Staying fit isn’t just about looks, it’s also about boosting your physical and mental health. Science has shown that physical activity can prolong your life, protect your heart, sharpen your brain, slow down aging and much more. With so many options today, it’s so easy to stay active whether that’s in the gym or outdoors.
But not everyone has the time to hit the gym or the convenience of running outside. If this rings true for you, or you simply prefer privacy, or like the convenience of exercise at home, you can get fitness machines for home use and work out at your own pace. You can now enjoy staying fit whenever it suits you.
Benefits of Home Fitness
Save Time and Exercise on Your Own Schedule
One of the biggest reasons to buy fitness machines for home workouts is time and freedom. You save a great amount of time when exercising at home which gives you the freedom to create your own fitness schedule.
Many people go to the gym because they simply cannot exercise at home or live in an area where outdoor activities don’t seem convenient. Some gymgoers even say that they go there because of the social aspect or because they feel more motivated being around others who work out.
While that can surely be super motivating, it’s not always realistic for everyone. If you lead a busy lifestyle, working out at home is a huge time-saver. You don’t need to calculate the travel time, plan your gym visit or prepare for the gym. At home, you can exercise whenever it suits you for as long as you want. It’s all on your terms!
Enjoy The Privacy of Your Home
While some people love socialising at the gym or outdoors, others don’t quite feel comfortable exercising around strangers. Some simply prefer the privacy and sense of freedom that comes with being home.
With having a home gym, you have nothing to worry about. No one is watching you, so there’s no pressure to look a certain way or be mindful of how you look while doing your exercises. No need to stress about someone glancing at you while lifting weights or feeling awkward if others hear you panting loudly on the treadmill. You can go out and about your day and do your workouts looking as goofy as you want. You’ll be able to focus more on your workouts instead of worrying about what others think.
Cost-Effective in The Long Run
Here’s the real catch: setting up a home fitness might seem pricey at first, and it is. However, it saves you money in the long run. While it’s true that you pay a higher upfront cost when you buy home gym equipment if you calculate how much you spend on monthly or annual gym memberships, you’ll find that you’re paying way more over time.
With fitness machines, in most cases, you’re investing once and you’re all set. It’s a smart and cost-effective strategy in the long run.
Best Fitness Machines for Home Excercise
Treadmills
Treadmills are undoubtedly the most popular exercise machines and there are many reasons why. First and foremost, it’s an excellent way to include cardio in your workout routine. Even if you don’t love cardio, it’s super important for your overall health. It can improve your cardiovascular health and is even great for people who have knee or joint problems but still need to find a way to stay active.
You can set the treadmill to a flat setting and walk at a moderate pace so you don’t feel any pressure on your joints or knees. But if you’re an overall healthy individual and need something more challenging, you can increase incline and speed or start running.
Overall, it’s one of the best machines for staying in shape and you should make it your first choice when building a home gym. You can always upgrade it from there with other machines.
Squat Stands
Squat stands are excellent machines for everyone who is focused on growing their glutes. It helps you do your squats safely, and with proper form so you get the most out of your workouts. Because they are quite easy to use, they are great for beginners too. Aside from glutes, you can also exercise your hamstrings and quads and do bench presses. But stand squats do require additional equipment for your exercises, so you might want to factor that in when calculating your budget.
Stationary Bikes and Elliptical Trainers
Stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, and cross trainers are all fantastic for low-impact cardio workouts. They are gentle on your joints, so they are perfect for anyone who wants to include cardio in their routine but does not want to put pressure on their joints. However, if you do have knee problems, you might want to stick on the treadmill and walk at moderate speed.
Stationary bikes help you burn calories, while ecliptical and cross trainers work both for the upper and lower body so you can enjoy a full-body workout.
Weighted Kettlebells
Although kettlebells are not machines, they can be used for various exercises and as such, they should be the staple of your home fitness. You can include them in your squats, swings and presses or even abs. Exercising with weight improves strength, helps you burn more calories, builds strong muscles and improves the density of your bones.
