Lower body exercise equipment and method

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising a hoop or support bar that a user steps into and pulls up above his or her buttocks to the small of the back can be used for performing squats, lunges, and calf raises. The hoop or support bar is lowered and raised during exercise and provides movement resistance as the user exercises. The hoop or support bar supports the user's back, thus reducing the strain on the back and making exercising more comfortable. Additionally, an adjustable resistance element makes exercising more efficient, and allows the user to raise or lower the intensity of the exercise depending on his or her comfort level.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a hoop capable of repeated substantially up and down motion; and    a resistance element coupled to said hoop for providing resistance to said motion, wherein    a user of the apparatus positions their waist generally inside said hoop for exercising, and wherein said hoop is moved substantially up and down by said user against said resistance while said user is exercising.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said hoop is positioned against said user's lower back while said user is exercising.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said user exercises by moving from a first standing position to a second position, said second position being a sitting or squatting position, said hoop being used to support said user's back.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a support stand which is freestanding on a surface for supporting said hoop.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said hoop is pivotally coupled to said support stand.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said support stand comprising a base and a vertical member extending from said base, and forming an acute angle with said base, wherein 
 said hoop is coupled to said vertical member at an end of said vertical member opposite said base.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a support arm for supporting said hoop, said support arm being pivotally coupled to said support stand at a pivot point.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said resistance element is coupled between said support stand and said support arm, wherein said resistance element pushes said support arm pivotally upwards with respect to said pivot point, such that resistance is provided when said hoop is moved down.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said resistance element is coupled between said support stand and said support arm, wherein said resistance element pulls said support arm pivotally downwards with respect to said pivot point, such that resistance is provided when said hoop is moved up.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said hoop being made of a rigid material.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said hoop including a flexible band segment for receiving said user's back.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stepping pad for receiving said user's feet while said user is exercising.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said resistance element is adjustable.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a support arm for supporting said hoop; and    a support stand for supporting said support arm, said resistance element being coupled between said support stand and said support arm, wherein    said resistance element comprises at least one band.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said hoop being further capable of repeated side to side motion.  
     
     
         16 . A method of exercising comprising: 
 providing an encircling element capable of repeated generally up and down motion against predetermined resistance;    stepping into said encircling element and placing said encircling element around one's lower back; and    repeatedly ones body using one's leg muscles, while said encircling element supporting said back against said resistance.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , said repeatedly lowering and raising step comprising moving from a first standing position to a second position, said second position being a sitting or a squatting position.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein one's legs are slightly bent in said first position.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one's feet are generally hip-width apart in said first and second positions.  
     
     
         20 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 an engagement element for engaging a user's back including means for repeatedly moving said engagement up and down;    support means for supporting said engagement element; and    resistance means coupled to said engagement element for providing resistance to said means for moving said engagement element, wherein    a user of the apparatus positioned inside said engagement element for exercising, and wherein said engagement element is moved by said user against said resistance while said user is exercising.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said means for moving said engagement element up and down includes pivot means, wherein said resistance means is coupled between said support means and said pivot means.  
     
     
         22 . An exercise apparatus for performing squats, lunges, or calf raises comprising: 
 a support bar for supporting a user's back while performing exercise, wherein said user moves generally up and down while exercising, said support bar generally engaging the user's body while generally moving with said user; and    a resistance element associated with said support bar to provide resistance while said user moves either up or down.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said resistance is provided while said user moves down, wherein said resistance is dependant on the weight of said user.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said resistance is transferred down form the hips of said user.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said exercise can be performed with minimal spinal compression and shoulder tension.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said resistance is variable.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said resistance is provided as said user moves down and assistance is provided as said user moves up, or wherein said resistance is provides as said user moves up and assistance is provided as said user moves down.