7 Pieces of Equipment You Need to Outfit Your Home Gym
If you’re sick of the gym, you’re not alone. Between all of the amazing YouTube fitness options, like barre home workouts, and the rising cost of ClassPass memberships, it might be time to set yourself up to sweat it out at home. But building up a legit gym can get expensive — and if you only have a small space for your home gym, you’re gonna want to skip the full-on weight room and cardio studio setup. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get an effective home workout without breaking your budget — or making a StairMaster and treadmill key parts of your home decor.
1. Yoga Mat: Whether or not you’re actually doing yoga with it, a yoga mat is literally the foundation of a good home workout. Hardwood floors don’t give enough cushion, and regular carpet doesn’t give enough support. The yoga mat is juuuust right. Plus, the non-slip surface makes stretching and floor exercises easier to move through. If you’re a true yogi, invest in a yoga block and a strap. (Photo via Brit + Co)
2. Foam Roller: Once you start stretching out tight muscles with a foam roller, you’ll never want to go back to plain ol’ regular warm-up stretches. It’s especially useful for loosening up your hamstrings.
3. Resistance Bands: Believe it or not, these stretchy swatches of rubber can help you build muscle just as effectively as hand weights. Choose your resistance level, and remember to use slow, controlled movements to maximize your training. (Photo via Getty)
4. Jump Rope: Jumping rope isn’t just for kids. It’s one of the easiest, cheapest ways to get a crazy-intense cardio workout. Plus, you get to channel your inner badass boxing champion.
5. Light Dumbbells: Strength training won’t turn you into a ‘roid-fueled muscle maniac, but we can promise feeling stronger will be pretty empowering. Start small with three-pound and five-pound dumbbells, then work your way up to eight- and 10-pounders when you’re feeling a little stronger. Your beautifully toned shoulders will thank you. (Photo via Brit + Co)
6. Table or Chair: You probably already have one or two of these sitting around (no pun intended), and they’re about to do double duty. Chairs are great for moves like push-ups, tricep dips and squats.
7. Gliders: Get into a deeper side lunge than you would have thought possible with these slippery discs, specifically designed for lower-body workouts. Hint: You can also try using a towel or paper plate for an even cheaper option.
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