Resistance training is an effective way to keep your muscles healthy and strong. Comprised of strength training and endurance training, resistance training builds muscle, helps to reduce muscle loss in older people, and improves your overall metabolism. Other benefits of resistance training include better blood pressure, decreased risk of injury, increased bone density, better balance, and greater ability to absorb shock. Very little equipment is required for resistance training, but several items are quite popular.
Dumbbells/Weights
Dumbbells and weights are effective ways to increase the challenge of your resistance. Add light weights while doing your workout DVDs, or wear wrist or ankle weights while on a brisk walk. These little actions will give added resistance to your exercise and increase the total benefit you receive from that workout.
Parachutes
Designed for runners, the parachute improves stamina, strength, speed, and acceleration by trying to hold you back as you run forward. It works in the same way as a standard parachute, except that it is smaller in size and opens behind you, catching the wind and utilizing it to create resistance.
Bungee Cords/Harnesses
Bungee cords and harnesses are also popular pieces of resistance training equipment. Often used together, the harness, which is connected to one end of the bungee cord, attaches to a part of your body--arm, leg, torso--and provides resistance as you attempt to stretch the bungee cord, which is firmly attached to a fixed point. Alternately, some bungee cords have hand or foot grips at each end, allowing you to use the cord by itself for resistance training.
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