Advantages of smaller workout equipment
I have converted an area of the basement into a home gym.
- I like that the basement is always cool, no matter how hot and humid the weather.
It’s helpful that my workout area is somewhat separate from the rest of the house. I can exercise at any time of the day or night without disrupting other family members. I also don’t need to worry about my exercise equipment detracting from aesthetics. While the basement works well for my needs, I have limited space. There isn’t enough room to invest in multiple big machines. It’s also difficult to transport large and heavy equipment down the steep and narrow staircase. Because of this, I’ve outfitted my home gym with smaller gear. I have a set of hand weights that take up very little room and yet provide all sorts of strength training options. I have a pair of two-pound, four-pound and eight-pound weights that are wonderful for high repetition movements. I bought a yoga mat that I use for my warm up, cool down, stretching, plank holds and to cushion my joints for high impact aerobics. It works well with my jump ropes. I spent extra for a set of jump ropes that utilize a single pair of handles with four different ropes of varying weights. Each rope offers a different style and intensity of workout. They are an effective way of burning a great deal of calories, elevating my heart rate and working the lungs. For another option for aerobics, I bought a mini trampoline. It’s compact, minimizes impact on my joints but provides a fun and beneficial workout.