Maybe you’ve been waiting for the lockdown on your gym to be lifted. Or you thought a weekly energetic stroll around the neighborhood would suffice. But let’s face it: it’s been two months since your last squat or lunge and it’s finally time to assemble your own exercise regiment. But before you shop online for expensive treadmills and bikes, think again. Instead, opt for some multipurpose equipment. Here are five essentials you will want when building your home gym.
A MAT
A critical component for bodyweight work, especially pilates, stretching and, of course, yoga. After all, if you’re not comfortable on your floor kneeling and contorting, then you’re going to resist the idea of working out at all. An online search will point you to the best mats — from thick to really, really thick. Not surprisingly, they are proving quite in-demand these days.
RESISTANCE BANDS
If you want to shape your body without overspending or taking up too much space in your home, you’ll need to pick up some resistance bands. These will give you the flexibility to perform a broad range of workouts. Rowing and pulling motions will work the upper back and core, for example. For more strenuous routines such as squats, you can double or triple up on bands.
A SKIPPING ROPE
It sounds deceptively easy, but a rudimentary skipping rope can give you a worthwhile cardio workout. Skipping for half an hour or more actually increases your aerobic fortitude. It also tones the upper arms and shoulders and boosts coordination. (There is a reason why every Rocky movie includes skipping as part of the climatic workout.) More practically, you take a skipping rope wherever you go and challenge yourself with increasingly intensive moves as you improve.
KETTLEBELLS
If bodyweight training does not appeal to you, a kettlebell can offer a range of strength-focused options. It is also an effective alternative to the professional gym equipment you have been locked away from. These cannonball-shaped weights have handles, so you can grip them with one or both hands. They are measured in “pood.” One pood is the equivalent of 36.1 lbs.
A MIRROR
You don’t need a personal trainer when you have a mirror. Watching yourself work out will help you adapt your form and reduce the chance of injury. But if you want something more than that slate of glass hanging on your wall, you could opt for the screen-turned-trainer digital program, Mirror, which transforms a mirror into a screen that plays live and recorded workouts. At $1,500, it isn’t cheap, but if you love working out to YouTube videos, it’s irresistible.