What To Know About Working Out At Home -2

What You Need to Get Started

To start doing at-home workouts, you truly only need your body and some space. Here are some key things to keep in mind as you get started.

Space

Ideally, you should have an open space free of furniture or other objects to complete your home workouts. This doesn’t mean you must dedicate an entire room as your home fitness studio—the space between your couch and TV will do, as will a porch, garage, or even a hallway if it’s wide enough.

To determine whether your space is big enough to accommodate at-home workouts, try these exercises:

Raise your hands all the way up above your head. Ideally, you should have 6 to 12 inches of space above your fingertips.

Put your arms out to the side like the letter “T.” Make sure you have a few inches of room between your fingertips and any walls or objects.

Swing your arms around in big circles. If you don’t hit anything, you’re good to go.

Kick your leg in front of your body and behind. Your toes should remain several inches from any objects.

Certain activities require more space. For example, if you want to jump rope, you’ll need several feet of space in front and in back of you. Plyometric movements such as jump squats require taller ceilings. Be careful when trying new movements to avoid banging your hands, feet, knees, or head.

Equipment

You technically don’t need any equipment to work out at home. Bodyweight workouts can be extremely challenging and just as effective as workouts with weights (especially if you learn to do advanced calisthenics).

However, a few basic items can really amp up your workouts to increase strength, improve fitness skills and escalate your endurance.

Best At-Home Workout Equipment

A pair of dumbbells

A kettlebell

A jump rope

Resistance bands

A stability ball or Bosu ball

A yoga mat

Those with previous training experience and those yearning for a true gym experience will benefit from a home gym setup. To get the most bang for your buck, choose versatile free-weight equipment rather than machines that isolate muscles. For example, one of the best-selling fitness products is a set of space-saving adjustable dumbbells.

Complete Home Gym Essentials

Barbell and rack

Weight plates

Dumbbells

Kettlebells

Mat flooring

Pull-up bar or suspension trainer

Finally, some people may prefer a digital experience and enjoy a smart home gym system, such as Tonal, Tempo Studio, or Mirror. Tech-infused equipment such as the Ergatta rower, an Echelon or Peloton bike, or a NordicTrack treadmill, offers fun and effective workouts.

Best Equipment for Your Home Gym

Programming

Those new to working out (at home or otherwise) should prioritize professional programming. Whether this means hiring a virtual personal trainer or subscribing to a workout program via a fitness app, professional programming prevents you from blindly choosing exercises and potentially hurting yourself.

Fitness is complex, but investing in a program tailored to your goals eliminates confusion and ensures that you get the most out of your time, money, and energy.

Without programming, you may struggle to reach your goals or even start your at-home fitness journey because you don’t know what exactly to do.

Even individuals who have fitness experience can benefit from professional programming. Sometimes, motivation is lacking and having a workout written for you increases the likelihood that you actually do a workout. Plus, it’s just nice to know you’re on track to reach a measurable goal.