October 05, 2021
Five At-Home Gym Essentials
Many of us have been working from home, but how about working out from home? Working out in your own home gym is not only super convenient, but it's also highly efficient. No more wasting time on your commute or packing your gym bag. And not to mention, you can save a lot of money working out at home instead. So what are some essentials to have in your home gym? Here, we start with some basics.
Exercise Mats
A yoga mat or exercise mat provides better grip and allows you to do floor exercises with some comfort and padding. Thinner mats are more solid and thicker mats have more cushioning. The most common size is 24 inches wide and 68 to 72 inches long, which is what most people feel most comfortable using. These matts are easily portable and can be rolled up and transported anywhere. You can feel free to choose any spot in your home or home gym to use it.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are another portable favorite for home workouts and beyond. They come in a wide range of tension strengths and sizes for different fitness levels. You can use them in various different types of exercises to challenge different muscles of the body. These guys are lightweight and easy on the wallet but can help take your workout to the next level. Resistance bands work by recruiting stabilizing muscle groups and increasing the intensity of your exercise.
Dumbbells
Dumbbells, hand weights, or free weights, are great for muscle building and strength training. They are highly space efficient and portable to suit any size of home gym. They're also versatile as they can be used in a wide variety of different exercise routines. They come in various different weights and sizes to suit your exercise goals. Dumbbells can be adjustable, fixed, or studio types. You can change the weight of adjustable dumbbells while fixed dumbbells are consistent in weight. Studio weights are covered in a textured coating and may be lighter.
Jump Rope
Get your heart rate up without a treadmill with some jump rope. This is an inexpensive and easy way to add cardio to your home gym. Skipping also has many benefits including improving coordination and rhythm, stamina, bone health, and it really burns calories. It trains your joints to be more elastic and increases muscle resilience. Jumping rope can also decrease belly fat and help you lose weight.
BONUS: Stationary Bike
And last but not least, we have the indoor bike. These buggers are well worth the investment. Adding an indoor bike to your home gym can really elevate your at home workout. Be sure to check out all the benefits of indoor cycling here!
