There is nothing more convenient than having your gym right at home. The arrival of Covid-19 saw gyms closed for months on end and even though they are mostly open right now, they carry the risk of possible infection and you have to spend ages wiping equipment down before you even get to use it. So, by having a home gym you will be able to work out comfortably and more regularly since you do not have to travel far to use it.
If you are planning to create a home gym then here are 6 pieces of the basic equipment you will need.
Dumbbells
Unsurprisingly, one of the most important things to have in your home gym is at least one set of dumbbells. Ideally, you would have a couple of different weight options for your gym so that you can use different weights for different exercises. You can often buy sets of 3 different weights online and have them delivered right to your door so that you don’t have to worry about lugging them across town. Dumbbells can be used to work out almost every part of your body including biceps, triceps, traps, shoulders, core, quads, hamstrings, and so on. So if you are worried that a home gym will not cover all areas then think again. Not only can dumbbells be used for all kinds of exercises, but they are also one of the most effective methods of building strength and improving muscle definition.
Skipping Rope
The next item you should have in your home gym is a skipping rope, these are so effective for improving your cardiovascular health. The best part about them is that they will take up next to no space in your gym, leaving you with more room to kit out. You might think you need a treadmill to get the best results for cardio, however, a widely known study has found that after 6 weeks of daily 10-minute skipping sessions showed the same level of improvement to stamina as people who jogged for 30 minutes a day. Overall, research has shown that skipping rope burns more calories per minute and uses more muscles than rowing, swimming, or running. So you can reach your fitness goals without even having to leave your house. Even if you are buying a highly sophisticated rope that counts your jumps and tracks your speed/calories burnt, skipping ropes are generally very affordable.
Exercise Mats
Exercise mats are essential for your home gym because they are designed to protect you from hurting yourself and from damaging the floor. If you go online to follow workout videos then you are sure to see the instructors using a mat. The last thing you want is to be doing crunches on a hard floor as this can be especially damaging to your spine and the discomfort will mess up your form. Mats are cheap and easy to come by, if you really want you can even find them in £1 saver stores. However, it is recommended that you buy a decent quality mat so that you can ensure maximum comfort and safety during your workout.
Door Pull Up Bar
A pull-up bar is a great way to build muscle in your upper body and to help define those core muscles in your abdomen and back. People tend to shy away from the pull-up bar in the gym because nobody wants to struggle or fail in the presence of a bunch of people, but by having one right at home you will never have to worry about that again. Everybody starts somewhere and a door pull-up bar is an inexpensive piece of equipment that takes up next to no space.
An Adjustable Bench
An adjustable bench can make a huge difference to your home gym as it will increase the variety of exercises you can do with your dumbbells. You might be thinking a bench will take up too much space, but several benches have been cleverly designed to fit into smaller spaces.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are another piece of equipment that is inexpensive and take up barely any space in your gym. They can be used for several exercises and they do wonders for building strength and muscle definition. Consider buying a set of different resistance bands so that you can gradually work your way up to the more difficult ones.
So there you have it, 6 essential bits of equipment that will make your home gym feel complete and allow you to reach your fitness aspirations.