The Ultimate Strength gym is situated on the borders of Hampstead Garden Suburb and East Finchley. At Ultimate Strength we offer private, quiet, one-to-one sessions where under the supervision of your coach, Yoram Sher, you can undertake a high intensity workout in a distraction-free environment. Programmes are designed with the individual in mind and you will train on world-leading MedX equipment. We also have Cybex and Nautilus machines.
The videos below demonstrate the core spinal fitness system you will be training on at Ultimate Strength.
The MedX Core Torso Rotation machine is revolutionary in its ability to isolate waistline muscles i.e. the internal and external obliques. A restraint system effectively locks the pelvis and prevents the hip and gluteus muscles from assisting in rotation of the torso. Core Torso Rotation increases strength and flexibility right at the core of the body.
The effects of the MedX Core Super Stretch machine can be felt immediately. One of a kind, its technology places the body into bio-mechanically advantageous positions for effective stretching. The hanging stretch, in particular, facilitates spinal decompression. The total 7-stretch program enhances movement around the knee, hip, spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist in addition to stretching seven major muscle groups including vulnerable hamstrings and hip adductors.
The MedX Core 4-Way Neck is a bio-mechanically precise machine that trains the flexion and extension muscles of the neck to allow for improved range of motion. It stretches and strengthens the cervical spinal muscles. This allows for decompression of the upper spine and promotes increased omni-directional strength and flexibility of the entire neck.
Only the MedX Core Lumbar Strength machine has a patented and effective pelvic restraint system that keeps gluteus and hamstring muscles from interfering with the targeted spinal muscles. This provides isolation of the lumbar spine muscles, increases stability and allows for specific, intensive strengthening in one of the bodies most vital and vulnerable areas. Regular use may help prevent injuries, remedy chronic back pain and contribute to disc hydration.
The Cybex Chin / Dip Assist targets the biceps, latissimus dorsi, trapezius and forearm muscles when practising the chin up. It targets the triceps, anterior deltoid, pectoral major and minor and the serratus anterior muscles when practising the dip. These exercises are extremely difficult to do when lifting or lowering ones full body weight, especially when done at a slow cadence like at Ultimate Strength. The Cybex chin/dip assist does precisely what it says. The weight stack actually helps you to do the exercise.
The MedX Seated Bicep Curl targets the biceps and the forearm flexor muscles. When using free weights to do bicep curls the exercise is very much influenced by gravity and friction as one moves through the full range of motion. The MedX bicep machine uses an intelligent cam system to make sure that the proper strength curve of the muscle is achieved. While going through full range of motion on the MedX bicep curl the cam greatly reduces the influence of gravity and friction to almost zero. This machine is far superior to using free weights.
Isolates the medial deltoids, the muscles that give the shoulders their width. A cam-based resistance profile matches the natural strength curve of the deltoid so the load stays productive through the full range of motion, without the shoulder stress that comes with free-weight dumbbell raises.
Isolates the biceps and forearm flexors. The MedX cam keeps resistance in line with the muscle's strength curve, so the load stays honest through the whole rep instead of dropping off at the top of the movement.
An assisted version of the chin-up and dip, two of the most productive upper-body exercises there are. The counterweight stack takes a portion of your bodyweight off the movement so you can perform full-range reps at the slow cadence we use, targeting the lats and biceps on the chin, and the chest and triceps on the dip.
Isolates the quadriceps at the front of the thigh. The direct-resistance cam removes the momentum that flatters the movement on lesser machines, so every degree of knee extension has to be earned.
Isolates the hamstrings at the back of the thigh. Lying face-down keeps the hips flat and pinned, which prevents the glutes from assisting and forces the hamstrings to do the work.
Trains the rectus abdominis - the front sheet of abdominal muscle - through spinal flexion under a real resistance load. Far more productive than floor crunches, which hit a ceiling once bodyweight is no longer challenging.
Targets the soleus in particular, the deeper of the two main calf muscles, because the bent-knee seated position takes the gastrocnemius largely out of the movement. The result is a more focused stimulus than standing calf raises can achieve.
Trains the upper pectorals along with the front deltoids and triceps. The incline angle emphasises the clavicular head of the chest, which is under-worked in most flat-bench pressing.
Works the deltoids, particularly the front and medial heads, together with the triceps. The seated position with back support removes the lower-back involvement that limits how heavy a standing press can safely be loaded.
Isolates the pectorals through the chest's horizontal-adduction pattern. Unlike a bench press, the pec deck removes the triceps from the equation, so the chest cannot hide behind stronger secondary muscles.
Targets the mid-back musculature - rhomboids, mid-trapezius and rear deltoids - along with the lats. The chest pad and seated position keep the lower back neutral so the pull comes cleanly from the shoulder blades.
Targets the lats, the broad muscles that run down the sides of the back. The machine's fixed groove and cable resistance let you concentrate on driving the elbows down and back - which is what actually contracts the lat - rather than fighting bar path.