I love a good home workout. They're accessible, and with a few of the right bits and bobs, they can also be dang good for burning calories, building some muscle, and generally keeping a space in your day for movement if you can't get to the gym!
A lot of my clients start out working out from home. I think it's an inviting solution if you find that the gym hasn't been a place where you've felt comfortable and at home. It's also a great way to start into strength training with just a few implements.
The most important piece of equipment is your footwear! When you're just starting out with workouts from home, get yourself a shoe that you feel comfortable in. I suggest a cross training shoe rather than a running shoe. Cross training shoes will give you more stability with your lifting, without limiting your ability to comfortably wear them for your cardio activities, too. Here is a good example of a shoe you can purchase. Also, please don't feel like you need to break the bank on an expensive pair. I love shopping at TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, and Marshalls for cross training shoes!
Next, invest in some resistance bands! Resistance bands are so versatile and useful for strength training. They're a great way to start into strength and strength movement patterns without the fear of dropping a weight while you're learning. Resistance bands also help you train a larger range of motion, which is helpful if you are limited in how much weight you have access to lifting. The final feature of the resistance band is: they keep it fun! While training with a resistance band may not be your heaviest form of training, it's a great way to do drop sets, or burn out sets. The closer you can get your muscles to failure, the better! Grab some bands with handles, or without!
I suggest my clients get a yoga mat for their exercise space. It's a good way to keep you off your floor--and the sweat off of your floor! We are here to work! :) I also feel that setting up your yoga mat in your space is part of the ritual of getting ready to work out. Using physical elements to help you set the stage for your workout is a great "motivation" hack!
I love a good exercise step! They remind me of my mom :) But, they are also really useful! You don't need a full exercise bench set up to reap the rewards of being able to do some elevated and deficit movements. Not only for training purposes, but again, to keep it fun and interesting and giving yourself a few more options with traditional movements like a lunge! I even use mine to bench press with dumbbells, and it is perfect for my home set-up.
Finally, a pair of dumbbells. 2 sets, 1 lighter, and 1 heavier. I mostly train women, and I suggest to them a pair of 10-15lb dumbbells and a pair of 25-30lb dumbbells. These two sets of dumbbells will give you the ability to train larger muscle groups like your glutes and back. A lot of your lighter movements can be accomplished with your resistance bands, so don't shy away from grabbing that heavier pair! You will graduate to pushing that weight, so set yourself up for success!
Building out a home gym takes time, because it's expensive to amass all of the equipment you could potentially get for your home gym! I hope these suggestions help you get started and help you feel motivated and excited to continue your fitness journey. Part of the fun is getting to add to collection!
I want to know, what is your favorite piece of home workout equipment you have?
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