Essential Workout Supplies For Your Home Gym
When it comes to working out, there’s a lot of equipment that you need. Whether you’re a gym regular or just starting your workout routine, the right gear can make or break your experience and help you achieve your fitness goals.
Keeping your home workout space equipped with the essentials will ensure that you have everything you need to get moving and stay healthy. For starters, a good workout mat is an essential part of any home exercise kit. They’re available in a variety of sizes and styles, and can be used for everything from yoga to high-intensity interval training. The best mats have a textured surface that prevents slippage and keeps you comfortable during sweaty workouts.
Other basic workout supplies include resistance bands, which amplify your strength training by making moves like push-ups, plank knee tucks and lunges more challenging. They’re also compact and take up very little storage space, so they’re a great addition to any home gym.
Another must-have piece of equipment is a weight bench. A quality weight bench will allow you to perform a wide range of weight training exercises and can also be used as an exercise prop during workouts like barre and Pilates sessions. Look for a bench that can be adjusted from a flat to an incline position and that has built-in storage for dumbbells or barbells to save space.
If you want to add a little extra challenge to your upper-body workouts, consider investing in a pull-up bar. You can mount these to the wall or to a power rack in your home gym and use them to perform exercises like squats, dead bugs and pull-ups. Some models even feature attachment points to hook on resistance bands or a door anchor for added intensity.
For a more comprehensive, full-body strength workout at home, you should also consider getting a set of resistance bands or tubing. They’re often color-coded to indicate the level of tension and work well with a number of different movements. Some can be used as wrist or ankle weights as well, which amplifies the resistance of your regular bodyweight exercises.
Finally, a heart-rate monitor and workout timer are essential tools for any home gym. These will give you the ability to track your progress over time and will let you know when it’s time to push yourself harder during workouts. Foam rollers are also a must-have for home workouts, as they relieve muscle tightness and help you stretch after a hard-core session.
