Method 3: Inversion table
Alright, this is the method that I’m currently using to invert myself. For me, I think using an inversion table is much safer than using the gravity boots ‘cos when you’re really tired from doing those weighted, inverted crunches, it can be difficult to reach up again to reach the bar and unhook your legs. With the inversion table, I have no such worries. When I’m done, I just lean my body back to make contact with the body pad and then with one hand, I gently pull on the pad to remove it from the locked position so that I can rotate back to an upright position.
Right below is a clip of a guy using an inversion table.
Right below is a clip of a guy using an inversion table.
Guidelines on getting an inversion table
1. Don’t settle for a second-hand one! The concerns are the same as those mentioned in the ‘gravity boots’ section. For all you know, the previous owner might have let his kids use it as a see-saw! Don’t compromise on your safety and just get a new one.
2. Check for the duration of warranty. One brand called Teeter offers 5 years warranty. The warranty for the one that I bought is only for a year. (But then again, I got it quite cheaply. So, I guess that’s the trade-off.)
3. When buying an inversion table online, make sure that the company is a reputable one. If the company’s website doesn’t list its physical business address, then you’ll probably get scammed.
When the inversion table is finally delivered to your home, be sure to ask them to set it up for you the first time. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. The thing ‘bout me is that when someone asks me whether I know something, I get all flustered and answer ‘yes’ even though I don’t know squat. So, when those guys asked me whether I knew how to set it up, I quickly replied ‘yes’. 5 mins later, they were gone and I’m in the living room, wondering how to set up the bloody thing. Well, it’s a good thing that it came with a manual and it wasn’t that tough to figure things out. However, it would have been so much easier if I had asked them to set it up for me in the first place. So, don’t pretend to be smart and just let those guys set it up the first time round. After all, that’s what they’re paid to do.
1. Don’t settle for a second-hand one! The concerns are the same as those mentioned in the ‘gravity boots’ section. For all you know, the previous owner might have let his kids use it as a see-saw! Don’t compromise on your safety and just get a new one.
2. Check for the duration of warranty. One brand called Teeter offers 5 years warranty. The warranty for the one that I bought is only for a year. (But then again, I got it quite cheaply. So, I guess that’s the trade-off.)
3. When buying an inversion table online, make sure that the company is a reputable one. If the company’s website doesn’t list its physical business address, then you’ll probably get scammed.
When the inversion table is finally delivered to your home, be sure to ask them to set it up for you the first time. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. The thing ‘bout me is that when someone asks me whether I know something, I get all flustered and answer ‘yes’ even though I don’t know squat. So, when those guys asked me whether I knew how to set it up, I quickly replied ‘yes’. 5 mins later, they were gone and I’m in the living room, wondering how to set up the bloody thing. Well, it’s a good thing that it came with a manual and it wasn’t that tough to figure things out. However, it would have been so much easier if I had asked them to set it up for me in the first place. So, don’t pretend to be smart and just let those guys set it up the first time round. After all, that’s what they’re paid to do.
Pros
Cons
(I really can’t think of any more cons.....)
- Much safer than the other methods so you don’t have to worry ‘bout falling off, unless of course, your weight is dangerously close to the maximum weight capacity
- Convenient since you don’t have to go down to the park
- Allows for gradual increase of inversion angles
- Can hang for longer durations
Cons
- Inversion tables can be quite expensive (a decent one will set you back by at least a few hundred)
- Requires some working area at home
(I really can’t think of any more cons.....)
