Helen Schifter is a former editor at Hearst and Condé Nastas as well among other professional titles. She believes in having a healthy body and staying strong, which is why during the current pandemic, for most people that necessitates home gym equipment.
It’s just too risky to go to the gym. Alternatively, it’s just as risky to stay home and park in front of the boob tube binging on Netflix.
Pandemic or not, the body needs exercise. Which is why the former arbitrage trader on Wall Street recommends many of the following pieces of home gym equipment.
Resistance Bands
Those wanting a great workout but don’t want to spend hundreds or even thousands on exercise equipment might well start with resistance bands.
Resistance bands are made of latex or synthetic rubber and come in a variety of resistance levels. There are resistance bands that just provide a mild workout to those that would challenge a championship bodybuilder.
The first advantage of resistance bands is that they are cheap. A great pair of resistance bands will cost $30 or less.
Second, the chance of injuring yourself is very limited. Unlike many pieces of exercise equipment, the resistance provided by the bands is slow and steady.
Finally, resistance bands are a go-anywhere piece of equipment. It’s easy to take them to the park or pack them in a suitcase while traveling.
Treadmill or Stationary Bike
Everyone knows that to keep the body healthy and limber, exercisers need cardio. After all, during the pandemic, even the beaches, parks, and trails may be closed for exercising.
Obtaining a good cardio machine is not a matter of firing up a computer and ordering on Amazon. It’s possible to ultimately order from a source like Amazon, but there is no substitute for trying out the equipment at a sports or exercise store.
Treadmills and Stationary bikes go from roughly $200 to $1,000 or more. However, savvy shoppers can snag some pretty nifty cardio equipment for around $350.
Before buying, however, shoppers should test out the equipment for a good 15 minutes.
A good rule of thumb is if you cannot test a cardio machine in the store, don’t buy it.
Shoppers should be looking for a quality machine that seems comfortable and seem to be well made. Sometimes an extra $150 or will be necessary to buy that quality, but often a mid-priced machine is just as well made.
Alternative Cardio–Jump Ropes or Dancing Exercise Videos
Those wanting a cheaper alternative may go for the boxer’s favorite, the jump rope, or alternatively a dance video.
There are numerous, high-energy dance videos on the internet for free by connecting a computer to a television. Dance exercise is fantastic cardio that is fun. Just make sure to wear good shoes.
The alternative is buying a great jump rope. Noticed the highlighting. Exercisers will want a premium jump rope with steel coated handles, ball bearing assist, and be sure the rope is made of quality, weighted material.