Picture: Pexels/ Karolina Grabowska
A surge in home-based workouts wasn’t surprising during widespread stay-at-home orders and mandated gym closures during the hash levels of lockdown.
However, now that vaccinations and other safety measures are in place in many areas, fitness clubs have reopened. But many still choose to exercise at home. The at-home, virtual workout session is a new mainstay in personal fitness.
Besides saving on costs, one of the most obvious benefits to working out at home versus the gym: You don’t actually have to go anywhere. The Beachbody survey found 85% of respondents underscored the convenience and accessibility benefits of working out at home. “The thought of walking down the stairs sounds a lot more appealing than sitting in traffic on the way to the gym.
“These days, every minute is accounted for. Another great benefit of an at-home workout is the flexibility it affords. How incredible to be able to complete a workout in the comfort of your own home while your toddler is down for a nap or even between Zoom calls,” notes the survey.
Now, most people choose the option of rolling out of bed, heading into the garage, and logging into a class via social media or internet sites.
If you're going to create a home gym in a small space, make sure you have a few essentials that can help you tone, lose weight and build muscle. A plus? They come at an affordable price.
Skipping rope:
Skipping rope is one of those exercises you probably got really into as a child, and then promptly forgot about when you got older. But jumping rope isn’t just for kids. It’s a great workout that you can do at any age.
A skipping rope for a full-body workout - Since jumping rope gets your heart pumping, it's great for your cardiovascular system and heart health.
Resistance band:
A resistance band for toning and strength training - They come in different widths. The thicker the width of the band, the more resistance it provides, and equally, the harder it is to use.
Research shows that resistance training, whether done via body weight, resistance bands or machines, dumbbells or free weights, not only helps us build strength but also improves muscle size and can help counteract age-related muscle loss.
Multi-gym doorway pull up bar:
Pull up bars are the ideal tool for performing intense upper body workouts at home using only the weight of your own body. This small piece of fitness equipment is so useful and inexpensive that just about anyone serious about building a sculpted physique should own one.
The benefits of incorporating pull-ups into your weekly routine are many. From improving upper body strength to building muscle, pull-ups can have a significant impact on your fitness goals.
Ankle weights:
Ankle weights are wearable weighted straps that people wrap around the ankle and sometimes wrist and attach with Velcro. Sometimes people wear these during a cardio workout or on a walk.
Adding additional weight onto your base forces your body to exert and produce more force than what you’re accustomed to, eventually increasing your endurance and building your overall stamina. Moreover, ankle weights are also used to increase overall musculature and mass in your glutes, quadriceps and calves.
Ab wheel
The ab rollout exercise is a compound move that works the entire body. That means it activates multiply muscle groups at once. That results in better functional strength and overall power of the body.
The primary muscle it works is the abdominal muscle, which is typically known as the abs.
This Article first appeared in the Health digital magazine. Read more here: