While many people love to go to gyms to exercise, others prefer to pursue their fitness regimen within the comforts of their own homes. To get the most out of a home workout, we reached out to TriStar Hendersonville Director of Rehabilitation Services and Licensed Physical Therapist Dong Phan for his expert advice.
“It is not necessary to buy expensive, clunky machines to get good results at home,” says Dong. “You only need a few affordable, easy-to-use items.”
Dong recommends these five home gym essentials.
Dumbbells
Dumbbells are great for strengthening and sculpting the body. Beginners should start with lighter weights, such as 3 lb. and 5 lb. dumbbells, and then add in heavier weights as they get stronger.
Fitness Bands
Fitness bands consist of elastic cords that facilitate resistance exercises for building muscles. Bands are color-coded to reflect different resistance levels. Beginners should start with medium-strength bands and then increase the resistance over time.
Step Bench
Step benches or boxes are platforms that help ramp up cardio and strength-training workouts. Repeatedly stepping on and off these boxes—forward, backward and sideways—also improves balance.
Yoga Mat
Yoga mats are comfortable, non-slip floor coverings that help support the body while performing ab workouts, floor exercises and stretches. Yoga mats also provide traction while standing and are great for outdoor workouts.
Instructional DVDs/Videos
Workout boredom can be alleviated by watching expert trainers on DVDs/online videos. These media can introduce new routines and teach proper forms.
