The rise of the home gym was largely seen as a result of the recent coronavirus pandemic, as people decided to use the time they were stuck at home for exercise and the gym. Or those who already had this looked for ways to sustain their exercise regime at home without interaction with others.
This led to the proliferation of the home gym, and as with so many trends, there were those who bought all the equipment they thought they needed, only to list it for sale at a loss a short while later. This article will look at the types of useful and essential equipment to have in your home gym.
What are you hoping to achieve in the gym?
This must be the first discussion point before you go out and buy any equipment. You need to know where your body is in terms of fitness and determine the aspects you aim to achieve or change. Create or look for an achievable example exercise and training plan with specific timeframes and a daily training slot.
How much space do you have?
The second defining criterion will be the space that you have for the gym that you’re putting together. You don’t want to feel cramped for space and should look to have the equipment and machines as well as some floor and wall space for stretching and cardio. The space also needs to have sufficient ventilation and ease of access to be able to get any gym equipment in and out.
The equipment to look for
Free weights
The use of free weights is the simplest way to start a home gym. Look for those that are covered in plastic or vinyl, and avoid the old school iron weight plates that are likely to make more noise and cause damage to floors.
A bench and bars
Along with the free weights and kettlebells that you have in the gym, you will need an assortment of bars for the various exercises. Dumbbell bars and a long bar for bench presses and squats are both necessary and essential.
Resistance strength training machines
There was a trend to purchase the most compact multi gyms out there, and these do indeed work if you have the space. However, they are not as versatile as the Mirafit Cable Machines, for example, which are much more compact and can train a wider range of muscles in people of different ages. The cable machine is proven to stress muscles quicker than free weights and will also provide an easier way for beginners to start.
Additional items to consider
You need to have appropriate floor coverings, either a thick rubber mat or carpets that have been measured to fit and can be easily cleaned on a regular basis. No good home gym is without its fitness posters and motivational quotes; they add a vibe to the space and will go a long way to encouraging you to train on those days that you’re not keen.
These are the generic types of equipment that you should consider as the basics for your home gym. You may have to adjust your specific gym program and your project budget in accordance with the size of the space.