Equipment for At-Home Training

Me and my friends the past couple of months!

Me and my friends the past couple of months!

One thing I’ve realized in the past couple of months, it’s that you don’t need full gym to stay active! I recommend to my clients and athletes to have a few staple pieces of equipment in order to have a motivating, effective and most importantly fun workout!

A quick disclaimer: The weights and resistances that I recommend in this blog is based off of my current experiences working with athletes and clients. I recommend using weights that you feel comfortable based on your experience, past or current injuries, and budget. I advise using a weight that challenges you but can also perform movements with solid technique.

Here are my go-to pieces of equipment for your home gym:

Mini Band:

-       A staple in any warm-up as well as accessory work; able to target different muscle groups

  • Where to find, click here

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Long Band / Theraband / Band with Handles:

-       Versatile piece of equipment used in the main part of the workout and warm-ups!

  • Where to find, click here

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Kettlebell / Dumbbell - pair or single:

-       I recommend having 1 light and 1 heavy weight:

  • Light: 12-20lbs / 6kg to 10kg - these weights are based off experience working with current athletes and clients. Please select your weight carefully!

  • Heavy: 25-50lbs+ / 12kg to 24kg+

  • If your budget allows for only 1, no worries, just select a weight that is in between that light to heavy range (15-20lbs / 8-10kg)

  • Where to find, click here

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Yoga Mat / Rubber Mat:

-       Makes ground work comfortable

  • A bit more on this at the end of the blog!

  • Where to find, click here

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Other:

-       Sliders or Towels/Facecloths:

  • Simple piece that adds lots of variety and complexity in your training

  • Where to find, click here

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-       Chair / Low stool / Ottoman – make sure it is sturdy!

  • You can perform split squats, step-ups, box jumps (if sturdy enough), incline pushups

Bonus Tips:

-    I get asked a lot, “when is the right time to purchase more and heavier weight?” You can always change tempos and set/reps to keep it fresh without necessarily increasing weight!

-   Create a space that is your designated workout space. For me initially it was training on carpet – seems like a small silly thing but it just did not help me get into that mental space of training; “you’re at home, you’re not supposed to be sweating!” The gyms I have trained at before all have black rubber mats or yoga mats, so I was able to find some rubber / foam mats which helped me a lot! Setting up your space so your mind knows that it’s time to train!

-          Find out what is your “mental trigger”; is it developing a routine before your workout? For example: playing your favourite pump-up playlist, putting on your training shoes, filling up your water bottle or setting up your workout space.

-          Lifetime investment:

  • This is an investment for your health and fitness goals! And you can’t go wrong with that, right?

  • The equipment can go with you any where you go!

Finally, in addition to at-home workouts, don’t forget the sidewalk, track and the great outdoors is always free! Bike, hike, jump rope, run or walk!

So you got the right equipment? Proper programming and structure is the next essential step to ensure you have that accountability, an effective and challenging training program and of course, fun! Join our Online Group Training community or check out our 1-on-1 Customized Online Training:

Meena Sharif