Systems and methods for controlling the operation of one or more exercise devices and providing motivational programming

A central control unit for controlling a plurality of exercise devices through wireless control signals delivered to said plurality of exercise devices, the central control unit comprising:

• a support structure that rests upon a support surface;
• a control panel mounted to said support structure, said control panel comprising:
• an input receptacle that receives at least one storage medium containing a plurality of exercise programs to be delivered to said plurality of exercise devices, each of said plurality of exercise programs comprising (i) motivational content and (ii) control signals synchronized with said motivational content;
• and
• a wireless transmitter communicably connected with said input receptacle and receiving said exercise programs from said at least one storage medium, said transmitter delivering said exercise programs to said plurality of exercise devices using a wireless carrier signal, wherein said control panel is adapted to enable an exerciser to select one of said plurality of exercise programs at said control panel and activate said control panel such that said wireless transmitter delivers said one of said plurality of exercise programs to said plurality of exercise devices, and wherein said central control unit is adapted to control said plurality of exercise devices in succession without further input from the exerciser at said central control unit or said plurality of exercise devices.

A central managing unit for managing the operation of a plurality of exercise devices through exercise programming that is selected and activated at the central managing unit by an exerciser and simultaneously delivered to the plurality of exercise devices, the central managing unit comprising:

• a receptacle providing a user interface for the central managing unit;
• and
• a transmitter supported by the receptacle, the transmitter simultaneously delivering exercise programming to the plurality of exercise devices, the exercise programming comprising control signals synchronized with motivational content for controlling an operation of the plurality of exercise devices and simultaneously providing encouragement and/or instruction to the exerciser, wherein the central managing unit is adapted to:
• enable an exerciser to select and activate exercise programming at the central managing unit, simultaneously deliver the exercise programming to the plurality of exercise devices, control an operation of a first exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices upon selection and activation by the exerciser of exercise programming at the central managing unit and, upon completion of the operation of the first exercise device, automatically control an operation of a second exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices without any additional input from the exerciser at the central managing unit or at the plurality of exercise devices.

An exercise system comprising:

• a central unit for communicating with a plurality of exercise devices, the central unit comprising:
• a receptacle providing a user interface for the central unit;
• and
• a transmitter supported by the receptacle, the transmitter delivering exercise programming initiated by an exerciser at the central unit to the plurality of exercise devices, wherein the exercise programming is adapted to control each of the plurality of exercise devices individually and in succession without additional input from the exerciser prior to the central unit controlling each exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices;
• and
• wherein each exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices having an input device for receiving the exercise programming.

An exercise system comprising:

• a central unit for communicating with a plurality of exercise devices, the central unit comprising:
• a receptacle providing a user interface for the central unit;
• and
• a transmitter supported by the receptacle, the transmitter delivering exercise programming to the plurality of exercise devices;
• and
• wherein each exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices has an input device for receiving the exercise programming, such that an exerciser can (i) initiate exercise programming at the central unit, which is simultaneously sent to a first exercise device and a second exercise device, then (ii) exercise on the first exercise device, and then (iii) exercise on the second exercise device without initiating any communication to the second exercise device or further communication to the central unit prior to exercising on the second exercise device.