What you need in your home gym depends on your fitness goals. Decide whether you would like to focus on a specific area of fitness, such as strength training, or if you'd rather have a versatile gym that provides many exercise options. If you purchase used equipment, watch out for rust or other signs of equipment breakdown.
Cardiovascular Exercise Machines
Cardiovascular exercise machines, such as treadmills, elliptical machines and rowers, are good selections for a home gym that has limited room. For example, if you are cordoning off a section of your living space for a home gym, a smallish exercise machine should fit unobtrusively in a corner. If space is very tight, buy a foldable exercise machine, which will allow you to hide away your equipment when you don't need to use it. Avoid exercise machines that make fantastic claims about their effectiveness. Instead, purchase a well-reviewed machine that provides helpful workout data, such as calorie and heart rate information.
Inexpensive Aerobic Exercise Equipment
Even on a limited budget, you still have many equipment options for your home gym. For example, an inexpensive jump rope is a simple way to get some cardiovascular exercise, provided your ceilings are high enough. If you already have a television and a DVD player or VCR, buy some workout videos to learn how to perform different aerobic exercises. If you enjoy yoga, you'll need a mat and perhaps some foam yoga blocks.
Resistance Machines
If you want to build muscle, your options include resistance machines, which are expensive, and free weights. Resistance machines are typically large, so you will need a spacious gym area. Some resistance machines provide targeted exercises for specific muscle groups, such as your chest, abs, shoulders or arms. To get a full body workout, however, you would have to purchase a large variety of these expensive machines. A better alternative is a multipurpose resistance machine that features many exercise options, allowing you to get a full body workout by changing handles and settings.
Free Weights
Free weights are the cheapest and most versatile type of strength training equipment. You can use a small selection of dumbbells of various weights to perform nearly every basic strength training exercise, including chest presses, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks and weighted lunges. Serious weightlifters require a weightlifting bench, a barbell and a selection of weight plates. Other options include medicine balls and kettle bells.
Setting Up Your Home Gym
Once you've identified the equipment that is right for your needs, you should choose a space for your gym that is free of potential distractions. An open area is best so you have room to move around. If possible, cover the ground with durable carpet or rubber flooring. Power outlets are also necessary if you plan to use electronic exercise machines.
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