3 Things Every Home Gym Needs

This article looks at the three things that every home gym needs to be useful and worthwhile.

17:56 02 January 2023

These are the three simplest aspects of a home gym, and yet, can be regarded as the bare minimum.

Free Weights

The use of free weights is one of the mainstays for any gym and most of the large compound muscle groups can only best be worked using weights or resistance training. The range of free weights is huge, as can be seen at Mirafit, and you will need to look for those that can be adjusted and added to so that you can increase weight as you get fitter and stronger. Your home gym should, therefore, have a range of free weights and bars that can be used to do squats, bicep curls, and bench presses. Both barbells (long bars) and dumbbells are recommended, and it is the use of such free weights that will do the most for your balance and lean muscle development.

Cardio Machines

All home gyms are recommended to have a cardio machine, or several cardio exercise machines, if possible. A rower or spin bicycle are the favored machines around the country and the idea is to be able to complete a full cardiovascular program of exercise, as well as being able to lift weights. The cardio machines are the best way available to get your heart rate up indoors and no matter what the external weather is. Your respiratory and cardiovascular systems are hugely improved by implementing the right cardio exercises and the use of any one of the number of cardio machines available is arguably the best way to go in your home gym. Ensure that it is easy to install and maintain, as keeping it simple will keep it working for as long as possible. Complicated machines can be tricket to put together and may be more likely to have issues over time, which could lead to exercise downtime.

Space for Bodyweight Exercises

Those who set up a home gym often ignore the aspect of keeping it spacious. The room is, instead, filled with weights and machines and then there is barely enough space to stretch. However, the availability of space in a home gym is one of the top requirements. The best suggestion is to have enough space in the gym to be able to both complete a full body stretch, as well as be able to do press-ups, planks, and sit-ups. The gym should be based around this space and it is the space for bodyweight exercises that will be the easiest way to start a home gym, even without a single piece of equipment.

There has been a continued rise in the home gym. It was a trend that many thought was only peaking based on the social restrictions placed on people during the recent pandemic. However, as society becomes more convinced of the benefits of strength training and sustainable exercise, more home gyms are being established than ever before.