Keeping fit is on the rise as a trend as people are becoming more conscious about living healthy. Most people turn to gyms to help them reach body goals and that is commendable. It is often best to have your workout sessions designed and monitored by an expert.
However, not everyone can afford to pay the exorbitant prices some gyms charge for membership. If you are in this category or just prefer working out away from prying eyes, then you are in the right place. You can actually have a great workout with just a few tools and some instructions. Since workout instructions can easily be gotten online from sites like https://smartfitnessgeek.com, we have put together a list of those tools for you, here they are:
- Exercise Bench: also known as weight benches, they are an absolute necessity for your home gym. They are important for strength training workouts but are also useful for other exercises like the hammer bench-press for working out your chest. When purchasing an exercise bench, it is advisable you go for the adjustable ones, they can be slid into incline or decline position which makes them useful for more exercises.
- Yoga Mat: Yoga mats are useful for exercises too. They provide a cushion from the hard floor during your ab workouts and warmup stretches plus they also give more support than a carpet. They are usually roll-up mats and travel-ready in case you need to leave home for a bit.
- Dumbbells: this is one utility tool that can make your workout a whole lot easier. They can be used for weight training as well as full-body fitness. Dumbbells are very effective for workouts because as well as working the main muscles, they also need a lot of stabilizing muscles to help out. Getting the right dumbbells for your workout target can go a long way in helping you achieve the body you want.
- Resistance bands: these adjustable bands are important for everyone from rookie to advanced exercisers since the resistance can be easily increased by folding it lengthwise They help you build muscle just like hand-weights. They are also easy to store which means that you can keep them out of sight once you are done working out.
- Jump Ropes: jumping rope is a conditioning workout that can also help you build total body strength and can be used as an indoors alternative to going for a jog. Some studies have shown that jumping rope for 10 minutes can burn as many calories as a 30-minute jog. You can choose between weighted or speed jump ropes depending on your favoured workout routine. It is, however, advisable for beginners to start out with speed ropes before working their way up to weighted jump ropes.
- Kettlebells: Kettlebells are mostly used for increasing grip strengths or in workout routines designed to build endurance and strength in the lower back, legs and shoulder regions. They are usually small, meaning that they don’t take a lot of space and can be put away once you are done.
- Stability Ball: these exercise balls are built for developing your core. You can use a stability ball for stretches, ab workouts and other exercises. Lying on the ball means engaging all the muscles in your core to keep your body supported. Getting the right ball for your size can go a long way in helping you get a better-built body with better posture.
- Pullup Bar: classically used for doing pull-ups, these bars are useful for a whole lot more. You can wedge them at the top of your door frame for pull-ups, chin-ups and other back and bicep exercises or lay them on the floor for triceps dips and push-ups.