Users Guide to the Gazelle Freestyle

Having your own fitness equipment at home can encourage you to exercise more. The Gazelle Freestyle is a multi-exercise machine that allows you to simulate running and walking, amongst other exercises, and includes a workout computer and a heart monitor. You should acquaint yourself with the machine before using it in order to ensure a proper workout.

  1. Getting On

    • Stand behind the unit facing the front. Grip the back bars and place your left foot in between the pedals. Transfer your hands one at a time to the front crossbar. Move your right foot onto the right pedal. Move your left foot onto the left pedal. Keep your hands in place until you are ready to start.

    Basic Gliding Motion

    • Stand upright on the foot platforms. Hold the front crossbars with your hands positioned slightly inside the handles. Move your feet back and forth in a small controlled movement. Increase your stride gradually as you feel more comfortable. Keep your knees slightly flexed and your posture upright during the exercise. This is the basic entry exercise.

    Foot Placement

    • Keep your toes against the footplate until you are comfortable with your balance. The manufacturers advise that your feet will occasionally slide around on the platform. Pushing against the footplate with your toes can counter this.

    Hand Position

    • The "Front bar grip" involves gripping the crossbar just inside the handles firmly but not too tightly. This is the starter grip. The "neutral grip" is when you grasp the handles halfway up and the "low grip" is when you grasp them at the bottom of the handle. The last position is when you release your hands completely and ride "hands free." You should hold your arms bent as if you were power walking when in this position.

    Heart Monitor

    • Pause your exercise to take your pulse. Push the button on the Gazelle computer until a heart icon appears. Gently grab both metal pulse grips on the handlebars of the machine. Hold them for six seconds. Your heart rate range will be displayed on the screen.

    High Glide Exercise

    • Start in the basic glide position and lift your heels up, while maintaining an upright posture position. Pull in your abdominal muscles to maintain balance and continue the gliding motion, keeping the heels up all of the time.

    Wide Glide

    • Starting with a basic glide motion increase the length of your stride as much as you can. Your heels will lift slightly but do not attempt to keep them flat on the pedal. Glide as wide as you can while keeping your posture upright and balanced. You should use the low or neutral hand grip positions on this exercise.

    Low Glide Exercise

    • Start with a basic gliding motion before bending your knees more and extending your glide. Keep your posture upright and let your heels lift if necessary. Try to avoid bumping the front bars with your knees. Perform this exercise with your hands positioned in the neutral or low grip positions.

    Getting off the Machine

    • Stop the unit movement. Grip the front crossbar with both hands. Bring your right foot down between the pedals. Bring your left foot down behind the back bar. Let go of the front crossbar and bring your right foot back.