Building Your Home Gym

If we’ve learned anything in the past few months, it’s that we all need to be able to adapt. Unfortunately, we’ve had to learn this the hard way with everything from our work, to our schools, to our ability to socialize all being turned upside down. But through it all, we just need to keep on keeping on as best we can. And while I’m not a psychologist or financial advisor, there is one area where I think I can help you right now: working on your fitness.

Quarantine has been the name of the game for most of us over the last few months, and maybe for some time to come. Unfortunately, while we’ve been avoiding contact with the virus, we’ve also had to avoid places where we meet and interact with other people, like the gym. And in times like this, where we are put under enormous stress, it’s more important than ever that we take care of ourselves as best we can. So today, I’m going to talk about what you can do to build your own home gym when you can’t visit your favorite facility like the Bodysmith.

If You Can’t Work Out, Work In (Your Home)
There are many considerations for us when we are deciding what’s appropriate activity for us these days. And even though we’ve been able to maintain access to the Bodysmith throughout the pandemic so far, there are some members who can’t actually come to our gym. Heck, I’ve been doing many of my workouts at home myself. You may think that as a gym owner, I have a large, extravagant gym at home. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have two kettlebells and an array of resistance bands. (Don’t judge, it’s just where I’m at right now).

But, despite my lack of equipment, I can still get a satisfying workout at home by drawing on nearly 15 years of experience designing workout programs. And, after working with hundreds of people I want to show you that staying in shape doesn’t require a lot of space, time, or investment.

Start at the Very Beginning
In today’s blog, I am going to provide you a list of the essential home gym equipment that will allow you to get or stay fit in a small space without breaking the bank. Next time I’ll show you how to make sure you can be successful with an at-home workout routine.

I’ve put the list in order of priority from a cost and functionality perspective. Using the list, you could set yourself up a lovely home gym for between about $20 and $600.

1. Resistance bands. I can’t emphasize enough how great bands are for the home gym. They are both versatile and inexpensive. For about $20 you can have a tool that will serve you well for a long time. My go-to “bands” guy is Dave Schmitz, aka “The Band Man.” https://resistancebandtraining.com/
2. Kettlebells. Kettlebells are a great fitness tool because they don’t take up a lot of space, and you can do a wide variety of very effective and functional exercises with them. The downside is they begin at about $55 plus shipping. You can get a great workout with just one or two kettlebells. For women, I would recommend starting with an 8 kilogram and 12 kilogram. Most men do well with a 12 kilogram and 16 kilogram to start. https://www.performbetter.com/First-Place-Competition-Kettlebell_3?custcol24=19
3. Selectorized Dumbbells. Dumbbells are great, but they can be expensive and take up a lot of space. That’s why for the home gym, I recommend selectorized dumbbells that offer pretty much the same variability of an entire set of dumbbells, yet take up the space of just one single pair. There are a lot of brands out there, but I really Like Power Blocks. I have owned many sets of them over the years, and they have proven safe, reliable, and an excellent investment. Beginning at $159 they can be expensive but, my experience with other brands has always been disappointing. https://powerblock.com/
4. Stability Ball. Stability balls can spice up any exercise routine and can open up a world of core and stability training. I will say this once: NEVER buy a cheap exercise ball! They can burst and lead to some very bad injuries. Choose an anti-burst brand like Duraball to ensure your safety. I’ve used them for years, and they hold up year after year. At over $125 they are expensive but worth it. https://www.amazon.com/Fitterfirst-Duraball-Pro-Exercise-Ball/dp/B000F492OG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=duraball&qid=1589900841&sr=8-1

Again, my list is meant to start at the top and work your way down, getting the equipment as you are able. So, if you can check off items 1 through 4 above, you’ll be all set, If not, just look at it as a work in progress and you can build out your equipment as available.

Next time I’ll show you how to put it all together to form a strategy to be successful, and that’s the most important part. After all, there is no shortage of nice gym equipment in people’s homes…there’s a shortage of it being used 😉

–Coach Brad