Four Must Have Pieces of Equipment for Your Home Gym
Thinking of creating a home gym? Here are four pieces of equipment you shouldn’t be without
So, you are thinking of creating your own home gym? Well done! You will be well on your way to better fitness in the coming months. But first the tricky part…what are you going to put in your gym? Any visit to a sports centre or sporting goods shop will have you overwhelmed with the choices available. So, where do you start? Here are four pieces of equipment you shouldn’t be without.
Rowing Machine:
Powerful legs, upper body strength, tight core, endurance, cardio…a rowing machine does it all. So, why wouldn’t
you have one of these in your gym? With all the new sparkly inventions in the gym such as smart treadmills and fancy ellipticals, the good ol’ rowing machine might seem a bit outdated. But, nothing could be further from the truth. Modern rowing machines are more than a slidey seat and a pull cord. All manner of stats can be recorded and some even simulate the feeling of rowing on water.
While many, high level, athletes in other sports use rowing machines to cross train, one of the benefits of a rowing machine is that anyone can use one. Suitable for all levels of fitness, you can walk up to a rowing machine without ever having been in a gym before and get started in no time. The exercise is low impact and puts very little stress on the joints. This means that older people will find a rowing machine gives them a safe workout as long as they employ proper technique. Proper technique also means that you can increase flexibility with rowing. Flexibility coupled with the strength that you will build gives you the desired lean muscle mass, which looks so great and contributes to a feeling of well being.
Weights Bench
Having a weights bench can add numerous options to your workout routine and if you fork out a wee bit more, you can get a bench that will incline and decline. This will give you even more options. Check the bench for stability and strength. It should never wobble when you are using it. And also check that it is the right length for your body so that you are not straining your neck, for instance, during use. Further to that, you might also think about how much padding there is. You may as well be comfortable as this will encourage you to do more. Choose your weights and away you’ll go.
Inversion Table
Unless you’ve seen one in action at a gym you might be wondering what the heck and inversion table is. It does exactly what it sounds like it does, turns you upside down. Well, technically, you turn yourself while settling in. Inversion therapy is particularly popular with those who would like to decompress their spine for back pain relief but athletes also use it. It is meant to speed recovery and realign your spine after working out. It is also believed that inverting your body can help circulation and even provide mental benefits such as clarity of mind and stronger creative thinking skills.
It is important to do your research when buying an inversion table as substandard equipment can be dangerous. Check that the table you are interested in is suitable to your weight and that it generally feels stable and is made of strong materials. Another thing to check are the footholds or clips. If you can, actually put your feet into them to insure they grip your feet properly as they do come in varying sizes.
Treadmill:
A treadmill is a must have in a home gym. It can be used for some serious cardiovascular work or simply just to cool down after a vigorous workout. In order to get the right treadmill for you it is important to think about how you will use it. Do you just need something basic for warm ups and cool downs or something a little bit more fancy? Some treadmills are fixed level unless you jump off and change the angle, while others have the ability to incline and decline while you are moving. This sort of treadmill often comes with preprogrammed courses that will take you through a variety of speeds and inclines during a set period of time. You may even be able to create your own workout so be sure and assess the features of each.
The next time you sit down and get into some heavy research about what to put into your new home gym, bear this list in mind. Depending on your budget and how much space you have you can always add more pieces of equipment later. But, start with these items as a base and you can’t go wrong.