Every January, millions of Americans use the new year to set out to get in shape and live a healthier lifestyle. With the COVID-19 crisis still raging in most parts of the nation, many fitness centers and gyms have been forced to shut their doors in an effort to contain the spread of the virus and to adhere to local restrictions. The good news is that there are more options than ever before if you want to set up a personal home gym.
Here are the key things to consider adding to your new home gym so that you can meet all of your fitness and health goals in 2021.
Yoga or Jump Mat: The cornerstone of every home gym is some type of mat to perform exercises. A yoga mat is essential for stretching or for performing core exercises. If you plan to perform plyometrics or other more intense moves, you may want to upgrade this to a thicker jump mat.
This piece of equipment is also inexpensive and portable, making it the perfect choice for a small home gym space. Be sure that you place the mat in a place that affords plenty of room for a full range of motion.
Cardio Equipment: Even the most ardent supporters of strength training will recognize the importance of cardiovascular exercise. While it is ideal to have a piece of equipment such as a treadmill, an elliptical machine, or an exercise bike to work out your heart and lungs, money and space often preclude these additions to your home gym.
If you cannot add a major piece of equipment to your gym, a jump rope is a great addition to your cardio routine. Some of the more modern and layered jump ropes will provide a greater workout to experienced fitness enthusiasts.
Resistance Bands: Savvy fitness enthusiasts have long recognized the advantages of incorporating resistance bands into their routine. These versatile bands work to both grow and tone your muscles. By providing a level of constant tension on your muscles throughout the entire movement, you will see results in a faster amount of time. Resistance bands also provide the benefit of being able to work nearly every muscle of your body in some way.
In addition, the bands challenge the muscles in a different way compared to free weights. These bands also take up little space, making them easy to fit into any home gym area.
Streaming Workout Options: One of the silver linings of the global pandemic is that it has forced the fitness industry to reinvent itself. With so many fitness providers pivoting to the online space, there are more options than ever before for streaming workouts. It is worth your time to check into these options to find a good fit for your fitness level and health needs.
You can find a variety of free options or you can splurge for a more custom approach. Investing money into your online workout will also keep you accountable for attending.
Free Weights: If you cannot afford an expensive weight machine, you will see the same benefits with a simple set of free weights. This type of strength training equipment is extremely efficient when looking to build muscle. As a bonus, you will also see improvements in your balance when consistently using free weights over machines. Along the way, you will experience some serious calorie burn.
Workout Bench: If you have the space and are serious about building strength, you will get loads of use out of a workout bench. You will enjoy a greater range of motion if you have a bench to use with your free weights. If you are worried about space, you can find a bench that folds up and stores easily so that you do not have to leave it out all of the time. In fact, it is easy to store your foldable bench and your free weights in most closets.
Pull Up Bar: No home gym is complete without a pull up bar. While it may seem old school, there is a reason why the pull up bar is still so popular. This versatile piece of equipment works your back muscles along with your core. One of the best things about this piece of equipment is that you can install it nearly anywhere. Put it in a sturdy doorframe or in your garage for best results.
Miscellaneous Pieces of Equipment: Beyond these basics, there are a number of items that you may want to consider as you build up your home gym. A stability ball is ideal if you are looking to build your core muscles. Using a kettlebell regularly will improve both your strength and your cardiovascular fitness levels. Avid strength trainers swear by the use of a medicine ball when looking to build explosive power. By experimenting with different pieces of equipment, you will soon learn what tools will benefit you the most personally.
These essentials will provide everything that you need to enjoy a comprehensive workout in the comfort and safety of your own home. Do not feel as if you need to outfit your gym space with everything at once. By gradually adding to your collection of equipment and tools, you will soon have an area that will provide you a space to work up a sweat.
