Apparatus and methods for exercising using a skating motion

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• an elongated track member;
• a pedal moveably coupled to the track member, the pedal being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
• and
• a pedal control assembly coupled to the pedal and controlling the movement of the pedal such that as the pedal is moved in a first direction along the track member, the pedal is rotated in a first rotational direction about the axis of rotation, and as the pedal is moved in a second direction along the track member, the pedal is rotated in a second rotational direction about the axis of rotation, wherein the pedal control assembly includes a resistance device that resists a movement of the pedal in at least one of the first and second directions.

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• an elongated track member;
• a pedal moveably coupled to the track member, the pedal being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
• a handle coupled to the track member, said handle moving with the pedal along the track member;
• and
• a pedal control assembly coupled to the pedal and controlling the movement of the pedal such that as the pedal is moved in a first direction along the track member, the pedal is rotated in a first rotational direction about the axis of rotation, and as the pedal is moved in a second direction along the track member, the pedal is rotated in a second rotational direction about the axis of rotation, wherein the pedal control assembly includes a slide rod rotatably coupled to a fixed support, the slide rod slideably engaging a slide bore disposed in the pedal.

A method of exercising, comprising:

• providing an elongated first track member, a first pedal moveably coupled to the first track member, the first pedal being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
• and a pedal control assembly coupled to the first pedal and controlling the movement of the first pedal such that as the first pedal is moved in a first direction along the first track member, the first pedal is rotated in a first rotational direction about the axis of rotation, and as the first pedal is moved in a second direction along the first track member, the first pedal is rotated in a second rotational direction about the axis of rotation;
• engaging a first foot with the first pedal moveably coupled to the first track;
• moving the first pedal with the first foot in a first direction along the first track;
• and
• controllably rotating the first pedal in a first rotational direction as the first pedal is moving in the first direction, wherein controllably rotating the first pedal in a first rotational direction comprises controllably rotating the first pedal at a constant rate in the first rotational direction.

A method of exercising, comprising:

• providing an elongated first track member, a first pedal moveably coupled to the first track member, the first pedal being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
• and a pedal control assembly coupled to the first pedal and controlling the movement of the first pedal such that as the first pedal is moved in a first direction along the first track member, the first pedal is rotated in a first rotational direction about the axis of rotation, and as the first pedal is moved in a second direction along the first track member, the first pedal is rotated in a second rotational direction about the axis of rotation;
• engaging a first foot with the first pedal moveably coupled to the first track;
• moving the first pedal with the first foot in a first direction along the first track;
• and
• controllably rotating the first pedal in a first rotational direction as the first pedal is moving in the first direction, wherein controllably rotating the first pedal in a first rotational direction comprises at least partially unwrapping a belt wound around a rotation shaft coupled to the first pedal.