home gym

How To: Build Your Own Home Gym

Share this:

What does your ideal home gym look like?

Is it an iron paradise in your garage or basement filled with steel plates, barbells, and rows of dumbbells? Or is it a clean, studio space complete with a variety of equipment for cardio, strength, and core training? While we would all love to build the private gym of our dreams from the ground up – the truth is, it doesn’t matter how large or small your home workout space is – it can be difficult to convince yourself to workout at home if you don’t have the right equipment to inspire and support your goals.

Think about it, just like new workout clothes or a new playlist can get you excited to hit the gym – new workout equipment in a dedicated at home workout space of your design will have you jumping out of bed for your early morning workout. A great at-home workout starts with equipping yourself with the right tools and space to not only meet your training needs but to maximize your investment.

As you are shopping for home gym equipment, choose versatile pieces that accommodate a variety of training types such as cardiovascular, muscular strength, core strength, and flexibility.

1. Cardio Equipment

Some choose to anchor their home gym with a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike. However, if you have limited space or are on a tight budget, here are a few pieces that will accommodate HIIT and cardio training.

Reebok Deck – Supports burpees, box jumps, step ups, quick feet, and other cardio drills in addition to providing a strong base for strength training exercises.

PowerWave – The PowerWave Fitness App gives users free access to 20+ HIIT training sessions as well as workouts for developing muscular strength.

2. Strength Equipment

Kettlebells & Dumbbells – If you must choose between one or the other, choose the one you feel the most comfortable using on your own. Both kettlebells and dumbbells are extremely versatile and can accommodate strength and cardio based movements.

Bodyweight Suspension – Bodyweight training is ideal at times because you are all the equipment needed. However, if you are looking to progress or regress bodyweight exercises, a suspension trainer will help. Most come with an option to anchor from a wall, ceiling, rack, or door frame.

3. Core Training Equipment

Stability Ball – A home gym staple for crunches, back extensions, hip bridges and more. Stability ball exercises will challenge both the primary and secondary core musculature.

Medicine Ball – Another versatile piece that fits into the core and strength training category. Add a med ball to floor exercises (i.e. push-ups, Russian twists) or use it to add weight to body weight exercises such as squats and lunges.

4. Flexibility and Recovery Equipment

Don’t forget to balance all your hard work with some recovery. Foam rollers, stretch straps, and massage balls are small additions that will make a big impact.

Maximize your investment by adding dynamic pieces to your home gym that accommodate multiple training styles. Choose from these listed here or check out our home gym kits designed by space and training type.

 

Share this:

About Elisabeth Fouts

Elisabeth is the Education & Content Manager for Power Systems. She has served the fitness industry for over 15 years has a wide variety of experience from personal training and group fitness instruction to health club membership sales and fitness management. She joined Team Power Systems as Education Coordinator in 2015 and has since produced and co-authored educational content for live and virtual training sessions both internally for staff training and externally for industry educational organizations across the United States. Elisabeth holds a B.S. in Education & Exercise Science and is a certified fitness instructor with ACE and Les Mills.