Skip the Gym for Your Home

Getting to the gym to do your workout isn’t always feasible with your schedule, the gym’s location and hours, or even the weather conditions. Having equipment at home allows you to get in a workout at any time – without having to rearrange your schedule or wait around for equipment to be available. However, finding the extra space to store equipment can seem like a daunting task. Here are four exercise tools to have at home that are affordable, easy-to-store, and can provide you with numerous ways to get your sweat on!

Mini Bands

Mini bands are easy to find online and often come in packs with multiple different resistances. They can be used for both upper body and lower body, body-weight exercises, including bent-over rows, scapular retraction exercises, fire hydrants, and Jane Fonda-inspired clam shells.

However, mini bands can also be a great tool to add on to a weighted exercise, such as a goblet squat variation. The mini band can provide increased tension to the exercise and help promote correct form, making those weighted exercises even more effective. You can find packs of mini bands easily online and in most sporting goods stores.

Adjustable Kettlebell

Kettlebells are great functional tools that can be used just like a dumbbell, but also have their own movements as well (i.e. a kettlebell swing [please hyperlink to my “how to do the perfect kettlebell swing” article]). Buying multiple kettlebells, however, can be really expensive and can end up taking up quite a bit of space. Instead, opt for an adjustable kettlebell. These can range from $50-$130 in price depending upon which model you like, and they can adjust from 10-50 lbs. With such a versatile tool that allows for substantial changes in weight, the adjustable kettlebell provides you with various ways to work your upper and lower body with exercises such as strict presses, kettlebell snatches, kettlebell swings, deadlifts, Turkish Getups, and more.

Medicine Ball

A medicine ball is a great tool to have for you need something durable, yet lightweight for abdominal exercises. Medicine balls can range in weight, but anything from 8-12 pounds is perfect for various abdominal exercises. Medicine balls are about the same size as a basketball, making them easy to store and move around. Since they are so durable, they can support your body weight for exercises like plank and pushup variations, but they are light enough to use for extensions, crunch variations, and v-ups. These can range in price and size, but they can easily be found online or in most sporting goods stores.

Yoga Mat

Whether you’re stretching, sweating, or practicing Warrior 2, yoga mats are really helpful when working out at home. They can create a more comfortable workout space if you’re working out on concrete, cement, hardwood floors, and keep you from sliding around if you’re working out on carpet.

Working out on a yoga mat allows for you to have a safe space to set your equipment down without worrying about ruining your equipment or floors, and they provide a comfortable place to do your warm up and cool down routines. Yoga mats can be found at sporting goods stores, home goods stores, and online and can be found for under $10.

Having equipment at your home can make it that much easier to get in a quick workout, no matter what your schedule looks like. However, buying a ton of equipment can be costly and can be hard to store if you live in a small space. By utilizing the four tools listed above, you can create a great workout space anywhere in your home without breaking the budget or taking up too much space.

Lauren Weiss is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor based out of Long Beach, CA. She specializes in kettlebell training and unconventional workouts and has been working with both types of fitness for over a year. Lauren has her BOLT Kettlebell Sport Certification through the USA Kettlebell League and has expertise working with kettlebells, barbells, dumbbells and several unconventional fitness tools. Lauren received her BA in Journalism and uses her writing expertise to craft thought-provoking articles about trending fitness, health & wellness topics. Follow Lauren on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Main Photo Credit: Africa Studio/shutterstock.com; Second Photo Credit: Jasminko Ibrakovic/shutterstock.com; Third Photo Credit: ZephyrMedia/shutterstock.com