THE viiivPRO SEAT ANGLE

The viiivPRO 90º Seat Angle. It's a subject that arises occasionally, so let me put your mind at ease.

I firmly believe that most of the concerns related to the seat angle on the viiivPRO stem from teaching and tradition, not from personal experience. In other words, most people go on what they have been taught or told it should be, instead of actually feeling it and thinking for themselves.

Many years ago I was one of those people blindly following what I was told. Then I tried it and it was even better than I thought. I experienced benefits that I wouldn't have thought possible.

The first thing you have to remember about this seat angle is that the viiiv is an isometric machine. There is no movement. Your knees don't move back and forth as you lift and lower weights, so there is no need to recline the torso to relieve possible congestion when the thighs get closer to the belly.

Isometrics, not dynamic movement. HUGE difference.

The second thing to think about is that reclined seat backs invite back problems because the natural lordotic curve is encouraged, and potentially increased, as the torso lays back. When pushing with the legs the ability to extend the lower spine to assist with hip and thigh extension is much greater, and this is a recipe for back strain.

Also, angled seat backs allow the body to "slide up” the seat back. At best, this creates less downward pressure between the buttocks and seat bottom and at worst, a slight amount of space. Either situation allows lateral movement of the hips. The combination of all of this can result in simultaneous extension and twisting of the spine.

Why bother with that?

All of that is non-existent with the viiivPRO. When you start pushing with your legs, the pelvis is driven down and back. Your lower back is comfortably flattened against the seat back. You can contract your hip extensors intensely without any possibility of extending your lower back for extra help.

It's beautiful. It's comfortable.

The third thing to consider is that with an upright seat angle there is no need for ANY kind of restraint system. Your hips are "locked-in”. Even with a restraint system on a reclined seat back, you still can't get the kind of "locked-in” that you can get on the viiivPRO. With the viiiv you can actually say, "Look Mom, no hands,” because you don't need to hang on to anything. It's that good.

Don't believe me? I understand. I didn't believe it either until i felt it.

But it's real.