As we all know, hitting the gym is one of the common ways to get fit. It has all the necessary amenities to help you with your workout routines. That’s how it worked for us pre-COVID-19. Gyms were then closed to avoid the spread of this virus which greatly changed how and where we exercise.

The pandemic brought home fitness to the spotlight because of its accessibility, without the risk of getting infected with the virus. It also saves you more time, allowing you to focus more on your routines and fitness goals. But what exactly makes home fitness an effective alternative to the gym? Will this be the new normal of exercise?

The Rise of Home Fitness

Aside from shutting down gyms, COVID-19 also greatly affected the workplace. It caused 42% of the US workforce to work from home full time, which makes home fitness more practical than going to the gym.¹ Gone are the days that you have to sneak out to the gym during lunch break because now, it’s as easy as propping down a yoga mat.

This home fitness trend continues to flourish as various influencers keep its momentum through endorsing weight loss programs, supplements, and smart gadgets over Youtube and social media.² As a result, many people turn to it and use these things to aid their home workout:³

• Online fitness platforms - these are expert-guided platforms where you can set specific fitness goals and have customized workout routines and meal plans to help you achieve them.
• Alternative health coaching - it’s an online network of health experts to guide you in your fitness journey. They are the virtual substitutes of your personal trainer in the gym. The difference is, you can get their advice at home.
• Functional routines online - these are workouts that require minimal equipment and can be done anywhere. A lot of these routines are available online and some even offer guided functional workout sessions. These are normally called bodyweight training or High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
• Smart wearables - before, you might need the elliptical machine in the gym to monitor your progress. Now, you only need a smart device to help you track your improvement. These can even suggest to you what to do next.

Gym Visits Vs Home Fitness

Home fitness is a great alternative for hitting the gym during this pandemic as it can help you save time. However, you might still need certain gym equipment to work out specific muscle groups. But if you invest in the right home fitness equipment, you’re also adding the functionalities of a gym to your home workout setup. But first things first, here’s a closer look at their individual benefits:^4,5

Benefits of Gym Visits:

• Equipment - gyms have more equipment options (like treadmills, dumbbells with different weights, and other machines).
• Interaction - gyms have group exercises that make you interact with others.
• Goal - gym workout is best for extreme muscle conditioning and more guided training.
• Cost - gyms have upfront membership fees which may cost a little more but could come with some perks like free coaching and many others.

Benefits of Home Fitness as well

Choosing between gym workouts and home fitness depends on your preferences. If you want guided muscle conditioning and have some extra cash to spare, go for a gym workout. But if you want to save money and have convenient ways to exercise during this pandemic, choose home fitness.^4,5

Most Popular and Common Home Fitness Equipment

Home fitness is becoming the new normal of exercise, and starting out shouldn’t be that complicated. Your workout routines may vary depending on your fitness goal. These exercises may only use your body weight or may also require a few equipment to do them correctly. Having these common fitness equipment should be really helpful for your workout:

• Exercise mat - this serves as your platform to do floor-based and stretching exercises like yoga and pilates
• Skipping rope - for various HIIT and cardio workouts
• Suspension trainers - for resistance exercises⁸
• Gym rings - for pull-up routines
• Medicine ball - for improving your muscle coordination and balance⁹
• Dumbbells - for general strengthening and making exercises more challenging like squats and hang cleans¹⁰
• Kettlebell - for developing grip strength¹⁰
• Foam roller - for deep-tissue stimulation for your recovery

If you want to work out specific muscle groups and get the best results, you can start adding a few gym apparatus to your home workout setup. But for the essential home fitness equipment, you may check these gym rings, suspension trainers, and foam rollers.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we exercise. It caused various gyms and fitness centers to shut down temporarily to avoid the spread of the virus. However negative this situation may be, this still gives us a new opportunity to start our home fitness journey—an accessible way to get in shape for busy individuals. This way, we don’t have to commute just to workout and we have the freedom to exercise anytime, without the risk of getting the virus.