One of the greatest restrictions to maintaining a healthy fitness routine is time and budget. Whether a day at work bleeds into your free hour at the end of the day, a trip to the grocery store takes longer than intended, or you simply just don’t feel like being around people, these excuses don’t have to stop you from getting that workout in.
Getting into a routine is undoubtedly a challenge, and once that routine gets broken, it is even harder to jump back in. This can be prevented with the right backup plan!
It is said that individuals with home fitness equipment are more likely to stick to a fitness regime than those that don’t. Having the ability to pull out a yoga mat, or some dumbbells and get your blood flowing, even after a time constricted day, will make you feel better and keep you progressing towards your goal.
We spoke to a New York City personal trainer, Jason, and compiled a list of what he thinks is the best go-to at home fitness equipment to keep you motivated when the excuses are rolling in!
1. Kettlebell
Kettlebell workouts are both a killer cardio blast and a great strength training movement. They are known to improve overall strength, core power, balance, flexibility, and coordination while also melting fat and sculpting healthy and lean muscles.
2. Jump rope
Remember me? Jumping rope gets the heart rate up, and stimulates the mind! While jumping rope your body has to consider timing, rhythm Increased muscle engagement. By using a heavy jump rope, you engage more muscle groups with every workout, leading to faster results and improved cardio. Jumping rope can raise your heart rate two to three times faster than other exercises and offer the same aerobic building benefits as running with less impact.
3. Resistance bands
Women’s Health Mag says it best:
“Resistance bands are a simple and versatile tool to work your muscles,” says Sarah Gawron, an AFAA-certified trainer, since they use constant tension to stimulate muscle growth, without putting strain on your joints the way heavy weights can. “They can improve mobility, flexibility, strength. “Unlike dumbbells and medicine balls, you can toss them in your suitcase, store them in a drawer in your living room—heck you can even keep them in your purse. (You know, if you’re hardcore like that…)
4. Yoga mat
Yoga mat’s define your space. There is something satisfying about putting a yoga mat down anywhere you please and knowing you can get a great workout on it. The original yoga mats were made out of skins, particularly those from deer or tigers. The skin provided more cushioning and grip than the bare ground, which is useful when getting into trickier postures. Even if you’re not a yogi, it is nice to have a mat to lay on while doing your floor routine! Think sit-ups, pushups, stretching!
5. Dumbbells
Dumbbells are an extremely versatile fitness tool. They are often used for joint-isolation exercises such as biceps curls, chest flies or shoulder raises. Dumbbells can also be used for full-body multi-planar movements providing a variety of different strength outcomes.
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