Unless you’re only planning on doing floor aerobics at home, like hi-lo, kickboxing, or dance aerobics, you’ll need to think about equipping your workout room with the right exercise gear. You don’t need a lot of exercise equipment, though if you have the room (and money) for more you’ll certainly have more fitness options available to you. Here are some exercise equipment suggestions that will get you started building a functional, versatile home gym.
Cardio Equipment
Step bench – Step aerobics are a great low-impact cardio option, and to do them, you’ll need a step bench. Varying the bench height will change the intensity of the workout. You can also use it as a weight bench!
Weighted gloves – These help to increase the intensity of your cardio workouts; they’re used mostly in kickboxing workouts.
Strength Equipment
Dumbbells – Dumbbells are a staple in most strength training workouts. They come in a wide variety of sizes and finishes, and can be found at your local big box store.
Ankle weights & wrist weights – Ankle weights are great for adding resistance to your floorwork routines. You can use wrist weights for arm exercises, and they’re good for bridging the gap between different dumbbell weights.
Flexibility Equipment
Yoga mat – A nice, cushiony yoga mat is essential for doing yoga or Pilates. They come in a variety of colors and thicknesses.
Yoga strap – If you’re a bit inflexible, a yoga strap can help you extend your reach and get the most out of your stretches.
There’s a whole world of fitness equipment options available for equipping your workout room, and a variety of places to buy them. Most big box stores will have basic equipment such as dumbbells and yoga mats, while you might have to check out sporting goods stores or go online to get equipment such as step benches or barbells. You can also buy used fitness equipment and save a little money.