5 home workout equipment you need!

Due to the outbreak of this COVID virus, safe-distancing regulations keep changing sporadically especially in Singapore. One moment we can head to the gyms, and in the blink of an eye, gyms are closed again. This led to many changes and inconsistencies in our lifestyles and habits such as exercise, diet, and home workouts! Regardless of whether your goal is to build muscle or lose some weight, today we’ll be introducing a list of 5 home workout equipment that will bring your indoor workouts up a notch, making it more effective and comfortable!

As for me, before the pandemic, I was training regularly in the gym and running occasionally. Having said that, it’s pretty frustrating to keep up with the ever-changing regulations with the unpredictable situation and getting anxiety over when I can or cannot head to the gym. Thus, home workouts and running in park connectors have been my go-to for quite some time now.

Disclaimer: Before anything, I would like to mention that the products linked under Lazada are under my affiliate links. This means that if you do end up purchasing any of these products I’ve introduced, I’ll get a small cut from the sale at no extra cost to you! I would greatly appreciate the support and of course, I source for the best deals (lowest prices, high durability) before introducing them to you guys! 😉

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Cash Back Opportunity!

Cash Back Opportunity!

If you intend to purchase any of the products I’ve linked, let me introduce to you a cash back system where you can get a portion of your money back after the purchase is confirmed. Sounds too good to be true? Here’s how:

Join ShopBack with my link and add your withdrawal details. (This entitles us both a S$5 bonus credit when you make a purchase of at least S$20!)
For a better shopping experience, install the ShopBack extension on Google Chrome and log in via the extension. (This will ping you whenever a merchant is eligible for cash back when you shop!)
Since Lazada is a ShopBack partner, this grants you an additional 2% cashback when you purchase any of the items I’ve linked.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into our home workout equipment recommendations!

1. Exercise Mat

An exercise mat is the best investment you can make if you will be working out at home every now and then. There are many cheap exercise mats in the market, but feel the pinch a little (sacrifice a few coffee runs), and you can get a good quality, durable and comfortable mat at less than $20.

Mat specifications:

- - - - Size: 183cm (length) x 61cm (width)
    - Waterproof surface.
    - No latex, PVC, or any other harmful chemicals.
    - Non-toxic and does not smell.
    - Recyclable and environmentally friendly.

What you want to look for would be at least a 5-8cm thickness, and skid-resistance.

Thicker mats help to ensure you get relatively good cushioning especially when you are doing ab exercises like sit-ups, V-ups, crunches, etc. The skid resistance helps to prevent the mat from moving around when you are doing exercises that require jumping or more movement.

If you are looking for more padding for your elbows and knees for certain exercises, here’s our recommendation:

This additional foam padding is thick enough to give you the support and prevent abrasions when performing exercises like planks or knee-down push ups. With the extra support also comes greater comfort during your exercise routines.

Moreover, at 60cm (Length) x 25cm (Width) x1.5cm (Thickness), it is also easy to carry around to your yoga or exercise classes whenever necessary. There’s also 3 different colors for you to style with your base mat!

2. Resistance Bands

Strength/resistance training is one of the best things to incorporate into your exercise for more effective home workout sessions. Resistance bands are inexpensive and very versatile. As a result, it can be used in many variations to provide more exercise options at home.

This variation comes in an All-in-One Package, where you get 5 x 1.2m long resistance bands of varying weights, with different grip attachments for your home workouts. A huge plus point is that it even comes with a carry bag for you to bring them out for your outdoor workouts or when travelling!

Mini bands are great for warming up and for firing up specific muscle groups.

Don’t look down on mini resistance bands! Despite its name, they are great for more targeted and compound workouts. Also, throw them into your warm-up exercises before your cardio sessions to activating your glutes, hips, and abductors before a run.

If you’re looking for some mini band workout inspiration, here’s a full-body circuit for you to check out! It is recommended to perform this workout 2-3 times a week to reap the strength-building benefits.

Mini bands are also easy to progress! As your workouts start to get easier, it’s time to increase the resistance to continuously challenge and strengthen your muscles. You can also use different bands for different muscle groups if you need a slightly different level of resistance.

Longer bands are great for improving your calisthenics exercises.

You may be working towards your first pull-up or training to perform a muscle up. In these cases, long bands are great for providing the support you need along the way. You can start off with a heavier band, and decrease the band’s assistance as you start growing in strength.

Of course, long resistance bands are also great for:

Pre and post-workout stretching.
Working on your mobility.
Improving core strength & stability.
Rehabilitation

3. 2KG Dumbbells

Since visiting the gyms for weights and machines are a no-go, dumbbells are our next best option! Hence, this is one essential home workout equipment to continue indoor strength training. If you don’t know how heavy you should get, 2KG is a great weight to start off with.

Despite the weight, 2KG dumbbells are great for a ton of exercises! For example, dumbbell raises, standing shoulder presses, lunges, and many others. Here are some workout videos that you can follow with your 2KG weights at home:

4. Pull-Up Bar (No Drilling required for installation)

A pull-up bar installation is another handy piece of home workout equipment that you can use to incorporate various exercises into your routine. With just the bar itself, there’s already a ton of exercises you can do. In addition, throw in your resistance bands or TRX (Suspension trainer), and you’ll not get bored of your home workouts for a long time.

This version of the pull-up bar does not require any drilling for it to be installed. It just needs to be twisted in place. For most HDB room doors, the 82-130cm bar should do the trick. Just to be safe, measure the width of the door frame/opening you will be placing the bar at to avoid buying a size too small.

This piece of equipment is great if you’re looking for full body, core, and back workouts especially. In addition, if you’re working towards your first pull up, the article linked has some tips for you included!

5. Foam Rollers

Foam rollers are extremely effective for warming up your muscles to reduce the chances of injuring yourself during exercise. In addition, it is a great tool to relieve the soreness and tension of your muscles to speed up your recovery after a workout!

Rolling out your muscles regularly aids in your recovery after an exercise session. It is also a form of self-massage, to help relieve pain, relax your muscles, and increase blood circulation. I’d highly recommend getting one and trying it out yourself after every workout to observe the results. Especially so if you frequently perform high intensity or cardio workouts.

For the “Wunderers” who like to run, walk long distances, hike, or undertake any other exercises that place a strain on your feet, this massage ball is going to be your best friend!

This has been the best thing I’ve bought so far ever since my track coach recommended this to us!

After an intense workout session or a run, rolling this massage ball under the balls of my feet has provided so much relief to my plantar fascia. I would highly recommend this to those who run frequently, walk a lot, or stand for long hours throughout the day.

At just $5, this is too good to pass up! It’s also easy to carry around. Try it out and you’ll thank me afterwards! 😉

Special mentions:

Massage Gun

A massage gun may not exactly be a home workout equipment, but it helps with muscle recovery after your workouts. This is a cheaper alternative for the Hyperice Hypervolt massage gun that most professional athletes use after their sessions.

It comes with 6 level adjustments and 4 different ergonomic attachments to target different muscle groups and areas of your body. Similar to a foam roller, it helps to release fatigue and relieve soreness. Thus assisting your recovery process from exercise fatigue, sports injuries, provides pain relief and reduces inflammatory responses.

This list of equipment is sure to level up your workout routine at home. There are tons of variations and combinations in which these equipment can be used. Mix and match and you’ll never get bored of working out indoors again! There are also tons of resources and YouTube videos on workout routines with these equipment which we have mentioned above.

Check them out and let us know what are some of your favorite workout guides out there so we can try them out too!