ChiVibe Lets You Train Like an Olympian

Vibration training has been getting a lot of buzz over the last couple of years -- Madonna is said to use it, and a number of gyms and health clubs are shaking things up for their clients with it too. But really, it's nothing new. Olympic athletes have actually been incorporating vibration training into their workouts for more than 40 years!

But, what if your gym doesn't have a whole-body vibration training machine? Or what if you just prefer working out at home? What can you do? Because, unless you're Samantha from "Sex and the City," I'm going to bet you don't have the tools at home to create enough vibration.

Fortunately, Gaiam has the ChiVibe, a whole-body vibration machine for your home. It has a wide, long base and offers optional resistance cords to help you intensify the results. The high-frequency vibration impulses are supposed to contract your muscles, which will help you achieve greater muscle strength and bone density in addition to better circulation and speedier weight loss.

According to the website, you would only need to use the ChiVibe three to five times a week for two to four minutes at a time to see results -- sounds pretty cool to me! I mean, don't get me wrong. I like my workouts, and nothing is going to keep me from getting in a good, hour-long sweat session, but if I can improve that by adding just a couple of minutes a few times a week, I'm down for it.

The ChiVibe comes with a guide showing more than 20 positions as well as a removable stabilizing bar (which I would totally need), protective floor mat and knee/back cushion. The website lists a variety of benefits in addition to the ones mentioned above, including the reduction of cellulite and the reduction of cortisol.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'll be getting one of my own any time soon -- it's $499, and that's not quite in my fitness budget at the moment. However, in terms of home equipment, I suppose it's not so bad.

What do you think? Would you shake up your home gym with a ChiVibe?