The 10 Most Common Gym Machines (and How to Use Them)

Machines are one of the easiest ways to get started with exercising. They don't require much in the way of technique, nor are there many fiddly details to worry about. You certainly don't have to assemble your equipment from bits lying around the gym like you do for a barbell workout.

There are two things to know about every gym machine. The first is that there's almost always a little placard on the machine that explains how to use it, in both words and pictures. The second is that there's usually something to adjust-those words on the placard might explain it-and if you don't adjust the thing, you could end up being really uncomfortable. So here's a tour of common machines you'll see in the gym, with pointers on how to use them. Each manufacturer is different, though, so you can't quite figure something out, google the machine's name and brand-or ask gym staff or regulars for help.