Some of the items listed are easy to use for both experienced users and beginners. It’s a good idea to talk to a personal trainer or someone familiar with the gym to show you how to use equipment you’re unfamiliar with.
Suspension trainer: of suspension trainer is a great tool for beginners to use. It can also be used to make other bodyweight exercises harder or easier if you are more experienced. You will need a sturdy, tall horizontal bar (such as a pull-up bar) with adjustable straps that can be anchored or clipped to the door frame. The straps can be adjusted to suit the type of exercise. Luke Zocchi center personal trainer He says the great thing about suspension trainers is that they work multiple muscle groups at the same time while improving core stability. He explains, “Suspension trainers are perfect for all skill levels and can be used to increase the difficulty of an exercise or to decrease the difficulty of an exercise.” Therefore, it is a good tool for beginners to use when they need extra support when doing squats, lunges, and reverse rows. For experienced users, you can also challenge your upper body with push-ups, tricep presses, bicep curls, inversions, and more, or add kettlebells or dumbbells.
This is a suspension trainer I have at home, and I usually hang it behind my door.
Yoga mat: Yoga mats take up minimal space and can be used for bodyweight and weight-bearing training, as well as stretching, Pilates and yoga. If you want to take it with you on a trip, you can easily carry it with you. Zocchi recommends checking the thickness, material, texture, and size of your yoga mat. “The thickness determines how comfortable and supportive the mat is for your body, while the material and texture can help keep the mat from slipping on any surface, especially after a sweaty workout.” he explains. Additionally, he points out that standard mat lengths are usually 68 to 72 inches, so depending on your height, you can choose the yoga mat that’s most comfortable for your height.
Yoga mats can be used for a variety of activities and do not take up much space.
Jumping rope: The same goes for jump ropes, which are compact enough to carry in your gym bag to the park or use indoors. It’s an easy way to get your cardio in and create circuits with your own bodyweight and strength training exercises. Zocchi recommends looking at factors such as handle, length, and weight when purchasing a jump rope. “The handle should have a comfortable grip to prevent hand fatigue, and the rope length should accommodate your height,” he explains. Also keep in mind that the heavier the jump rope, the more resistance there will be during difficult workouts.
Jump ropes are easy to carry and can be easily used both indoors and outdoors.
Kettlebell: If you’re new to kettlebells, this equipment is a good alternative to dumbbells and can also be used for squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, and core training. Kettlebells are designed like cast-iron cannonballs with a handle in the middle, so when you grip a kettlebell, the weight is distributed evenly in your hands, whereas with dumbbells the weight is on both ends. “It’s important to buy a kettlebell with a good grip because if the handle is slick and slippery, it will be difficult to maintain a firm grip,” says Zocchi. These are great strength training tools, but if you want to take it to the next level, you can use them for cardio and learn how to do kettlebell swings, cleans, snatches, and more from a certified kettlebell trainer to enhance your strength training. Full body training.
Kettlebells can be used for strength training and aerobic training.
Dumbbell: If you’re used to dumbbells, it’s a good idea to have more than one pair. Zocchi says, “The size of weights you should own depends on your fitness level, but we generally recommend having light, medium, and heavy weights to challenge all levels.” says. You can also choose adjustable dumbbells if you prefer. This is because they tend to offer a variety of weight ranges (usually 5 to 50 pounds) while saving space. These options allow you to easily move backwards or forwards through the exercise as needed.
Dumbbell racks allow you to store weights neatly and easily access them.
Resistance band: We took into account that perhaps not everyone has the space to have dumbbells or kettlebells and could use a resistance band instead. Resistance bands come in a variety of weights and lengths. Zocchi says it’s important to keep three things in mind when purchasing resistance bands: resistance level, material, and length/width. “Lighter resistance bands are great for beginners and exercises focused on mobility and rehabilitation, while heavier bands provide more resistance for strength training,” he explains. Resistance bands are usually made of rubber, latex, or fabric. Zocchi says, “Rubber resistance bands tend to break easily during workouts, so a cloth option is your best option to minimize wear and tear.” I personally have both long and mini resistance bands. Because you can make most exercises harder or simply do them as a warm-up.
Resistance bands come in long and short styles and have different weights.
Adjustable weight bench: If you have space, an adjustable weight bench that complements your dumbbells allows you to perform exercises like lying chest presses, bent-over dumbbell rows, tricep dips, and other upper-body exercises on an incline or flat surface. You can. Most adjustables can be folded flat or folded into a more compact size for easy storage. When purchasing an adjustable weight bench, Zocchi says it’s important to keep stability, adjustability, padding and comfort in mind.
medicine ball: Medicine balls are weighted, leather-covered balls that come in a variety of weights, so choosing the right one depends on your intended use. Medicine balls are typically used to increase power, so you want something that can be manipulated at speed while still providing enough of a challenge. These explosive movements include exercises such as wall balls, ball slams, and med ball chops.
Practice serious power moves with a medicine ball.
Cardio equipment: Finally, some people just want a piece of equipment they can hop on and move around with. This is where owning cardio equipment comes in handy. Choose based on how much space you have and what you’re most likely to use. If you’re tired of going at the same pace on your indoor bike, treadmill, rower, or elliptical, you can always come up with a circuit that you can complete in under 30 minutes. This may include multiple repetitions of sprints on a machine followed by rest, bodyweight or weight-bearing exercises.
The Peloton Tread is the perfect treadmill for anyone who loves interval training.
