Hi Lloyd,

I hope you can help me.  I purchased a Vibra Pro 5500 from Vibro Slim - I wish I had read your website before buying this company.  Anyway, I Vibro Slim will not give me an answer on what speeds equal what on this machine.  I am new to vibration training and am afraid I could cause myself injury if not guessing correctly.  Can you give me some direction.

Thank you very much.

Kim Raymond

Hi Demon

I agree with Mike about  90 percent of clients being women. Just in terms of marketing, particularly initially, my advice would be to target women rather than men as this is what will bring the numbers in.  The men seem to see the results in their wives and girlfriends and then come to try it themselves.  We have however had in various bodybuilders, including a Britain Strong Man.  He saw a real increase in how much he could lift in the gym after training with us. He practically weeping during the supersquats it was so hard.   This is where the Vibra Train handlebars would be a real addition as there are more upper body exercises you could do, but Mike would be able to tell you more about that if interested. 

Demon,

Dean has some good words of wisdom...Stick with the safety programe if you want to fast track a successful operation. 90 percent of your customers will probably be woman so dont get hung up on the bodybuilder type as they will come in eventually when this thing becomes more normalised.

I run only three machines at the moment and i am the only employee.

It would be a wise investment to go and visit Phillippa it will give you a much better head start.

All the best with your new venture.

P.S If you wanted the best machines in the world you could always contact Lloyd and lease some off him

Demon

Machines- I think you made a great choice. Not only that machines produce consistent vibration with sufficient force, but the company that produce them lives by its promises.

Program- It is good that you want to give everything you can to your customers, but you should stick to 20 minute workout. The best thing for general population is that vibration training is fast. Prolonging it for even a 10 minutes will eventually become 40 minutes, and than, for them it is similar to a classical fitness training. Since it is evident that you didn't see a busy studio so far, I can just say that I need only 10 minutes to completely exhaust a professional athlete on my Bodyshaker, using nothing but safety program. That means, in general population prolonging a training will mostly means you prolong rest between exercises, which will reduce number of customers that your studio can absorb in any given time, thus forcing you to increase the price.

Competition- We are all intimidated by aggressive Powerplate marketing before we step into a everyday work. Than, the first Powerplate customers enter your studio, and you see their reaction, and you know you are doing it just right. You got stronger vibration with Bodyshakers, than you got a simple and fast program, and with this community, you got answers that Powerplate just can't give.

We have only one staff member in our studio. She does everything- from answering phone, to a payment, and training. It gets hectic from time to time, but it's manageable. We plan to employ second trainer sometime in autumn.

Our customers are not allowed to practice by themselves. The trainer must be present at all times. You think that poses in safety program are easy to hold correctly, but you are wrong. Even our regular customers require constant corrections during practice. Without that, you got week training and unsatisfied customers, at best. At worst, you got injured customers, and bad publicity.

Placing bikes could be a good idea. But think again. With 3 plates you will have 6 people in your studio in rush hours (3 working out, another 3 prepares to do so). With bikes it will increase to a 9 people, or more, with only one member of staff. Even if you increase a price, it will not cover another employee. Second, if you have studio in a business part of your city, you will get customers who will want to have their workout before or after their work hours, or during lunch break. They won't need any cycling with their vibration training. Without bicycles you don't need showers.

Since I'm a co owner of regular fitness I can tell you that bodybuilders are specific population, and you will not have a lot of them in your studio. Most of our customers are people who don't have time, or will to go to the gym, have some medical issues that prevent them to undergo classic training, or professional athletes who want to increase their performance through vibration training. Increasingly, we have regular gym customers, who undergo a vibration training once or twice a week as addition to their regular workout. Also, a lot of people are coming to vibration therapy.

Again, I strongly recommend you to to visit a busy studio which runs on safety program BEFORE you open your own. You are about to invest 22.000+ Euros in your future studio, and it needs to pay back in reasonable time. Spend few additional Euros to your own education. Go to UK, and see what and how Philippa is doing. You are also welcome to visit us.

Only now I realize how precious was those seven days spent with Philippa in her studio. I had a time to absorb basics about safety program, see long term effects of vibration training on regular customers, learn how to resolve some issues in everyday practice, and most important, made a friend who answers my phone calls and helps me when I need. 

Okay, here’s the promised video about machine plate performance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi_Dxunqpro

Vibration Training Machines – A Simple Test for Gym and Studio owners to perform

Hi Dean,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I had in fact the very same plan as you - 3 BODYSHAKERs somewhere in the centre near subway station. Every lesson 30 minutes of wallclock time consisting of 15 minutes of safe program training poses plus 5 minutes of massage poses, followed with optional another 1-30 minutes of cardio on crosstrainers to increase bodyfat reduction. I was even thinking about a similar name, something like "GOOD VIBES" or so... ;-}

30 customers a day is a lovely number but I understand that pricing is also a crucial factor here. Currently, lesson on PowerPlate with trainer is around 9 pounds here while using the machine without any advice in a big fitness studio is around 4 pounds. I’m affraid I’d have to keep prices around 5 pounds per lesson. I wonder how many staff members do I need to operate 3 machines? Of course new customers need assistance the full 30 minutes but after a few lessons I guess most of the people should be able to exercise without any help, it’ only a few poses again and again…? Anybody knows here what is the rule for this in Vibra-train branches? How many machines per one employee? :-}

BTW Do you have showers in your studio? I cannot imagine opening one without showers available for clients… but it would definitely simplify looking for a nice cheap place to rent ;-}

BTW2 Do you have some serious bodybuilders amongst your clients? Did they recognize WBV as a worthy addition to their normal training?

Many thanks, Petr

Thanks Di,

Never been far away and keep tabs almost daily. My machine - dont even want to say names these days, has two motors and is still going strong. Lloyd said if it is still going then I should be alright. So 2 years plus down the line am still enjoying it. So should I follow the video mat positions -question mark.

Saving up for the day when Lloyd decides he will start selling to the converted and faithful Bullet observers...... rueful smile

Hey Keith

Good to see you back.  The mats are rubber and the size is what’s needed to cover the platform perfectly with the mat against the back handlebars and front edge. The thickness we’re using is about an inch or couple of cm and the smaller mat has a front edge around 3 inches or so less that the base mat. 

These are set to ensure correct hand and elbow placement for the upper body positions BUT you must realise that Vibra-Train machines supply the same level of force to every part of the platform.  This differs from other brands where the force is central or under the motors, 3D or random. 

Our mat size might not be right for your machine but the concept is right. If your motor force is central you might need to place arms/elbows central so don’t just copy please.

I am amazed how machines are supplied without mats and especially those that have sandpaper rough surfaces like the little DKN I once owned.

For more info about the machine platform capability – keep watching this space – New Video coming very soon. Glad you like them – now there’s no excuse for getting it wrong.

Hi Lloyd great videos and most helpful, thank you.

Could you please advise on the mats used. Thickness and material and the amount the upper mat is set back from the lower one.

Thanks in advance.

Demon

I opened a studio equipped with Bodyshakers four months ago, and number of regular customers exceeded my most optimistic expectations. You can visit our web site on www.dobrevibracije.hr
On average, on three machines, there are some 30-50 visitors per day.
But, you have to understand that I did my homework properly. First, Lloyd helped me with machines. Without him, and his advice, I would probably end up with unreliable equipment that is sold like professional, and it isn't. Second, I spend a week with Philippa in UK (many thanks, again), and saw how the things are done in a busy studio. Without that, I would not know how to properly exercise a safety program, and would probably found myself in a uneasy situation not knowing how to manage demanding customers. Also, I step on 30 or so vibration plates available on market, to see for myself what kind of vibration they produce, and what kind of support manufacturers offer to end consumer.Than, I found a reliable partner in Martin from Bodyshaker, who helped me in so many financial and practical ways, and also had a courage to support my business plan. I also found a business partner, who is very good in marketing, so we did our opening in a best way possible, and lease premises in a center of my city.
Last, but not least, I'm a physiotherapist with successful private practice, and I redirect some of my patients with adequate indications to a vibration training.   
Results of vibration therapy on patients with hip or knee arthrosis I will post on this site in next few months.
I strongly recommend that you do your homework. Without that you will probably found yourself spending a lot of time, money, and nerves resolving problems that can be avoided.
For more information, you can contact me via e-mail on our web site. 

Hi,

The new videos are really great...that guy in the cap seems to know what he is talking about :-)   ...in contrary to that jumping boxer ;-D

Dean: sorry, I hope this not rude or unpolite to ask - since we'll probably never compete against each other :-) - I'm currently thinking about opening WBV studio with good machines in Prague and I wonder how many visitors in absolute numbers can one expect in economies like ours {CZE/CRO}...? ...many thanks.

The Vibra-Train Safety Program - Position 2 and 4 Alternatives –

Using the Vibration Machine Handlebars for “Push-Up “and “Tricep Dip” Positions

Plus

“The Full-Body Tricep Dip” – Video 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQp2ducVam4

Part of the series "The Vibra-Train Safety Program" with full Step by Step Instructions

The Vibra-Train Safety Program - Ski the Slopes Position - Video

This is Position 9 Alternative or used as a Stand Alone Position - especially designed by Lloyd Shaw for people who cannot do traditional Vibration Training.

This position bridges all gaps in Vibration Therapy/Training.

See it at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K2nbhTT4r0

For those who know I had surgery, I am still following a Therapy (not Training) program on the Vibra-Train machines.   I have no major cuts so I can use the machines for an assisted squat using side handle bars BUT I am still standing on three layers of rubber mat.  I’m still taking most of the pressure through my arms; my feet are barely on the mat but now I am allowing more vibration feeling through my legs.  I’ve added in a kneeling push up position ( Number 2 on The Vibra-Train Safety Program   www.vibra-train.com/exercises-vt.html ) and the pelvic stability/plank (Number 5).  The two extra positions are only possible because one of the machines has a high platform (distance from ground) so no stress is placed on my pelvic area of surgery.

I do NOT recommend that anyone follow my specific use of the machines after surgery.  Vibration Therapy after medical procedures is very specific to the individual and what machines are available to them.  In fact I can see that it will months before I am able to do the regular program again even though my surgeries were basically laparoscopic. 

I’m really thankful to Vibra-Train and specifically to Lloyd who designed the machines for use as a Therapy platform as well as for Vibration Training. The shape of the platform and the vibrating handlebars are specifically designed.  (I’m not just biased because I work and use these platforms, I’ve tried many of the others).

Lloyd, thanks for the videos. They cleared some issues in our studio.

I found this video (among tons of others) on you tube. This guy is amasing. I wonder why he needs a vibration plate at all?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1MT3oncnxs&feature=PlayList&p=0CE0F04107D92E04&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=12

Our old friend Scott Hopson, former worldwide educator for Power Plate, is now on the International Advisory Committee for the International Youth Conditioning Association.  I have not heard of this organization until just recently.  The site is www.iyca.org.  With Scott associated with them, given his past at Power Plate misleading people and not answering basic questions, it makes very suspicious of this organization.

John Weatherly

LMAO, i would love to see that guy that Demon asked about do the same poses on a real  Vibra-Train machine, just to teach the guy a lesson.

Its no wonder people get confused about the poses when they see stuff like that.

Hi,

Am I correct if I say that this guy is doing it completely wrong? For most of the exercise time he is having all his body weight on one *straight* leg which causes that the platform vibrations are not compensated by muscles but in his overloaded hip joint?

http://www.youtube.com/user/vibrationplate#p/a

Note: Using three layers of solid, rubber mat on the platform to limit the vibration force is individual to my needs at this stage in my recovery.  Always seek expert advice if using a vibration machine for therapy after surgery.

I’m recovering from surgery –Later I’ll be writing an article on how I’m using Vibration Therapy to stimulate circulation, relax muscles and nerves, and help with healing and strength.

For now – I’ve progressed from sitting on a chair in front of the Vibra-Train machine with my feet on the front edge of the platform (45 degree angle, designed for this purpose) to using the same machine for a side handle-bar assisted Therapy Squat.  This is the “Ski the Slopes” position of the Vibra-Train Standard Safety Program  (www.vibra-train.com/exercises-vt.html)  BUT it’s important to note that I’m using three layers of solid rubber mat on the platform to limit the force of the vibration.  Also by using the side, vibrating handlebars I’m getting a training response in my arms while at the same time minimising the force into my pelvic and stomach region.  I’m currently doing only 3 x 60 second “Ski” poses with at least 5 minutes between each. 

Remember that Vibration Training is very hard work equivalent to heavy weights training at the gym. After surgery it’s important not to rush back into training.  A person can begin training again when their surgeon or doctor says they can return to exercise.  Then a few sessions doing only the “Basic Squat” or “Ski the Slopes” position maybe 3-5 times with rest between can be a good start although some people can return to the full program right away. 

Vibration Therapy – specific, stimulation instead of regular training can be helpful to promote healing in the time before a person can return to regular Training.  I have my surgeon’s permission to do this and being an Instructor I was keen to get back onto the machines.  I’ve seen how they’ve helped others recovery, now I’m experiencing it myself, being careful and guided by my response to each 60 second position on the machine.  Home users should ensure they have their physicians permission and/or qualified advice before using a vibration machine after surgery and that the machine they will be using is right (type and quality) for the response they want to achieve.

Thank you... I will check them out