Home Gym Essentials
In my past life (before kids), I worked as a personal trainer for 10 years! I trained clients (and myself) in a variety of settings, but my favourite place to workout has always been at HOME!
Sure the gym has tons of equipment, but you can find so may affordable, versatile, and portable options for home. Other pros to working out from home? Zero travel time, no distractions (although kids + dogs might prove otherwise), easier to schedule, no fancy workout gear required (or bra…at least for my fellow #ittybittytittycomittee members), blast your own playlist without having to wear annoying ear buds (FYI if you’re using airpods we might need to have a chat about EMF exposure), no waiting for equipment, no exposure to nasty hand sanitizer + harsh cleaning products……need I say more??
Equipment
Ok, so now that I have you convinced how great working out from home can be, I guess we should talk about what you'll actually need for your personal gym. Here is a list of my top 10 faves (and a couple more because I couldn't decide what to leave out!)….just remember, you only need #1 to get started!
1. Your BODY
This is literally all you need…and happens to be my favourite piece of equipment! Check out this total body workout I put together for you!
2. Resistance Bands
Take them anywhere, wrap them around anything, and easily adjust the amount of resistance! You can grab a collection of different weights or start with just one.
3. Swiss ball
I love balls (LOL!!!) because they add in a balance challenge that can make exercises more challenging. Use it to sit, lay, prop your heels, or even for stretching.
4. Free weights
A great way to make your body weight exercises more challenging, or add in new exercises to your routine. I like to have a variety of weights to choose from!
5. TRX
Take your body weight exercises to the next level with this amazing suspension trainer. My all-time favourite gym addition!
6. BOSU
Another tool great for challenging the balance! Use it on either side, for just about any exercise you can think of.
7. Step Box
This one is great for so many things, including substituting as a workout bench!
It's definitely not just for step class anymore.
8. Medicine Balls
They come in a variety of weights so you can get a few or just one to start. Great for adding in an extra bit of resistance, or using as a balance tool to challenge your current exercises.
9. Equalizer Bars
These are such a fun addition! you can Use them for resistance or obstacles when adding into your workout routine.
10. Sliders
I love using these specifically for ab exercises + lower body movement. They might not look like much but they pack a mean punch!
Of course, it's hard to narrow it down to just 10! So here are some other faves I wouldn't want to leave out:
Get Motivated
Now that you know what you need, there's another important detail we need to discuss - MOTIVATION!! One of the major reasons I hear from people as to why they prefer working out at the gym is that they can’t get motivated to work out in their home. I totally get this, there can be a million and one excuses or others things to busy yourself with when you’re at home. If this is a problem for you, here are a few recommendations:
1. Hire a trainer
Whether you need a program design or regularly scheduled appointments, hiring a trainer is the first step to investing in your health. Get in touch with me for a free consultation!
2. Find a workout buddy
Keep yourself accountable by scheduling workouts with a friend. Even if you aren't meeting up in person you can create goals and help each other to achieve them.
3. Invest in a workout app
If you aren't confident enough to make your own workouts yet, there are plenty of apps that offer a variety of workouts for all levels of fitness. The One Peloton is a great one to look into!
4. Schedule it into your day
Set yourself up for success by planning your workouts into your day/week. Building a routine and creating consistency is sure to help you stay motivated and feel great!
5. Mindset check
What is the goal of your workouts? It's important to spend some time reflecting on this because it could actually be what's holding back! If you're stuck on the numbers, maybe it's time to switch gears. When we don't see immediate weight loss, feel tied to a predetermined length of workout, or feel required to do a certain number of workouts a week, we punish ourselves when we don't succeed. Try to focus instead on working out simply to feel good, or because you CAN, and/or to promote overall health + vitality. If we change our mindset, we can set ourselves up for success and will in turn be more motivated to move our bodies!
6. Natural tools
Of course there are always options for give ourselves a little extra oomph! My must-haves for natural pre-workout motivation:
lots of water
healthy foods that fuel the body
high quality supplements (provide the body with what it simply cannot get from the food we're eating)
oils of course!
Create Your Space
Last but definitely not least, let's set the mood. Creating an inviting fitness space will get you inspired to spend time there! This could be a designated room or corner of the house, or you might even find you like to move it around depending on how you're feeling that day. Remember - your body is always talking to you, so take the time to listen to what YOU need. Here are some things I like to have in my gym:
1. Equipment (obvi)
Choose what you need according to your workout goals, the space you have, or what you love to do.
2. Speaker
Find or make some playlists that make you wanna bust a move. Listen to one of mine on Spotify HERE!
3. Oils
Get those energizing + invigorating essential oils onto you body + pumping into the air. I love Peppermint + Wild Orange in the diffuser (energizing + uplifting), and Peppermint rolled on my temples and across my hairline (ultimate energy boost)! If you’re new to oils, I’d love to help you learn more!
I hope this home gym how-to has helped you feel more confident in designing +utilizing your home own gym. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch. And if you know anyone who shares our love for health + wellness feel free to share this post with them!
