Home-Gym-Essentials

Have you recently decided on transforming that extra room in your house into a home gym? Are you about ready for your first workout? Want to be sure that your newly made home gym will provide you with a safe workout experience?

If so, make sure that you have considered including the following:

1. A First Aid Kit

first-aid-kit

From lifting weights to running on a treadmill, physical activity of any kind means increased risk of injuring yourself. With that increased risk comes the need for first aid kits that carry Band-Aids, gauze, and other essentials.

Blisters, bruises, and sprains are common to runners, weightlifters, and anyone serious about exercise. Having a first aid supply stocked and in reach will ensure prompt treatment and prevent the injury from worsening.

Must Read: How to Avoid Injury When Working Out

2. A Workout Mat or Rubber Flooring

workout-mat

A yoga mat is sufficient for pilates, stretches, and exercises that require smaller movements. But for more aerobic exercises, such as HIIT or jump rope, you may want to install rubber flooring. Rubber flooring provides your feet with good grip, thus preventing slips.

Falls on rubber mats are also slightly cushioned when compared to wooden or marble flooring. Rubber flooring can be found at hardware stores or at your local home depot. You can buy it in rolls or in mats and it can easily be installed without too much effort.

3. A Heart Rate Monitor

A heart rate monitor is an excellent way to prevent individuals from overdoing an exercise session. So for those who have suffered from heart complications in the past, a heart rate monitor should be part of your workout ensemble. Other benefits include finding and maintaining the right intensity when exercising. Higher-end heart rate monitors also have features that track and report your progress over the period of a week.

Getting the most out of your heart rate monitor will first require you to understand basic terms and find out what your resting heart rate is. You will also need to find out what your maximum heart rate and your target training heart rate is. This article from Harvard Health Publications is a good place to start.

4. A Water Bottle

workout-water-bottle

A simple item, but easy to forget… Water keeps your body temperature at an even keel. It also serves to lubricate your joints, allowing for easier movements. Not only that, but it also carries nutrients throughout your body. What happens when you don’t drink enough water? Signs of dehydration include dizziness, muscle cramps, and more. Hydrating after a workout session is an important aspect of exercising safely. And for those who exercise for an extended period of time, hydrating throughout is essential.

What type of water bottle should you buy? Look for one that is made from a BPA-free plastic. But if you don’t want to bother with looking at labels, simply choose a glass bottle for the healthiest option. Some glass bottles are now being sold with a rubber coating, to make the glass sturdier for athletes.

5. Proper Ventilation

proper-ventilation

Make sure you air out your workout room after every exercise session. Open windows either while you exercise or leave them open for a period afterwards. Doing so will help prevent mold growth as well as other unpleasant smells from accumulating. If you do not have a window in your home gym, consider renovating to include one. Or, for a quick fix while that window is being installed, turn on a fan in the room after your workout session to get rid of bad smells and keep mold at bay.

Making sure your home gym is outfitted correctly will help you enter your workouts with confidence. Staying safe as you exercise will go far in helping you stick to your workout plan as it will prevent accidents that could derail your intentions. Stock up on these safety essentials and then you will be truly ready to workout!

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