woman-doing-sit-ups-in-home-gym
How to create a budget-friendly home gym
Katie Adema, August
2016
With the average monthly gym membership costing around $65, or $780 over the period of a year, it’s no wonder more and more Aussies are taking their health into their own hands with a home gym setup.
But how to create an effective workout space without breaking the bank?
Investing in fancy equipment like treadmills, bikes, cross trainers or even a functional training space can be worth it for those hard-core fitness addicts, but for the rest of us mere mortals, we need a different approach.
The key to any great home gym is being smart with your purchasing decisions, just like these one-piece wonders that are fantastic tools to aid your fitness journey without costing you a fortune.
Skipping rope
Not just for the playground, skipping ropes pack a serious fitness punch. Test your cardiovascular health and your coordination with a skipping session that includes a combination of single leg and double-unders. This exercise actually burns more calories than running does (and is more fun!). Skipping ropes are also extremely portable, so you can take them outside or pack them for a weekend away to keep up your workout routine. Also look out for those with weighted-handles as they provide fantastic muscle-building benefits to your upper body.
Medicine ball
These are particularly great for ab exercises like Russian twists, and compound exercises such as squat and press or woodchop. While medicine balls tend to be lighter in weight than kettlebells or dumbbells, they still tone muscle and aid in building strength through your core as well as your upper and lower body. Bring in some crossfit inspired exercises like wall balls to burn more calories and incorporate more muscles groups into your workouts. Again, watch the weight – beginners only need a 2-3kg medicine ball!Kettlebell
A kettlebell is possibly the most versatile piece of basic gym equipment out there. Full body workouts of all levels are possible with this nifty item – from arm strengthening exercises to ab workouts, to working your hand-eye coordination. Just be sure to pick a suitable weight – they usually start at around 8kg for beginners, with 16-24kg for more advanced users.