- August 5, 2024 |
- Strength Training
At Vim + Vigor Fitness, we're always looking for innovative ways to maximize our equipment and space. Olympic lifting platforms are a staple in many gyms, primarily used for weightlifting exercises.
We often hear from inexperienced gym goers that this can be an intimidating place in the gym. The goal of this post is to that these versatile surfaces can offer much more than meets the eye. We'll explore some creative and unexpected uses for Olympic lifting platforms that can enhance your workout routine and add variety to your fitness regimen.
The traditional use of Olympic lifting platforms, is you guessed it, the Olympic lifts. The snatch and clean and jerk have long been staples of strength and these platforms are built with these exercises in mind.
Our platforms also have full squat racks behind them, which makes them the perfect spot for both squats and deadlifts as well.
The hardwood floor is designed to be a stable, shock-absorbing surface, and the rubber sides allow you to drop weight without damaging floors.
As we hinted earlier though, these lifts are far from the only things you can do in this area of the gym. Let's talk about five ways to take advantage of this area of the gym!
1. Squats and Deadlifts
The shock-absorbing quality of Olympic lifting platforms makes them ideal for Squats and Deadlifts.
In fact, most gym goers who want to lift heavy but don't want to adventure into the world of Olympic lifting will use these platforms for nothing else.
2. Landmine Lunges and Presses
The landmine attachment goes well with these platforms and multiple forms of Landmine exercises.
The landmine attachment isn't the most intuitive piece of equipment, but it is versatile and a great addition to any workout routine. Grab one of our personal trainers to show you a few exercises to take advantage of it!
3. Shoulder Press
All variations of the barbell shoulder press are perfect for these platforms thanks to the squat rack setup.
The pins can be set for about the same height as you would for a squat, maybe a pin less. Here are several of our favorite pressing variations to add to your routine!
Make sure to set up the safety bars so that you don't drop the weight from overhead!
4. Barbell Exercises
There are plenty of barbell exercises that we haven't yet mentioned that are really good to do on an Olympic platform.
The squat rack comes with safety bars, which makes overhead pressing exercises very easy and safe.
You can use these racks for several versions of Barbell Rows, Barbell Curls, and lunges safety.
- One of the only barbell exercises that we don't recommend using these platforms for is the bench press. We have dedicated benches for that!
At Vim + Vigor Fitness, we believe in making the most of every piece of equipment. By thinking creatively about Olympic lifting platforms, we can expand their utility far beyond traditional weightlifting.
Whether you're into high-intensity training, need a space for recovery, or want to try something new in your fitness routine, these versatile platforms have got you covered.
Next time you're at the gym, why not try one of these unexpected uses and see how it can enhance your workout?