Must-have machines for your home gym

WHETHER it’s to escape expensive annual gym expenses or because you have grown tired of chaos and the sometimes sweaty equipment at the commercial gym, personal trainer and fitness instructor Gisel Harrow said that converting a space at home might be the solution you have been looking for.

And as a bonus it would be reassuring to hear that you don’t necessarily need to buy big, overpriced gym equipment.

“When constructing and planning for a home gym. It doesn’t have to be expensive and of course in the long run you save money. One of the most important things to consider when deciding what to get for your gym is what your fitness goals are and if it’s functional for everyone in the home as well,” Harrow told All Woman.

Still not sure exactly what you want to get? Harrow shares tips on some must-haves below.

Treadmill

A treadmill has vast amounts of cardio features that will help you to burn calories and build cardiovascular strength.

Multifunction weight machine

This is also known as a total gym. These machines are stacked to perform various workout exercises ranging from upper to lower body.

Olympic Bars and plates (free weights)

These are weighted bars ranging from 15 to 45 pounds and individual plate attachments ranging from five to 45 pounds. Depending on your fitness goals, one of each bar and a pair of each plate is recommended.

Dumbbells

These are another type of free weights. These are ideal for everyone to use in various exercises and you can choose what suits your needs. They vary from one up to 120 pounds.

Adjustable bench

Always go for a bench. It’s a flexible equipment that has incline and decline functionality and as such can easily be incorporated into exercises.

Exercise mat

An exercise mat can be used for floor exercises such as abs and stretches. You can also use it during mindful exercises such as yoga.

Exercise bands/tubes

These add variety to training and take up little or no space. They are particularly effective because they add a kind of dynamic (resistance) to your exercise without having to bring in any big equipment.

Harrow said that another major area that should be taken in consideration when you are going to invest in gym equipment is space. This way, she explains, you will be able to design a safe area to exercise. Having big, or too much equipment, in a small space may increase chances of injury to users of the space.