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Home gym exercise equipment guide: Part 1

Brett Denton's photo
Boise Fitness Examiner

Gymnasts main form of training is bodyweight movements


You will save money, time, and frustrations by building a home gym.  There are only a handful of things you need to have a top of the line, get your butt into shape, home gym.  Part 1 will cover the basics and part 2 will cover the advanced equipment for when you are ready to take your home workouts to the next level.

Let's get right into what your home gym needs for a solid foundation.


Your own bodyweight


Bodyweight exercises are one of the most efficient and brutal types of exercises you can do.  Oh yeah, and about as cheap as you can get.  Why add external loads (i.e. dumbbells) until you can handle your own body weight?  You shouldn't, unless you are so out of shape that you can’t physically perform any body weight movements and have to start with extremely light external loads to get any kind of exercise (this is only about 5% of the population).  

Foam Rollers
Standard Foam Rollers


Elastic Bands


Elastic bands are a phenomenal piece of equipment and can be used to add resistance to any exercise movement and work every muscle in your body.  You can throw bands in your luggage to get a fantastic workout anytime and anywhere.  You will never have the excuse of not having a gym at your hotel again; you brought the gym with you.    


Warning: not all bands are created equal.  The best elastic bands I have found are by Dave Schmitz.  He provides great bands and  with top of the line exercise guides to show you how to use them correctly.  Click here to see what Dave has to offer.


 Watch this video to see Dave Schmitz (AKA The Band Man) shows a great workout with bands.

Click here to go to Dave Schitz Band Website

Foam Roller                             

A foam roller should be in everybody’s exercise repertoire.  They are used for soft tissue work and regeneration.  Regeneration is one of the most critical aspects of a good workout routine, the better and faster we recover the faster we get fit.  Foam rollers are used to massage the muscles and the fascia of the body to keep you loose and get blood flowing to and from regenerating tissues. 


Foam rollers range from standard to vibrating to reinforced.  Purchase whichever is in your price range, they all work. 

With bodyweight, elastic bands, and a foam roller you have sufficient exercise equipment to perform a multitude of exercise routines and never need any more equipment.


But what’s the fun in that?


To add even more variety, fun, and exercise modalities to your home workouts check out Your home exercise equipment guide: Part 2.


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, Boise Fitness Examiner

Brett competed in sports since he was 4, ending with the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, playing for the Boise State Broncos. Through sports he became enthralled with peak physical training, culminating with a B.S. in Exercise Science double majoring in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics. Brett is a constant...

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