I broke up with my gym membership for these nine pieces of equipment
With the new year here, most of us have some kind of fitness resolution on our minds. It's been top of the list for me and, for the first time ever, I'm feeling excited to have a clean slate to rebuild my exercise routine. That's because this time, I'm doing it on my own terms, in my own home, and without the gym membership I don't use.
I find gyms to be a lot. I have a bit of medical history that means when it comes to traditional exercise, I need a lot of modification. Over the last few years, I found I quickly tired of explaining this to bulky, befuddled personal trainers, and those other gym members who confidently approach you on the floor to explain in detail what you're doing wrong. Don't get me wrong, gyms are great, and important institutions, but it's hard to feel welcome when your needs skew away from the traditional 'smashing' of weights and cardio. And when lockdowns began, I happily took matters into my own hands, and have slowly been building up my own reserve of home gym equipment.
In doing so, I started by thinking about the types of exercise I actually enjoy, and settled on Pilates, yoga, and cardio – things that allow me to focus on breathing and fluid movement. Then, it was just a matter of finding the right tools to support me as I built up my strength and endurance. And given how masculine and overbearing I found the gym to be, I decided that for me personally, my equipment would need to be as pretty and pink as possible.
Here are my favourite pieces of equipment that I found to be perfect for the home.
Ab Exercise Mat, $49.95
This is without a doubt my favourite piece of at-home gym equipment. A strong core is about more than just a six-pack, it helps with balance, posture, and the correct performance of other difficult exercises, as well as advanced yoga poses. But since the majority of my medical problems are to do with my neck, I always found abdominal work really difficult, and really disheartening.
Enter: the mat, which has allowed me to improve my core strength bit by bit without straining to lift my neck up off the floor. I still can't do a full sit-up without hurting my neck, and perhaps I'll never get there, but my confidence in abdominal workouts is leagues ahead of where it was since buying myself an ab mat.
The Movement Mat from foldUP, $129
While it's more expensive than a simple Kmart option, this mat will make your floor work so much more comfortable, and will last you much longer than a cheaper alternative. This last year, I found myself picking up little pieces of rubber that had flicked off my three-year-old mat at the end of yoga class, before promising myself that I'd invest in a decent one. The Movement Mat is sturdy and thick, meaning no niggling knee pain as you cat-cow. It's also light, and folds up easily, making it perfect for easy transportation or storage in your home gym. Definitely worth the investment!
Bala Power Ring Kettlebell Alternative, $177.37
The most ergonomic kettlebell ever invented, the Bala Power Ring is a versatile weight that you can use for a number of different workouts. The circular shape makes it perfect for a kettlebell swing, but you can also use it as a gentle weight while you're squatting or lifting. The super-simple design was created with the idea of evolving beyond the bulky, outdated equipment we see at the gym, making way for easy storage. And, you can get it in pink – perfection.
Freeflow Fitness Resistance Bands, $15.99
Resistance bands are the perfect way to make your workouts just that little bit harder. These lightweight elastics vary in tightness, which translates to heaviness as you use them to squat, stretch, and replicate weight-lifting exercises. You'll be amazed at how much versatility these bands will bring to your at-home workouts. And, if you're a bit lost on how to use them, this set from Freeflow comes with a beginner's guide that'll get you on the right track.
Bala Balance Blocks, $93.75
A good yoga block is dependent entirely on the quality of the material it's made of. This set of two are created with dense, supportive foam in a high-quality design that Bala is known for. Also coming in a pretty pink colour, these blocks will allow for easy modification in those yoga poses you're still working at mastering.
Meteor Anti-Slip Dumbbells, $46.15
Every home gym needs a few dumbbells for good measure, even if you're just lifting light weights to build up a bit of arm strength. This set of eight from Meteor ranges from 0.5kg-5kg, making them light and non-threatening enough to incorporate into your gentle Pilates workouts, if you so choose. I also love the colour scheme – another splash of pink!
Saleyla Fitness Adjustable Pilates Bar Kit, $72.43
If Pilates is your jam, but the cost of joining a studio isn't, you can create a little studio at home with this kit from Saleyla. The bar comes with adjustable foot loops, and a resistance band you can incorporate into your workout. We'd recommend this one to those who have existing Pilates experience, but if you want to give it a go, the purchase comes with access to three reformer-style video workouts as well.
EZONEDEAL Back Stretcher, $21.55
Recovery is just as important as exercise itself, and if you're feeling pinched or tight after your workout, this back stretcher will be your new best friend. While it may resemble a medieval torture device, the 88 plastic needles relieve back pressure through stimulation, which lets the spine return to its original lines, while also stabilising the spinal column. And if you're working out quite often, taking care of, and restoring, your back is of paramount importance.
OZSTOCK 45cm Foam Roller, $23.99
With recovery still in mind, a foam roller is an ideal addition to your gym for stretching out your sore, tight, and tired muscles. You can get other versions with harder grooves and nubs, but this hexagon-textured non-slip version will go easy along your sorer points as you roll yourself out.
Bonus: CRZ YOGA Women's Naked Feeling High Waist Leggings
While it's not technically equipment, I'm adding these to the list because I live in them. Ever since our team reviewed these tights, I have worn nothing else while working out. Both compressive and lightweight, these tights are perfect for any kind of workout – and can even be worn around the house or out for coffee on your lazier days.