In our previous blog ‘How to choose the right fitness equipment for you’, we looked at the questions you need to ask yourself when setting up a home gym, which included: 

- What are your interests?

- How much space do you have for exercise equipment?
- Do you have any concerns about noise restrictions?
- What is your primary fitness goal?
- What is the budget for your home gym?
- How much time do you have to dedicate to exercise on a regular basis?

Now, in this blog, we take a deeper look at some of the most popular and effective pieces of exercise equipment – what they do – and more importantly – the benefits they deliver when they form part, or all, of your regular home workout routine.

Fit Ball

The fit ball is a simple, affordable, yet effective piece of exercise equipment. It helps to create workouts that suit all levels of fitness and complexity. From straightforward warm-up exercises to strength or stability exercises through to serious fat burning workouts, the fit ball can do it all. Plus, it is portable so can be used anywhere, anytime.

What are the benefits of a fit ball?

- Increased abdominal, back and spine health.
- Overall strength and control of core body muscles.
- Improved posture and spine alignment .
- Better balance and mobility.

Treadmill

The treadmill is one of the most popular types of exercise equipment. Suitable for all, you can walk, jog or run depending on your preference and fitness level. Treadmills can provide a range of settings and running programs that can help you burn fat, increase stamina and strengthen your lower body. They can also provide you with data to make your workouts more effective through calorie counters, pulse and heart rate monitors.

What are the benefits of a treadmill?

- Improves cardiovascular health.
- Efficient weight loss exercise.
- Improved joint flexibility.
- Lower impact than running on outdoor surfaces.
- You are in control of the workout.
- They simulate race courses when training for running events.

Free Weights 

One of the main reasons free weights are so popular is their versatility. They can be used for a full body resistance workout or for functional fitness that mimics natural body movement through to sport-specific movements.

What are the benefits of free weights?

- Super efficient exercise as each movement requires multiple muscles to be used.
- Improved strength and balance.
- Provides for versatile workout routines.
- Potent fat burner due to muscle mass involved in maintain balance and stability while training.
- Size. They don't require a lot of space and can fit into your closet, under your bed or other small spaces.
- Cost effective, especially if you purchase adjustable weights.

Elliptical Trainer

Another one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment, elliptical trainers target your cardiovascular system and are designed to help you burn more calories than walking on a flat surface. Suitable for all fitness levels, it provides a workout that benefits your arms, upper body, and lower body, all while being friendlier on the joints than a treadmill.

What are the benefits of an elliptical trainer?

- Boosts your stamina and cardio capacity.
- Burns a lot calories and body fat.
- Less stressful on joints than running, jogging, and similar workouts.
- Provides both an upper and lower body workout.
- Helps to improve balance.
- Ideal way to maintain fitness after injury.
- Offers a variety of options to mimic other workouts such as hill climbing, interval training and more.

Bench Press

A bench press can be used to strengthen the whole of your upper body (i.e. your arms, chest, back and sides) if you know how to use it properly. Whilst beginners do need to take care, using a bench press has a low risk of injury while providing a substantial effect on the body.

What are the benefits of a bench press?

- Increased upper body strength.
- Improved bone health.
- It is an efficient compound movement as it works multiple muscle groups at the same time.
- Its intense nature makes it a powerful calorie burner.
- Improves functional strength.

Exercise bikes (aka stationery bikes)

Cycling is excellent for improving cardiovascular health and is a type of exercise equipment that suits people of all ages and stages of fitness. It has the least impact on joints, making it ideal for people with knee pain or concerns that their weight may cause an issue on their joints.

What are the benefits of an exercise bike?

- Easy to use.
- Efficient calorie burner for weight loss.
- Toned legs as your quads, glutes, and calves are hard at work propelling the bike.
- Strengthened muscles as you use major muscle groups that support the back, leg, thigh, and hamstring muscles. 
- Easy on the joints when compared to running, jogging & other team sports.
- Improved cardiovascular health.

Rowing Machines

Rowing machines may look deceivingly simple but they pack a punch when it comes to cardio. Not only do they provide a great cardiovascular workout, the fact that you must push with your legs, while you pull with your arms, means coordination is a must. Rowing machines require you to use many muscle groups at the same time, from your arms and legs through to your core abdominal muscles, in turn burning a lot of calories.

What are the benefits of a rowing machine?

- Easy to use.
- Effective aerobic exercise that helps to lose weight, increase stamina and improve the immune system.
- Better posture through stronger back and shoulder muscles.
- Low-impact cardio that may better suit those with existing joint problems.
- Increased endurance.
- It is a total body workout.

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are made from rubber and can be looped around gym equipment or used on their own. There are various types of resistance bands that cater to different levels of fitness and activities. They are an extremely versatile form of exercise equipment and can be used in conjunction with other equipment or on their own to create unique workouts depending on your fitness levels and goals.

What are the benefits of resistance bands?

- Improved strength and mobility.
- Cost-effective workout.
- Easily adaptable for multiple fitness levels.
- Can exercise your whole body or target areas.
- Small and portable. Work out wherever you are, whenever you can.
- Improved bone strength.
- Aid with rehabilitation, especially in cases of hip, shoulder and knee injuries.
- Size. They don't require a lot of space and can fit into your closet, under your bed or other small spaces. 

Jumping Rope

Skipping rope is one of the most efficient exercises you can do. More efficient than jogging, you can jump rope anywhere you are –all you need to do is pack your skipping rope and you’re a hop, skip and jump away from the ideal exercise!

Jumping rope is a powerful workout as its not only works on your cardiovascular fitness, but it also strengthens your muscles at the same time, which makes it a potent calorie-burner.

Did you know that skipping rope makes you smarter? According the Jump Rope Institute, jumping aids in the development of the left and right hemispheres of your brain, which further enhances spacial awareness, improves reading skills, increases memory and makes you more mentally alert

What are the benefits of jumping rope?

- Small and portable. Work out wherever you are, whenever you can.
- Better cardiovascular health and bone density.
- Improved breathing efficiency.
- Improved coordination.
- Enhances your ability to stay calm due to the required synchrony needed with your body, mind and the rope.
- Better posture as when you skip rope you’re pulling your shoulder blades back and aligning your spine.

It goes without saying that exercise is good for your mental and physical health. However to have any true benefit it must be done on a regular basis. That’s why it is imperative that when you choose exercise equipment for your home gym you pick what’s ultimately right for you.

So regardless of the features and benefits listed, the most important question to ask yourself is: what machine do I really want to use? It’s vital to select exercise equipment that feels right to you and one that will keep you coming back for more, because as with all things, especially exercise – consistency is key. Unsure about what exercise equipment might be right for you? Want to find out more about what they do? Simply contact the team at MuscleMania – we’d be more than happy to have a chat to see how we can help!


Christina Seru
MuscleMania Fitness Pty Ltd
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