Affordable Home Gym
by a Fitness Expert
After coaching clients in the gym and at-home, here are the home gym must haves for well under a year of a Y membership!
When getting a yoga mat, thicker does not mean better. Look for a mat in the 1/4” to 1/3” thickness range. Any thicker will not be suitable for hardwood floor or carpet because it will stretch and slide around. Another characteristic to look for is the texture of the mat. Do not get a smooth mat. It won’t grip to the ground well and you won’t grip to it the best either. Try this simple and afforadable mat from BalanceFrom. (Amazon: $14.99)
With a thinner mat comes the concern for our knees. Something I use with many clients is a yoga knee cushion or similar. The cushion allows for comfort on your knees and stability on the rest of the mat during your workout. Try this yoga knee cushion from SukhaMat which allows for some stability but keeps the knees comfortable. (Amazon: $18.95)
If you plan on using dumbbells or other weights which could ding your floor, I would highly suggest getting exercise tiles. They protect your floor, stay in place, and give you a little more surface area to work. They are especially helpful if you are taller person like me or can't make up your mind on location and shape (also me). Check out these tiles from BalanceFrom. 48 sq ft is the size I suggest. You can always go smaller, but not larger. Also, buy grey or blue tiles if you are worried about it showing dust and hair. (Amazon: $47.59)
Tube resistance bands are THE BEST! Make sure you get the door anchor. As long as you have that and a door which will latch, the sky is the limit! Like this set of bands becuase the lightest is 5lbs, which is perfect for isolated shoulder exercises! Most band sets start at 10lbs. The versatile hands allow for several bands to be used at once and there’s even a user manual with movement examples! (Amazon: $20.95)
We have seen these guys all over social media for booty busting, but they can do so much more! Use them for shoulder stability, hip flexor work, ankle strength... They are such a versatile tool! This is a tried and true set which lasts longer than most! (Amazon: $12.99)
The hex dumbbell is way more useable than circle dumbbells. For one, they don’t roll away from you and two the trusted stability allows for a ton of different exercises. This CAP set is under $200 and goes up to 25lbs. For most, 25lbs is plenty of weight to get started. Most of my clients live in the 15lbs to 25lbs range for their workouts. A bonus, dumbbells can be used as a kettlebell in most exercises. It’s a two for one! (Amazon: $189.99)
If you struggle with balance and flexibility, these guys are perfect for you! Sliders can be used for both upper and lower body exercises. They definitely make a movement more challenging and keep you engaged through the entire range of motion. This style of exercise is amazing for joint stability. Especially in the hips. Gaiam sliders are great and what I use with my clients! (Amazon: $10.50)
Want more choices for your home gym? Ask me about equipment down below or message me on social media!
