Money Saving March: Great Gear for At-Home Workouts

“Money Saving March” continues with this question: “Who says you need an expensive gym membership to get and stay in shape?” You can reap many of the same fat-burning, body-toning benefits by working out in your own home, especially if you have some inexpensive exercise equipment at the ready. Here are some great gear ideas for starting or enhancing your at-home workouts:

Yoga Mats

A yoga mat is handy for floor-based exercises because it provides support for your body and offers better traction than a towel. Learn some basic moves from a yoga or Pilates video, then (weather permitting) take your mat outside for a workout on your deck or patio, backyard, or better yet the beach. When purchasing a yoga mat, look for one that is made with thick memory foam to help protect your knees and joints and give you support and grip when you perform certain moves. If you are looking for a mat that will help you do general core-strengthening exercises, try Pilates-style mats, which are thicker than yoga mats and have extra width and length. For around $20, you can find a quality yoga mat.

Resistance Bands

Durable resistance bands are used for a variety of toning and sculpting movements. One type of band you can use is about 5 feet long, has a handle on each end, and is made of a stretchy, flexible material that lets you create resistance from various directions. A resistance band can help strengthen your thighs, legs, arms, and core. Use one to perform biceps curls, thigh-shapers, leg lifts, and even crunches. A resistance band is light and travel-friendly, so you can easily pack one for trips. When purchasing resistance bands, look for bands with tubing because they are made with more durable material and come with soft-cushioned foam handles for a comfortable grip. Other types of resistance bands may require you to tie knots to hold them or to buy the handles separately. For around $20, you can find a durable resistance band.

Hand Weights

Three- to five-pound hand weights are generally a good starting point if you are new to lifting weights and you can always increase the weight as you get fitter. Ideally choose a weight that allows you to do 8 to 12 reps of the exercise you choose and look for weights that are coated with a nonslip material for a comfortable grip. Hand weights can help strengthen and tone your arms, strengthen your core and they are space-efficient, so you can store them in a bin or drawer at home or in a desk drawer at your office for mini workouts. For around $20, you can find good quality hand weights.

Stability Ball

Stability balls, also known as exercise or balance balls, are inflatable balls that are used for core-strengthening exercises; sitting on them can also help you improve your posture. Finding the right size stability ball depends on what kind of exercise you want to do. Generally they come small, medium, and large, with instructions for proper inflation. Look for a burst-proof ball made with durable rubber material, so it won’t collapse while you are exercising. A stability ball can be used to do a variety of exercises, including bicep curls, leg circles, crunches, push-ups, and wall squats and remember, the more the ball is filled, the more challenging the exercise will be, so as you get fitter be sure to keep the ball as full as possible for the best results. For around $20, you can find a durable stability ball.

Free Workouts

If purchasing any of the at-home workout gear I talked about is not in your budget, then look into free workouts starting with YouTube. There are literally hundreds of exercise videos from cardio workouts to strength training workouts and every workout in-between, you can find what ever workout you are looking for on YouTube. And let’s not forget, the best free workout out there and that’s walking! All you need is a good pair of athletic shoes (we all have at least one pair in our closets), and you are ready to head out the door and take a brisk 30-minute walk around your neighborhood, your local park or fitness trail.

As you can see, you can workout at home for a fraction of the cost of a monthly gym membership and still get a great gym quality workout on your time in the privacy of your living room! I will be back with another money saving blog post on Wednesday, so until next then, be happy, healthy, and beautiful!

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