like machine with preloaded bar attached, bar usually weights around 20-25 lbs. Often used for assisted squats, lunges, etc.

Squat Rack: Large metal frame that works as a “spotter” for movements like squats. Similar to smith machine but without attachments. Often used to support squats, front squats and overhead press.

Stability Ball: lightweight, inflatable ball used for balance and stability exercises. Often used for core exercises, stability ball curls, glute bridges, etc.

Tires: Large tires that can be flipped in the gym.

Treadmill: Exercise machinCe with moving, continuous belt that allows you to walk or run in place.

TRX: Form of suspension training. Combines gravity with bodyweight exercises for balance, stability and strength. Can be used with squats, rows, pushups, etc.

Weight Plates: Plates added to barbells to create more weight. Often as small as 2.5 lbs (smaller in size) to 45 lbs (larger). Used in exercises like squats, lunges, overhead press, etc.