At any stage of life, you can get and stay in shape. Having a gym right in your home is an ideal way to do that. You do not have to go anywhere, so you save time, and you save on paying to join a gym. You can set it up in any area of your house where you have the space. Your home gym can be low-cost, take up little space and be appropriate for any fitness level. You can customize your home gym based on your preferences and budget. Always consult your health practitioner before beginning a fitness program.
Rebounder
Also called a mini trampoline, a rebounder takes up little space yet is big on benefits. Rebounders are available in a wide range of prices, with some being on the expensive side. If you are just getting started with rebounding, you can start out slowly by bouncing slightly barefoot on the rebounder without letting your feet leave the surface of the mat. You can do this for a few minutes and gradually increase the amount of time you rebound.
Exercise Ball
An exercise ball can be an enjoyable addition to your home gym, and as an added bonus, you can bounce on it while sitting at your desk or computer. For your workout routine, you can use it for hip exercises, abdominal crunches, leg raises and drops and squats.
Weights
You can add small hand-held weights in the size you prefer, such as 3 pounds or 5 pounds, to your home gym. Start with lighter weights if you are just starting to exercise, and gradually build up to heavier weights and more repetitions. Eventually, consider having a variety of weight sizes in your home gym. With them, you are do strengthening and toning exercises, such as bicep curls, front raises, flies and chest presses.
Resistance Bands
With resistance bands, you can perform a variety of weight-bearing exercises, such as bicep curls, pushups and leg lifts. You are not limited to using the bands in just one area of your house because they are small, lightweight and portable. You can also purchase them quite inexpensively.
Exercise Mat
Roll out your home exercise mat when you want to do some floor exercises, such as situps, leg stretches or a cool-down routine after completing more intense exercises. If you practice yoga or Pilates, a mat is a must-have item for your home gym. You can easily move your mat from room to room in your home.
Exercise Videos
Add exercise DVDs and videos to your exercise repertoire for some variety in your routines. You can purchase DVDs or borrow them from your local library and watch them on your computer or television. Possible exercise types include yoga, Pilates and exercises that work specific areas of the body.
References
- Rebounder Exercise: The Benefits of Rebounders and Mini-Trampolines
- Inspirations Personal Training: The Surprising Health and Fitness Benefits of Rebounding
- Fitness: Resistance Band Workouts
- Exercise Ball Exercises: Improve Sports Performance with Exercise Ball Exercises
- Fitday: Using an Exercise Mat at Home--3 Weight Loss Techniques
- Sports Fitness Advisor: Over 20 Dumbbell Exercises Complete with Animated Diagrams
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