New year, new workout equipment
February 23, 2021
New Year’s Resolutions – what a lovely tradition they are. At the beginning of each year, people gather all of their thoughts on what they need to improve in themselves throughout that year, and the list begins. Whether it is to eat healthier, go on more adventures, or even workout more, everyone has something they hope to change.
Adding a new workout regimen is among the top New Year’s resolutions that people make each year. With a lot of gyms still closed right now due to COVID-19, some are finding it difficult to find a way to stick with this resolution, and because of the wide variety of fitness gear, people may struggle to find the proper equipment to add to their ever-growing at-home gyms.
There are many pieces of equipment that range in both price and function so that each person can find something that fits their lifestyle and goals.
Bosu Ball
Purpose:
Make sure that both sides of the body are worked evenly
Provide balance training
Engage the core muscles to a greater degree
Pros:
Improve balance
Easier on the body as the body’s overall force output is reduced when using an unstable device
Great for warm-up and cool down exercises because of the low impact
Good for injury prevention and rehabilitation
Cons:
Not for max performance for sport-specific workouts
Not the best choice for serious athletes because of the lack of overall muscle activation
Price: $129-$169
Peloton Bike
Purpose:
An indoor stationary bike that allows people to virtually connect with a live studio spin class or on-demand cycling classes from the Peloton library.
Pros:
Easy to adjust so it fits any rider
Comfortable seat
Grippy handlebars
Tablet is sweatproof
Amazing, unique instructors that help to motivate and lead you on your fitness journey
Cons:
Expensive
Limited warranty
Must pay a monthly membership of $35 per month in order for the bike and classes to function
Rides cannot be paused
Price:$1900-$2400
Rowing Machine
Purpose:
Helps endurance
Strengthens and tones muscles
Pros:
Provides full-body workout; uses up to 86 percent of muscles
It’s good for people of all fitness levels
It’s low impact; burns calories without putting a lot of pressure on joints
Good for heart health as it strengthens the heart through cardio
Can be relatively inexpensive
Cons:
If proper technique is not used, damage to the lower back can occur
Somewhat noisy
Takes up quite a bit of space
Price: $200-$1300
Mirror
Purpose:
interactive home fitness device that streams thousands of live and on-demand exercise classes on its display while showing your reflection so you can check your form
Pros:
Convenient
Includes classes for cardio, boxing, yoga, and many more
Can work out with friends who have the mirror app
You control music during your classes
Cons:
Expensive
Additional equipment might be required
Price: $1495; $39 a month
Resistance Bands
Purpose:
Provide external resistance that can help to tone and strengthen specific muscle groups
Pros:
Portable
Inexpensive
Provides a unique resistance that cannot be received from weights
Joint friendly
Trains movements, not muscles
Adjust workout with different sizes and tensions
Cons:
Bands can break
Difficult to quantify and measure gains
Not great for building a lot of muscle mass
Price: $6-$30
There are many great pieces of workout equipment out there that would be ideal to add to the home-gym. Although different people have different budgets and needs/wants, there is something for everyone so that they may fulfill their New Year’s fitness resolutions.
Claire loyd • Feb 26, 2021 at 9:37 am
This story gave me so many good ideas! Love the time and effort you put in!
Molly • Feb 24, 2021 at 10:31 am
excellent job as always!!!
Lilly Griffiths • Feb 24, 2021 at 8:23 am
I would’ve never thought about using a rowing machine to workout on a regular basis, but it seems to have many pros.