It is different than regular weight lifting because most of the exercises use relatively low weight and do not isolate muscle groups like traditional weightlifting does.
There are three main pieces of equipment used most commonly in hojo undo. These are chi ishi, ishi sashi, and Nigiri Game. In upcoming articles I'll go into each of these in more detail, but for purposes of this article I'll identify each.
The chi ishi are the weights on the ends of a stick. They are in both pictures.
The ishi sashi look like bricks with handles on them. They're in the top picture only.
The nigiri game are the jars which are in the bottom picture only. These are the only ones that use a heavier weight (some can hold up to 60 pounds).
*Note* There is a great book that I've mentioned in a previous post about hojo undo. It even includes how to make each piece of equipment for far cheaper than ordering from Okinawa and instructions on how to properly use them.