Going to the gym can be such a chore. You've got to:
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Make time in your schedule
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Drive to and from the gym
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Purchase and wear workout gear that's acceptable for being in public (you know–unlike your favorite, well-worn leggings with the, ahem, inappropriately placed holes)
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Endure the scrutiny of other gymgoers' curious stares
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Wait to use the equipment you want on busy days
…and the list goes on.
How about getting fit from the comfort of your own home?
In 2022, there are thousands of products available that claim to be essential for a woman's home gym. But how can you tell which ones are truly indispensable?
Read on to learn more about the equipment that makes a critical difference in home workouts.
The Basics
A quality home gym doesn't require extremely fancy or high-priced machines. If you are new to working out, start with basic equipment for simplicity and convenience.
Here are the staples that every woman should have in her home gym:
Shelter Fitness Fabric Glute Bands
Price: $39
If you want to build your glutes, invest in a set of glute resistance bands. Glute bands made from rubber tend to snap or pinch your skin, so fabric bands are a skin-friendly alternative that eliminates this problem. The Shelter Fitness Fabric Glute Bands are perfect for adding resistance during yoga, pilates, and calisthenics.
This set includes three bands with different types of resistance: heavy, medium, and light. Using different bands allows you to customize the level of resistance you need for each exercise. Slide these bands on your legs to feel the burn and strengthen your glutes.
Blogilates Yoga Mat
Price: $44.99
Every home gym needs a comfortable yoga mat. Yoga mats provide a soft, safe surface to perform your poses and stretches. These mats are helpful for exercises when you need some extra cushioning for your elbows, knees, or back.
The Blogilates Vegan Suede Yoga Mat provides a solid grip and support without sacrificing style. The beautiful pink design on the mat adds a pop of color to your home gym.
Tone Fitness Ab Roller
Price: $10.99
Do you struggle to get through those difficult ab crunches? The Tone Fitness Ab Roller is a perfect alternative for challenging your core. This ab roller glides effortlessly across all surfaces while the handles provide a stable, nonslip grip. This allows you to control your movements while exercising your abs.
Ab rollers are great for those who don't feel as stable when completing ab exercises. They ensure your core is engaged fully during your exercise.
TRX STRONG System
Price: $149.95
TRX straps are a versatile and dependable addition to any gym. The TRX STRONG Suspension Trainer attaches straps to a wall or door and has a variety of exercise options. The system includes clips that anchor the straps, adjusters for customizing the length, and two padded handles.
TRX straps may be simple, but they provide you with an incredible workout. "It always under-promises and over-delivers," says TRX inventor Randy Hetrick. "It's just a set of straps. But it'll move any way the body wants it to move."
Peach Bands Exercise Discs
Price: $21.99
Core sliders are small, but they pack a big punch. Using slider discs during your workout is one of the best ways to help to build your core strength and increase your balance. They make ordinary movements a little bit harder by requiring you to further engage your core muscles. Slider discs also recruit the obliques to help balance your body and keep your feet and hands from sliding out from beneath you.
The dual-sided Peach Bands Exercise Discs are ideal for both carpet and hard floors. If you want to add a little something extra to your exercise routine, this is the option for you.
BalanceFrom Exercise Yoga Ball
Price: $23.47
Fitness balls are one of the most tried and true pieces of workout equipment. Also known as stability or exercise balls, yoga balls are an excellent option for expanding your range of motion, improving your balance, and strengthening your core. When you exercise on a yoga ball, your body responds to the constant instability of the ball and forces your abs and obliques into action.
The BalanceFrom Yoga Ball is slip-resistant and features a burst rating of 2,000 lbs. It has essentially no assembly and includes a pump to inflate and deflate your ball.
Cardio Equipment
Every home gym needs a few pieces of cardio equipment. Cardio training is essential to your workout routine and is necessary for your cardiovascular health. It has been proven to boost memory, combat depression, and promote better sleep.
These are the best available tools for improving your cardio:
NordicTrack RW600 Rower
Price: $999
Rowing is a total body workout that strengthens and tones your muscles while improving endurance. It's an ideal choice for people who have joint issues because it is easy on the knees, hips, and elbows. Strap in and get rowing!
The NordicTrack RW600 Rower is an excellent choice for people of all fitness levels. This machine comes with a touchscreen that tracks your stats during each workout. It also connects to WiFi so you can join on-demand rowing classes and follow along in real time.
Bowflex Max Trainer M6 Elliptical
Price: $1,499
Elliptical workouts help boost your stamina while burning tons of calories. Unlike a treadmill, the elliptical machine is low impact, making it more suitable for those with knee or lower back issues.
The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 Ellipitcal comes with 16 levels of resistance, allowing you to build up your strength over time. This machine also comes with a free membership to the JRNY lifestyle and fitness app that helps you keep track of your health and exercise goals.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Price: $2,299
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 is the perfect machine for runners. This treadmill features a maximum incline of 15 percent and speeds of up to 12 MPH. This machine also boasts a rotating HD touchscreen to follow along with videos or classes whether you are on or off the treadmill.
If you have a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor, you can connect it to the treadmill to maintain your optimal heart rate zone.
Peloton Stationary Bike
Price: $1,445
The Peloton Stationary Bike has risen to fame in the early 2020s — and for good reason. This state-of-the-art workout bike is sleek, stylish, and fits into small spaces. This bike is designed with a large touch screen that you can use to track your metrics or follow along with classes.
When you subscribe to Peloton, you immediately gain access to thousands of live and pre-recorded classes that transform your home gym into a fitness studio! This machine is great for people who need a little extra motivation when working out. Peloton coaches make you feel as though you are right in the middle of a full class.
CLMBR02
Price: $2,795
The CLMBR02 is a reimagined version of a traditional stair-stepper. This machine includes foot straps and adjustable handles to cater the workout to your body type. Strap in and start climbing to get a sweaty cardio and strength workout. There are over 400 on-demand classes programmed into the machine.
CLIMBR also offers a membership similar to the one offered by Peloton. They offer plans ranging from $10 to $40 a month that allow you to do climbs with friends, complete live classes, and compete against other users.
Assault AirBike Classic
Price: $749
The Assault AirBike Classic is not for the faint of heart. This machine is designed to challenge even the toughest of athletes. It uses a push-pull method that increases the intensity the longer you train. The harder you pedal, pull, and push, the more resistance you generate.
Assault's AirBike Classic provides an incredible total body workout. The handlebars engage your upper body muscles while the pedals build strength in your legs and glutes.
Lifting Weights
A combination of weights and cardio makes for the perfect exercise routine. Weightlifting is crucial for strengthening your muscles and increasing bone density. Improving your bone density and muscular strength improves overall athletic performance and prevents injury.
Here are a few pieces of weightlifting equipment that make an exceptional addition to your home gym:
Bala Bangles
Price: $55-$65
Bala Bangles are ideal for people who are just beginning to incorporate weights into their weekly routine. These wrist and ankle weights come in one- or two-pound options and add just a little extra resistance to your exercises.
Bala Bangles are also some of the most stylish wrist and ankle weights on the market. Sage, blush, and sea are just a few of their fun and unique colors.
Fettle Fitness Rubber Hex Dumbbells Set
Price: $895
Dumbbells are superb for building lean muscle mass, but they also help you burn fat. There are thousands of different upper- and lower-body dumbbell workouts that you can follow to keep your training routine fresh.
The Fettle Fitness Rubber Hex Dumbbells Set is suitable for a wide variety of exercises. These weights range from 5-50 lbs and come with a stylish storage rack to keep them organized.
Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells
Price: $429
If you don't have space for dozens of dumbbells, consider the Bowflex SelectTech adjustable dumbbells. Adjustable dumbbells may be a better alternative than owning 15 sets of weights that take up a lot of space. Simply use the dial to select a weight between 5-50 lbs.
Tempo Move
Price: $395
The Tempo Move is best suited for women needing a little extra guidance when working out. This product acts as a personal trainer and even pairs with your phone or TV. Tempo Move provides you with four sets of stylish plates ranging from 1.25-10 lbs.
When you pair Tempo Move with your smartphone, it scans and recognizes the smart weights. The program tracks and analyzes every rep you perform, giving you quality feedback about the way you work out.
This is a wise choice for those who have limited space to train. It has a compact, modular design that fits in any home gym.
Tonal
Price: $3,495
The Tonal machine is one of the best strength training options available online. Tonal is a smart home gym that attaches to a wall and leads you through a complete workout. The machine includes an interactive touchscreen mirror and electromagnetic pulleys that offer a maximum of 200 lbs of resistance.
This is another exceptional option for those who want a bit of instruction when training at home. Tonal has a wide variety of on-demand, instructor-led workouts that are both live and pre-recorded.
Recovery
Working out is great, but it is essential not to neglect your recovery. Taking 10-15 minutes after each workout to properly cool down and stretch out your muscles makes all of the difference when it comes to preventing injury and increasing mobility.
Here are a few recovery tools to help you wind down after you exercise:
Lululemon Training Release and Recover Ball Set
Price: $28
Massage balls are great for targeting post-workout tension. The Lululemon Training Release and Recover Ball Set includes three balls: large, medium, and small. The large ball is designed to target larger muscle groups such as the glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors, and quads. The medium ball is perfect for working out knots in the pectorals, shoulders, traps, and calves. Smaller muscles such as the forearms, palms, and feet are best served with the smallest ball.
Tone It Up Foam Roller
Price: $24.99
Use a foam roller to massage, eliminate knots, ease soreness, relieve inflammation, and get yourself ready for the next workout. The Tone It Up Foam Roller uses top-notch materials to ensure that you are comfortable while you foam roll post-workout.
Theragun Prime
Price: $299
If you want to experience a professional massage at home, invest in a Theragun Prime. This massage gun features five easy-to-clean attachments and a wide variety of speed ranges. Use the settings and attachments to customize your recovery. This device eases discomfort and soothes tightness and tension to recover faster.
Consider These Home Workout Essentials
Working out at home has never been easier with the variety of high-quality equipment available. Choose a few of your favorite pieces from each of the three categories to build the ultimate home gym. Make sure to consider your own physical capabilities and fitness goals when deciding which equipment is best for you.
Remember: The best pieces of equipment are products that you enjoy every day — and can skip the line for the treadmill at your neighborhood gym!
