There’s no denying the significant convenience benefits of exercising at home with your own personal exercise equipment. You may play your favorite workout music without using headphones, you never have to bring a bag, and you don’t have to factor in travel time to and from the gym. Additionally, a lot of people find that working out at home relieves pressure, as gyms may be a little scary, particularly for those who are new to the fitness world.
It goes without saying that beginning an at-home exercise regimen has some drawbacks. One is that you may not have much room for a workout. Furthermore, gyms typically have better equipment than homes, and buying all of those extra bells and whistles isn’t cheap.
Nevertheless, you may do a lot with a small number of reasonably priced home workout accessories. (In actuality, there are many ways to incorporate strength and aerobic exercises using only your bodyweight as resistance; you don’t even need to spend any money.) However, having some extra equipment on hand increases your training options, lets you increase the resistance as you get stronger, and adds diversity to your exercises so that neither you nor your muscles grow weary of the same old routine.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals: These five pieces of equipment can help you build a home gym for less than $100. Additionally, take a look at seven upgrades that, depending on your needs, finances, and fitness objectives, you can afford to buy. By the way, although your home exercise area should be unique to you, not every item on this list is a need for everyone. Therefore, instead of using this list as a to-purchase list, decide what to buy depending on your particular exercise regimen and habits.
1.Exercise Mat
Simply put, a yoga mat or exercise mat greatly enhances the comfort of floor exercises. This applies to both push-ups performed on the knees and abs exercises performed on the back. To add more padding, especially when exercising on a hard floor, look for a thicker mat. Additionally, having a mat is a terrific method to guarantee that you have at least one rectangle set aside for exercise. You can also work out outside by taking your mat to the beach or backyard.
2. Resistance Bands
As a lightweight, affordable, and space-efficient storage option, resistance bands are a terrific choice, according to personal trainer and registered dietitian Nora Minno, C.P.T.
Exercises that target the lower body in particular benefit greatly from the added challenge provided by resistance bands. Try some glute bridges, side squats, or clamshells with a band around your ankles or beneath your knees to intensify your glute workout with these tiny but powerful bands, advises Minno. (Try this 10-move resistance band butt exercise.) Working with the band becomes more difficult the tighter it becomes.
3. Kettlebell
You might be surprised to learn how adaptable kettlebells are, and they’re a terrific tool for strengthening your muscles and raising your heart rate. “You can add kettlebell exercises to traditional strength training workouts to switch it up, or you can do kettlebell swings or Turkish get-ups,” advises Minno. “You can perform a walking lunge, passing the kettlebell underneath your front leg each time you step forward, or a goblet squat with a kettlebell.”
4. Set of Medium-Weight Dumbbells
There are countless options for at-home workouts using a set of dumbbells: Minno suggests using them for a variety of independent strength workouts, like as bicep curls, compound exercises like lunges, and more. You can also hold them for added resistance. Uncertain of what weight to purchase? She advises starting with a medium set. Although this implies that varying weights for individuals based on their degree of fitness is necessary, 8- to 10-pound dumbbells are a decent starting point. (This is the recommended weight range for you.)
Additionally, if you’re on a tight budget, you may be creative without heavier weights even though they’re fantastic for workouts like triceps extensions that target smaller muscle regions. “You can perform gentler workouts using resistance bands or common household objects like soup cans or shampoo bottles,” advises Minno. Heavy dumbbells can be a more worthwhile investment because they are more difficult to duplicate around the house.
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5. Set of Heavy Dumbbells
Additionally, Minno suggests purchasing a set of heavier dumbbells to increase the difficulty of training. Since they can withstand higher weight, you can use them in place of your medium-weight dumbbells for workouts like dumbbell deadlifts and squats that target your larger muscle groups.
Even though you may not be able to perform as many repetitions with 15-pound dumbbells as you can with 8-pound dumbbells (it’s more vital to maintain proper form), having a bigger set of dumbbells on hand also enables you to advance exercises as you gain strength.
6. Alternate Option: Set of Adjustable Dumbbells
Think about getting an adjustable set of dumbbells if you need more than a few sets. You have more alternatives when it comes to changing the weight with these dumbbells than with neoprene ones, even though they’re not quite as pleasant to grasp on to and changing the plates can be a little irritating.
These vary in weight from 3 pounds (for the single bar) to 38 pounds (for the pair of dumbbells). For various workouts, you can add or remove weight plates, and as your strength improves, you can use more weight.
7. Add-On: Light Dumbbells
Yes, as Minno pointed out, light dumbbells can be replaced with household items and resistance bands. However, if you’re not going with adjustable dumbbells, a set of three- or five-pound dumbbells might complete your collection if you have the room and the money. To add some more resistance to your donkey kicks, try placing one behind your knee. You can also use them to hold on to during standing aerobic exercises like shadow boxing to get a little extra burn.
8. Add-On: Full-Length Mirror
Although it’s not exactly a necessary piece of home gym equipment, a full-length mirror can help you monitor your form. According to Minno, “it’s crucial to check your form throughout your workout to prevent injuries and build strength properly.” It’s therefore one of the best home gym accessories she would suggest if you have the room and the money. (And if getting a mirror is out of the question, simply pay close attention to your form throughout each exercise.)
9. Add-On: Jump Rope
Burpees, for example, are a great way to fit in some equipment-free cardio at home. However, using a jump rope is still a fun and effective approach to raise your heart rate. Jumping rope also strengthens your legs, arms, shoulders, and core. Try this 10-minute jump rope exercise. (Instead, think about getting your cardio in with an HIIT or circuit workout if you have downstairs neighbors or low ceilings.)
10. Add-On: TRX Suspension Training System
The training system is actually intended for at-home workouts, even though it is a popular gym product these days. If you’re willing to invest a little extra, TRX straps offer countless exercise alternatives that can target every part of your body, such as suspended planks and rows (try these 12 TRX moves). It is also an excellent way to work out while traveling, as all you need to anchor it to is a door, beam, tree, or post.
11. Add-On: Gliding Discs
Gliding discs, often known as gliders, are one of those training aids that appears easier than it actually is. When performing workouts such as plank-to-pikes or reverse lunges (see some examples here), you position them under your hands or feet. They are extremely durable because you have to exert pressure on the disc to maintain it on the floor while moving horizontally. Additionally, because they slide, your muscles—particularly your core—must strain to keep you stable.
These work on both carpet and hardwood floors, but if you’d prefer to make your own pair of gliders, dish towels, washcloths, or T-shirts will work just as well to shake your muscles on a hardwood floor.
12. Add-On: Stability Ball
Stability balls are a terrific addition, even though they’re not exactly portable exercise equipment (especially if you enjoy doing Pilates or yoga at home). Because they test your stability, they’re also a great method to train your abs. This four-move stability ball exercise targets your core from all sides.
