It is convenient to have a gym at home for multiple reasons. If a gym is closed, the gym is too far away, or you’d just rather work out at home due to a worldwide pandemic than going out, having a home gym means you can still exercise.
Different exercises can be practiced at a home gym. Three different types of training we will discuss are yoga, dumbbell exercises, and cardio. We will also discuss the equipment needed, as well as the health benefits of this training.
It is always a good idea to consult with a health professional to determine what’s appropriate for your health and body. Of course, these exercises can be modified to fit an individual’s fitness level.
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Yoga
The health benefits of yoga include improved balance and flexibility. Balance is important to prevent falls and improve posture. Increased flexibility means increasing or maintaining a wide range of motion in the arms and legs.
Yoga only needs a little bit of space, so it’s perfect for the home gym. To get started, the only thing you need is a yoga mat. Yoga mats are affordable and can be purchased for as low as $10. Additional yoga accessories that can be added are yoga blocks and yoga straps.
There are different types of yoga, such as vinyasa yoga, power yoga, and kundalini yoga. Pick the yoga type that best fits your needs. You can also alternate between the yoga types for variety. The area of the body being exercised differs between yoga types and workouts. There are lots of free yoga videos on Youtube to follow along with during the workout. Examples of yoga poses include downward dog, up dog, cobra, tree, penguin, triangle, and warrior poses.
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Dumbbell Exercises
You can use dumbbells to perform strength training exercises. Strength training has many benefits, such as increasing muscle mass, stronger bones, better metabolism, and losing or managing a healthy weight.
To get started, it is best to purchase a set of dumbbells consisting of light, medium and heavy weights for different exercises. For beginners, 5lb, 8lb, and 10lb dumbbells are good. If you are intermediates, use 10lb, 12lb, and 15lb. For advanced people, use 15lb, 20lb, and 25lb dumbbells. As you progress over time, increase the weights properly for the workout.
Dumbbells can be used for hammer curls, overhead press, chest benches, squats, upright row, bent over row, and dumbbell skull crushers. To develop a well-balanced body, alternate your workout to target different muscle groups. It is also important to have enough recovery time between and after workout sets.
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Cardio
Cardiovascular exercise improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, increases metabolism, boosts the immune system, and maintains a healthy Body Mass Index.
Many cardio exercises don’t even need any equipment, which is good news for home gym users. For example, you can do jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and burpees. These cardio exercises do not require any equipment. You can also jog in place. Additionally, you can run around the streets for cardio. Running outside provides a change of scenery from being inside the home gym.
A friendly reminder – a home gym is beneficial only when you use it. Therefore, exercise regularly and frequently with yoga, dumbbell exercises, and cardio for a healthy you.