Exercise methods and apparatus

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• first and second cranks;
• first and second rocker links rotatably connected to respective cranks to form respective first and second crank and rocker link combinations;
• a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface;
• and
• first and second force receiving members, each sized and configured to accommodate a person's foot, wherein the first crank and rocker link combination is movably interconnected between the first force receiving member and the frame, and the second crank and rocker link combination is movably interconnected between the second force receiving member and the frame.

An elliptical motion exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface;
• first and second force receiving members, each sized and configured to accommodate a person's foot;
• first and second crank assemblies interconnected between the frame and respective first and second force receiving members, wherein each of the assemblies includes (a) a crank which rotates about a crank axis and has a connection point disposed at a radial distance from the crank axis;
• and (b) a means for (i) limiting displacement of the force receiving members in a first direction to twice the radial distance, and (ii) allowing relatively greater displacement of the force receiving members in a second, perpendicular direction in response to user exerted force applied to the force receiving members, whereby the force receiving members are movable through respective closed loops which vary in configuration according to the user exerted force.