There are many good reasons to have a home gym, especially if you don’t want to spend your money on a gym membership or if you would like to have more freedom than you get with an average gym. However, most people find it hard when it comes to buying equipment for a home gym. This guide will help you build an affordable home gym without having to spend a lot of money buying or maintaining the equipment.
Bosu
Bosu costs a good amount of money and not all people can afford it. It can be used for a range of exercises including core exercises, as a weight and engagement out of the lunges. Since it can be used in all sorts of exercises, it is a good equipment to have in your home. Don’t worry if you’ve never used a Bosu because it is available with an instructional DVD.
Stability ball
If you cannot afford a Bosu, you need to have a stability ball. You can sit on it to do arm weight or even use it to provide extra resistance when doing burpees. Get the right sized ball – your height may determine whether you will have a blue or a black stability ball.
Kettlebells
Although you can use a hand weight to do the same exercises, kettlebells create a good momentum which can improve your exercises. You can use kettlebells to do swinging exercises if you are looking to have a full body workout by engaging the core. These equipment have different weights. Therefore, you can choose the appropriate weight depending on the exercises you intend to have or your body weight.
Hand weights
Just like kettlebells, hand weights / dumbbells have varying weights. If you are a beginner, starting with less weight is advisable so that you can advance as you continue exercising. Alternatively, you can buy an adjustable set if you are considering heavy lifting.
Exercise videos
Exercise videos from professional trainers and experts can help you work out in the comfort of your home. You will have to either buy, download or even subscribe to channels to watch these videos. Your choice of exercise video can be determined by what you are looking for, the fitness equipment you already have/can afford and the videos you are watching. For instance, there are exercise videos for Home Gym Sumo that can help you get started. In fact, some videos specialize on a single type of a workout. Therefore, you will have to know what you are looking for by researching or reading reviews posted online before using these videos.
Jump rope
If you don’t have or cannot afford a larger cardio equipment, a jump rope is a safe, fast and an inexpensive equipment to get some cardio. You will have to research the techniques to use to benefit from the exercises. Boxers have been using this for decades to improve fitness.
Foam roller
A foam roller can be used to tighten your muscles, increase your mobility and get rid of muscle pains especially if you are a runner. These exercises can be painful but with time you will adapt and start benefiting.
Resistance bands
Resistance bands rely on resistance/force to build stronger muscles. For a home gym, they are a convenient and inexpensive way to work out especially if you invest in resistance bands that will not break easily. Besides, you can incorporate them into a range of workouts to tone your muscles. Resistance bands are also great if you travel on business, as they take up almost no space in your luggage.
Yoga Mat
Even if you don’t like yoga, having a yoga mat in your home gym is important because the mat can help you do floor ab exercises or other strength workouts without sitting on the floor.
Steps
If you are looking to burn calories and strengthen your muscles, you need to buy a step. Nowadays, they are available with a DVD which can help you learn how to use the steps effectively. You can use the steps to do cardio exercises as well.
Finally, if you are looking to set up a home gym, you need to be committed, disciplined, passionate and consistent to have good results. Unlike in an average gym, you will be solely responsible for the workouts and time management. Therefore, if you do it right, you can benefit a lot and vice versa.