Tired of consistently paying crazy gym fees? Need a way to work off some pent up energy in lockdown? Or maybe you just want to start living a healthier lifestyle. Whatever your reason, setting up a home gym is a great idea. Fitness goals, available space and your budget are the three main factors to consider before you invest in some new workout equipment.
Fitness Goals
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, build muscle, improve your flexibility or increase your endurance it’s important to understand what your ultimate goal is. There is so much equipment out there, understanding your primary goal will help you buy equipment you’re most likely to use and avoid wasted spend.
Space
Whether you’ve got an entire room, half a garage or sharing the living room, it’s important to understand what kind of workouts and equipment are possible within the space you’ve got. Find a place in your home that is the most conducive for working out. Try some equipment free workouts in that space to test it out. Does it have enough air flow? Can you exercise without worrying about breaking things? Do you have a portable speaker system or do headphones get you pumped? These are all crucial questions to ask to ensure you're setting up your space right to actively achieve your fitness goals.
Budget
Once you’ve worked out what your goals are, where you’ll achieve them, check your budget to work out how much you plan to invest. Don’t forget to factor in the cashback you’ll receive when you buy with Cashrewards.
Now that you’ve got your three main considerations, let’s go shopping! We’ve put together a list of some of the most practical pieces of home gym equipment to help you ‘sweat from home’.
Dumbbells
Simple, but effective - if you’re looking to improve your strength, balance and resistance, dumbbells are a home gym staple.
Benefits of Dumbbells
- Flexible equipment that you can integrate into almost any kind of training
- Train specific muscle groups in a way that other equipment (like barbells) can’t
- Space efficient
Keep in mind
- If you’re looking to buy a set of dumbbells for HIIT training, we recommend avoiding circular dumbbells. It’ll make it hard to use them for exercises that involve balancing your body weight on the dumbbells e.g. Devil’s Press and Renegade Rows
- Rather than investing in multiple dumbbells at different weights, adjustable dumbbells are a great option to save space and money.
Use for the following workouts: Weighted Lunges, Dumbbell Step Ups, Dumbbell Thrusters, Bicep Curl, Bent-Over Row, Devil’s Press, Calf Raise and Bench Press.
Shop with Gym Direct today to buy your next pair of dumbbells.
Weighted Vest
Increase the intensity and see a real boost in your strength and cardio fitness levels with a weighted vest.
Benefits of a Weighted Vest
- Turn an average exercise into a high-intensity workout
- Build strength without using heavy weights
- Helps to build bone and muscle density
- If you are tight on space for equipment, weighted vests can be hung up in your closet
Keep in mind
- The weight distribution of each vest is different - be sure to understand the style and fit of the weighted vest you're looking to purchase
- Comfortability is a really important factor, where possible try the vest on to make sure it suits your body type and movements during a workout.
Use for the following workouts: Outdoor Hike, Push ups, Burpees, Pull-Ups, Lunges, Planks and Mountain Climbers.
Rebel Sport has your new weighted vest ready and waiting. Shop through Cashrewards today!
Yoga Mat
If you’re trying to improve your balance and strength on hardwood floors or the concrete in the garage, you’ll quickly understand why a yoga mat is a home gym MUST.
Benefits of a Yoga Mat
- Yoga Mat’s take the edge off harder surfaces allowing you to exercise more confidently
- Breathable and helps to absorb sweat for those more intense workouts
- Reduces your likelihood of slipping
Keep in mind
- Match the thickness level of the mat with your desired activity. You’ll need a thicker mat if you are doing more HIIT based training, compared to if you’re using the mat for yoga and stretching.
Use for the following workouts: Yoga, sit-ups, sit-throughs, mountain climbers, glute bridges and burpees.
Save on your next yoga mat when you shop with Cashrewards at stores like Lululemon, The ICONIC and Decathlon.
Theragun
Recovery is an important part of every fitness journey. The Theragun is a massage tool that uses percussive therapy to fast track the healing process, ensuring you build consistency and longevity into your new workout routine.
Benefits of a Theragun
- Percussive therapy delivers rapid and long vertical strokes to the muscle helping to reduce muscle soreness and increase range of motion
- The Theragun can help break up scar tissue, increase blood flow and reduce pain in strained areas
Keep in mind
- Theraguns are simply a massage tool, while they may provide temporary relief they aren’t a solution to long-term aches and pains. If you suffer from more serious injuries, you should consult your doctor to see if a Thergun is right for you.
Use: After every workout!
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