Home Gym Starter Pack

Dose of Prose

One of the biggest ways I invest in myself is through movement. Whenever I take the time to exercise, whether it’s 5 minutes or 50 minutes, I always feel good. Early morning workouts are my personal favorite, because I find it’s the best way to start my day. The rush of endorphins, the release of electrolytes, the burst of pranayama energy, the feeling of fresh blood circulating…is, indescribable. Prioritizing fitness in my life has positively impacted my productivity, discipline and motivation. I’m forever grateful to have a body that moves.

My Quarantine Workout Routine

If you’ve been following me for a while (and from that first paragraph alone), it is clear that I am a fitness enthusiast. Every week on Instagram, I do check-ins with my followers where I share the workouts I’m doing and I hold my audience accountable by asking if they’ve taken time to sweat. If you’re struggling to stay motivated to exercise, check out my post on how to enjoy exercise here.

I’m big on in-person group fitness classes, but due to the pandemic I’ve had to make adjustments by curating my own virtual workout routine and gym space at home. Here’s some virtual studios I’ve been loving:

• Yoga with Adrienne – one of my first introductions to the practice of yoga! Adrienne is the OG, I’ve been following her for years and her videos always brighten my day. She emphasizes finding what feels good and that mindset is what makes her workouts so special. She has a variety of videos on your Youtube channel and hosts a 30 day yoga challenge every year. Highly recommend! (price: free)
  
  
• Sweat Sessions by Aubre Winters – wow, if you want a challenge, here it is. I take Aubre’s barre and sculpt classes and although I may let out some curse words during the workout, I never regret working out with her. Her vibrant personality makes the workout fun and her passion for teaching is evident in her classes. Check out her platform! (price: $12 per class; membership options available)
  
  
• Carries Pilates Plus – this was the pilates studio I frequented pre-pandemic, and it’s still one of my favorite pilates studios in LA. Pilates can be done on a machine (reformer pilates) or on a yoga mat. If you want to workout on the machine, Carries offers classes outdoors (if you live in LA), but you can also workout virtually, which is still well worth it. This studio has amazing instructors, I love their method of teaching and overall, it’s a great workout for both men and women. Don’t miss out. (price: $10 per class)
  
  
• Lindsey Harrod Fitness – I love her focus on form and mobility! You can’t go wrong with any of her classes, but if you are new to strength training or lifting weights, I suggest starting with her. (price $10 per class and $5 on Fridays)
  
  
• Fit Girl Club – if you’re looking for a community of people to workout with, FGC is a great option. This platform highlights a variety of instructors and classes, so you have lots of options when it comes to livestream classes, in-person meet ups and other discounts. This app is a great way to connect with like-minded women who enjoy fitness. I love it! (price: $12 a month)

Home Gym Essentials

For those who already have a home gym or if you’re engaging in outdoor workout activities, I wrote a post listing my gym bag essentials and ways to enhance your workout that may be useful to you. Today’s post, is an extension of that post, specifically highlighting essentials for your home gym. If you want some basic products/equipment that will take your quarantine workout to the next level, keep reading.

Sprays

This sports spray by The Laundress is a must-have. It refreshes my equipment and deodorizes my clothes post workout. The scent is clean and not too overpowering. Highly recommend!

SHOP THE SPRAY

Mats

Even if you’ve never done yoga a day in your life, you will definitely need one in your home gym. It’s important to have a stable, sturdy solid ground below you when working out so that you don’t hurt yourself. I do a variety of workouts, but most of them are bodyweight focused and involve me being on the floor, so a yoga mat is an essential for me. I have multiple mats from different brands (i.e. Target, Adidas, Gaiam, etc.). When it comes to yoga mats, I’m not married to a particular brand, but of course, you get what you pay for. If you are willing to invest in a sustainable yoga mat, I recommend YellowWillow. These mats are eco-friendly and biodegradable with tough fabric that give you and amazing grip. Check it out!

SHOP THE MAT

Weights & Resistance

I love getting my heart rate up with cardio, but it wasn’t until I started lifting light weights (2-10 lbs) and doing strength training that I began to truly see changes in my body. I didn’t feel ‘bulky,’ but rather, I developed long, lean toned muscles. Resistance bands, gliders and light weights have become a crucial component of my home gym. I specifically love the brand Bala! Their equipment is so chic and fashion forward. I’m obsessed with their weights (Bala bangles), gliders and bands. One thing I’ve learned is that you don’t always need heavy weights to feel a difference in your workout. You’ll be surprised how much 2 and 3 lbs can intensify your experience. Trust me, you will feel the burn. For more stylish athleisure and activewear brands, check out my blog post roundup of fitness apparel brands here. Photos and links to shop are listed below.

SHOP BALA

Sneakers

Fun fact, I do most of my home workouts barefoot! Even pre-pandemic, I would only wear sneakers to the workout, but not during it. For Soulcyle, I wore cycling shoes and for pilates (which is done on a reformer machine), I wore grip socks, aka socks with rubbery/sticky grips on the bottom. Regardless, I’m adding a shoe section to this workout essential kit to offer suggestions to those of you who own Pelotons or other spin bikes/equipment that require shoes to train in.

For cycling, I am loyal to the Soulcycle brand, and would be remiss if I didn’t suggest their high quality cycling shoes that I’ve used over the last few years. I’m sure there are lots more affordable cycling shoe options out there, but the Legends by Pearl Izumi are just my personal preference. In terms of regular sneakers, I’m a fan of the Nike Air Max 270 and Air Vapormax Flyknit 3, both of which I’ve listed below. All of these have a higher price point, but totally worth the splurge in my opinion!

That’s all for my home gym essentials! Pretty short and simple, right? Whether you’re a beginner or advanced in the fitness lifestyle, I hope this was a helpful home gym starter pack for you. What’s your current home workout routine? Any fitness apps or equipment you’ve been loving lately? I’d love to know.