Five Pieces of Exercise Equipment Everyone Should Own
Winter is slowly melting away and Spring is just around the corner. You want to stick with your New Year’s resolution, but it’s hard to stay motivated with workouts when you only have a pair of running shoes. There are so many more great exercises that you can do with a few simple supplies. Have a complete gym in your home that can neatly fit in a corner closet.
- Resistance Bands: Don’t let resistance bands fools you. These aren’t just good for rehabbing an injured area; they provide a serious strength training workout when used properly. You can buy packs of these bands in different sizes and resistance strength. You’re able to do everything you’d do with weights with the bands. Looking to bench press? Stand in the band and bring it up to right under your armpits. Hold the band in each hand and press out until you have full extension. The bands provide a challenge to your muscles without putting a great deal of stress on your joints. Plus, they don’t take up much space, which is perfect for a home gym. You can pack these up and take them on trips so that you never miss a workout.
- Dumbbells/Kettlebells: Bands are great, but sometimes having weights is beneficial too. Having either dumbbells or kettlebells will give your body a new challenge. Women and men need to lift weights to maintain strong bones and lean muscle mass. You can do any lift that you would do with a barbell with these handheld free weights. Do a deadlift while having a dumbbell in each hand. Bend at the waist and knees to touch the ground, while keeping a flat back with eyes looking forward. If you only have one dumbbell or kettlebell, then widen your feet a little, place the weight in between your feet, and pick it up with both hands. You should feel a nice burn in your hamstrings after a few sets of those. If you’re concerned about space, they make adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells, so you can set the weight to as heavy or as light as you want with only one set of weights.
- Medicine Ball: The traditional medicine balls are small and dense. Don’t look for those–get the modern ones that are a little bit larger and softer. They come in various weight options. Get a great ab workout with one of these medicine balls. Sit on the floor and pick up your feet off the ground. Hold the medicine ball with both hands, and twist from side to side tapping the floor each time. You’ll hit every muscle in your abs with these Russian Twists. The medicine ball is a great height for doing similar exercises as you would with the physio ball too.
- Yoga Mat: After your cardio and strength workout, you’ll need a place to stretch out. Get a simple yoga mat to prevent you from sliding around on the floor. It also adds a nice little cushion for your knees too when doing kneeling stretches and exercises.
- Foam Roller: At the very end, you can use a foam roller to give yourself a mini massage over the areas that you just worked on. It feels great to get in there and roll out a few knots. It also helps aid in muscle recovery by pushing the lactic acid out of the muscles so you don’t feel as sore the next day. Don’t foam roll before you workout! This action tells your body it’s time to relax, and that’s the last thing you want before you are picking up weights.
By switching up your workout routines, you’ll see greater results much faster than cardio alone. It’s also important to recover well after putting your body through a tough workout. Stretching and foam rolling are great for repairing your muscles and getting you ready for the next workout. It’ll be easier to stay on track when you have everything you need in the comfort of your own home.