Getting started with at home workouts - A few of my favorite things
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I get asked a lot of the time what I recommend to have on hand for home workouts. My short answer is always “you should have whatever you are going to use.” I don’t say this to be mean. I say this because without further conversation and understanding of the person’s goals, space available, what they like to do for exercise, etc, I can’t be a whole lot more specific. But as a general rule when someone starts working with me and they want to do their workouts from home, I have a short-list of items I have found helpful to have on hand.
You’ve seen me post a few of my favorite things on IG. Now I am making it even easier for you to get started with some of these by sharing them here on the blog! You can get a great at home workout with minimal equipment, and honestly sometimes less is more, but if you are looking to add some tools to your tool belt, below are some of my favorites in two key categories: resistance / strength training and floor protection for where you do your workouts.
Tools for Resistance / Strength Training
Depending on how much space you have there are a couple tools I recommend. You do not need all of these - pick one or two to start with and add as needed to keep things interesting!
1) Dumbbells
If you have dedicated space for storage and are not worried about budget or portability, dumbbells are the most practical tool you can have for a home gym. My suggestion if budget and space are a concerned, start with a small set of 3, and add as you grow your strength and ability. There is no sense in having a huge rack of weights if most of them will go unused. I started with a small 3 pair set of 8, 5 and 3 like the one linked below, and added as I needed more. I added pair by pair, but you can also buy a set with a rack, or a pair of adjustable weights. I highly recommend the blowflex pair linked below if you want a wide range of weights, easy adjustment and small footprint.
If you have limited space and/or want a tool that is versatile and highly portable, I recommend starting with a set of resistance bands such as the one linked below. The door anchor creates even greater versatility for these bands. Check out some of my IG posts on ways I use these.
I generally give a set of mini resistance loops like the ones linked below to clients I work with. They are inexpensive, small, simple, and can pack a punch when incorporated into a quality program! They can be used on their own or with dumbbells for more advanced exercises. I share a short video about them here.
Floor (and body) protection
If you are working with weights, or have carpet you need to protect, having some sort of mat or padding is important. This doesn’t have to be huge or expensive. I use a combination of yoga mats and gym floor tiles. The matting can help protect your back or tailbone when doing things on the floor (my tailbone is really sensitive so I go for extra padding when doing anything like Pilates or some core work).
I specifically use a set of foam floor tiles for my home gym like the ones pictured and linked here. These are light weight and easy to move out of the way. Because my home gym is also our guest bedroom, I can generally leave them out day to day, but it is also important for me to be able to pull them up when guests come to town!
Extras - Mobility / Recovery / Self-Massage
Taking care of your body and recovering between workouts is so essential to long term sustainability of any fitness program, and is part of living a well-balanced and healthy life. I have so many favorites in this category that I use at different times, and for different things. I could do an entire post just on this, but below I will provide a few of my favorites. If you have any questions about these or how best to use them, just ask!
1) Foam Roller
A basic tool for any recovery (and also warm up or movement preparation) process is a standard foam roller. These come in many different types and densities, some with nodules, others flat. I would start with a basic, smooth surfaced foam roller like the one pictured here.
I have a smooth one and a shorter grid foam roller like the one pictured which is good for travel because I can stuff other things inside to free up space.
*Please note that as an affiliate with Tune Up Fitness I earn from qualifying purchases made on their site through the link above.
These massage balls are perfect for releasing the muscles in your hands, feet and neck. I also highly recommend any resources from Tune Up Fitness and Jill Miller, including her YouTube channel where she shares specifics on how to use these balls to release tense muscles in your body in an effective way.
Final Thoughts
My gym has grown over the years, and I love having options these days, but I started with the basics - a set of dumbbells and a yoga mat. Sometimes less is more when you are getting started - don’t over complicate it, just work with what you’ve got, but actually use it! Then add to that over time to keep it interesting.
Ready to get started but not sure where to begin?
