home gym equipment you need to start your own home gym

Having a home gym would be a dream come true for many of us. But if you don’t have the space or budget to fill your house with treadmills and rowing machines, don’t worry! I have come up with the very basics you need. The most effective equipment doesn’t have to take up too much room or stretch your bank balance. So, let’s take a look at some essential home gym equipment out there to help you get fit for summer and also help you start a new healthy fitness routine.

The best home gym equipment to get you started

Exercise Mat

A whole range of stretching and flexibility workouts require an exercise mat to give you a good base. If you are planning to go for some high-intensity workouts, it is better to choose one with thick cushioning. However, a thinner one is the better choice if you are planning to do yoga on it. One of the most
important items in your home gym.

Dumbbells

One of the most versatile pieces of equipment in your home gym, a good set of dumbbells should be right near the top of your list of items. There are literally hundreds of different exercises that you can do, and if you invest in some adjustable ones, you can increase the amount of weight over time so you are always improving. Try to complete your exercises in front of a mirror so you are confident that you are using the proper technique.

Pull Up Bar

It may seem strange to say, but pull up bars don’t have to be just for pull-ups! There are a few different exercises that you can try, along with the classic technique itself. There are some that you can put above your doorways. These have the added advantage of always providing you with a reminder to do some every time you walk through! I have one of these and I do hang off it this really helps with arm pump from mountain biking.

Jump Rope

If you are looking for an affordable and lightweight piece of equipment to do some cardio work, look no further than a jump rope. If you haven’t jumped rope for a number of years, you may be surprised to find out that it seems a lot harder. It also has the added benefit of improving your coordination and sense of balance. A durable rope is the best option if you are a beginner. While a lighter option is better to increase your speed.

Kettlebells

Probably one of the most popular pieces of equipment that emerged in the last couple of years. kettlebells provide you with some workouts that you simply can’t do with other similar items. Try to choose some with some big, smooth handles to give you the best grip.     

Medicine Ball

A medicine ball is another fantastically versatile piece of equipment. This providing you with a tool to work on your core strength. Just some of the common workouts include throwing it, carrying it or doing abdominal exercises. If you are doing exercises where you throw it about. You are better off choosing a softer and lighter model.

Stretching why you should start your fitness journey with this simple step

A lot of people are at home and thinking about starting a new fitness routine. Whilst this is very tempting to do. It is hard to think about where to start. Let's face it that last thing you want is to end up in A and E with a twisted ankle right now. My recommendation is to start small with stretching. So today I want to talk to you about the benefits of starting your fitness journey with a stretching routine and why it is so important to your body. 

About me

You may not know this about me but I am a qualified sports masseuse. I studied massage and then specialized in sport. Because this was a natural fit for me. So my fitness journey is a bit more extreme than most people I guess. I was a UK size 22 and I lost 7 and a half stone. But this was about 15 years ago. Now I know what you are thinking I did this with fitness but that is not the case I lost the weight then I started my fitness journey. I am right now the smallest I have ever been, and the fittest I have ever been. So this means I am mentally the strongest I have ever been because for me these to things go hand in hand.

Why we need to stretch? 

We are all guilty of sitting too long and not being active enough.  So we all complain about niggling aches and pains, right? What if I told you that stretching can help you get rid of these aches and pains. Obviously, if these are normal aches and pains, not injuries. Stretching is one of the best things you can do for you body and mind. 

Our body is main up of a complex system of muscles.  Muscle is soft tissue. Muscle cells contain protein filaments of Myosin and Actin, These sliding past each other produce a contraction or movement. Very basic definition there. There is no point in bamboozling you with science. 

The dictionary definition is a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body.

We are made up of this complex system and we expect this to not need any help to work. If for example, you did no maintenance on your bike, would you expect your bike to work as good as new every time? No, I didn't think so. So you need to also look after your muscles so you body can function at its optimum. 

The key benefits of stretching

• Increase blood flow to your muscle helping the recovery and repair process.
• Decreases aches and stiffness
• Improves your performance in sports and physical activities
• Can reduce your risk of injury
• Improves posture 
• Get's your body ready for activity or strain. 
• increases your range of movement
• relaxes you promoting relaxation. 
• Is a natural stress reliever 

Where to start. 
It is super easy to start a stretch routine and I could list stretches to do but I think it is always easier to actually see the stretch in action than to read about it. In stretching form is everything and you can not really see from an image or reading about it. 

I will list below my youtube stretch playlist videos. These are the ones I do and love.  Here is my stretch playlist

My favourite at the moment is 
Sydney Cummings -Full Body Deep Stretch for Tight Bodies | Sydney Cummings

You can check out my recommendation of ways to get fit at home and don't forget to check out my other post too why dont you?