It’s not always easy getting to the gym, whether there’s not enough time or you simply aren’t motivated enough to leave the house! If you’re skipping the gym more than you think you should be, you might want to consider building a home gym instead. You can keep your gym membership for hardcore workouts and cardio days, or even for those protein shakes you just can’t seem to make as well as the gym does. Or you might even find that along with the great outdoors, a home gym with the basics is all you really need.
Whether you want to turn your home into an all-out fitness center, or just want a few basic pieces of equipment to get you started, here are the best pieces of equipment for getting a solid workout at home!
1. Dumbbells
If you’re new to working out, or just don’t want to invest in an entire home gym, start with a a set of dumbbells. Dumbbells are the perfect place for beginners to start, and for all levels to maintain and keep their fitness in tip-top shape. They’re simple to use, versatile, and a great way to increase muscle mass. You can start by buying a pair of light dumbbells, anywhere from 2-10 pounds, and buy heavier ones as your strength increases. Or you can buy a set with varying weights.
2. Kettlebells
Kettlebells are one of the latest trends in workout equipment, but are actually about 300 years old! If you’ve never used one before, you’ve probably seen them in the gym or in workout videos. They basically look like a ball with a handle on them, and come in all different weights and sizes. The weight is unevenly distributed in kettlebell, which gives you a great workout, but can also cause injury if not properly used. You can perform many of the same exercises you use dumbbells with – bicep curls, lateral raises, etc. But kettlebells provide both a resistance AND cardiovascular workout at the same time, due to its swinging motion that engages entire groups of muscles! Check out this beginner kettlebell workout from FitnessMagazine.
3. Medicine Balls
These weighted balls are a staple piece of equipment in any gym because of their versatility and effectiveness. They are used for a number of exercises to work practically every muscle group, from abs to biceps! Whether you’re catching it mid-squat or throwing it onto the ground, a medicine ball improves power, challenges your core stability, and can tone you all over. Medicine balls come in a range of weights for beginners to advanced athletes.
4. Resistance Bands
These stretchy bands come in a variety of lengths, widths, and resistance levels (the thicker the band, the more resistance). They are excellent tools for total-body sculpting, toning, and flexibility. They are also much more portable and convenient than dumbbells, so they don’t take up much room and are perfect for traveling. They are also different from dumbbells in that they provide variable resistance throughout the entire range of motion, so they are a good substitute once in a while. When performing resistance band exercises, the band should be secured so that there is resistance even at the bottom of the exercise.
5. Stability/Exercise Balls
A stability ball is a great tool for targeting your core, and it’s also a great substitute for a weight bench! Perform chest presses, triceps extensions, or other bench exercises on a stability ball for the same resistance training, plus stability and balance training! TRAINERbrands has exercise balls with exercises printed right on the ball, which is perfect for beginners.
6. B
osu Balance Trainer
Short for “both sides utilized,” it’s essentially an exercise ball that has been cut in half, flat side on the bottom. It’s a great piece of equipment to take your workout to the next level. Use the flat side up for balance routines, push-ups and more, or lay on the ball side up for crunches and other ab exercises. Engage the core, increase balance and stability, and increase over-all tone with a Bosu trainer!
7. Yoga Mat
A mat is definitely a must-have in any home gym or even if you just stretch or do your ab work at home. Any exercises that involve sitting, kneeling, and lying can lead to joint pain and pressure. Mats help relieve joint pressure, plus keep you from slipping and sliding on hardwood floors.They are cheap and roll up for convenient storage, too.
8. Jump Rope
Jumping rope is an excellent way to incorporate cardio into your at home workout. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you get your heart rate up and start working up a sweating! Jump rope for 5 minutes before you start your workout, and do 2 minute bousts of quick jumping in betweens circuits or sets for a great, total-body workout.
