Top 10 Pieces of Workout Equipment
by Yuri in Client Journeys
If you go to the gym and spend most of your time on the weight training machines, then this post will shed some light on what you should be doing instead.
I’m going to highlight 10 of my favourite pieces of workout equipment for helping you train a like an athlete and thus getting in the best shape of your life!
Some of them you’ll have easy access to, while others may be more difficult to come by depending on where you workout.
1. Jump Rope
Skipping is one of the best forms of exercise you can get – and you can do it anywhere! Jumping rope is fantastic for developing greater cardiovascular endurance while shaping and toning your arms and calves as well.
The best part is that it’s totally portable. Just throw it in your knapsack, suitcase, or carry it with you to the park for a great 10-minute interval workout!
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2. Kettlebell
In case you haven’t caught onto the kettlebell workout wave, now’s your chance. Kettlebells (KB) are such a unique of training your body because they allow flowing functional movements (ie. KB swings) that emphasize natural movement and power development.
They are also much different from dumbbells because of their weight distribution and “slippery” handle which requires much greater grip strength.
I personally think everyone should have a kettlebell because you can use it anywhere – at home, in the park, in the gym – anywhere!
I have 2 KBs that weigh 18kg and 24 kg which allow me to challenge my body through whole variety of awesome exercises!
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3. Dumbbells
If you’re working out, you’ve probably used dumbbells at some point, right? At least I hope so.
They are much more effective than using machines as they focus on unilateral strength development, joint stabilization, and enhance activation of your core muscles, especially when only using one dumbbell at a time.
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4. Stability Ball
Oh, the good old stability ball. This big round bouncy ball is yet another piece of workout equipment that is so versatile. You can sit on it, lie on it, stand on it – pretty do anything on it.
It’s fantastic for core training and enhancing the challenge and stability requirements for any given exercise.
The key is to find a ball that is well inflated (by that I mean solid) which allows your thighs to be parallel to the floor when sitting on it.
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5. Sandbag
Ok, this is a real “underground” tool but if you have access to one then use it. Sandbags are amazing for creating unevenly loaded lifts and movements, which in turn greatly increases your core and overall body strength.
For instance, throw a sandbag over your shoulder an walk for 1-mile or do some sandbag cleans. Heck, you can even throw sandbags to work on your power.
Yes, they are hard to come by, but if you have the chance to use one, then give it a go!
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6. Resistance Band
This is by far one of my favourite traveling workout tools. Just throw it in your suitcase and go!
Resistance bands are great because they challenge your muscles differently from traditional free weights. How you ask?
Well, instead of an exercise getting easier near the end range of motion (as is seen when lifting dumbbells), the resistance band increases in tension as it stretches. This forces your muscles to work much harder through the entire range of motion.
If you want to build some serious strength then you can combine your dumbbell lifts with resistance bands. For instance, doing a biceps curls while holding dumbbells and a resistance band at the same time will give your muscles a serious training effect!
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7. Medicine Ball
I love training for power. Traditional weights don’t allow you to do that because they require you to slow down the movement near the end range.
However, with med balls, you can simply accelerate and throw them as forcefully as possible!
They are amazing for core training and lower body power exercises like medicine tosses, reverse tosses, and so many others.
I use them a lot with the men’s soccer team at U of T for developing greater leg power and improving vertical.
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8. Squat Rack
If you’re in a gym or have a home gym you need to have a squat rack (with a barbell and weights obviously).
Squats and other compound movements like front squats, deadlifts, cleans, and snatches, are some of the most effective exercises (for strength and fat burning) that you can perform.
If there was only one big ticket item to invest in for a home gym – it would be the squat rack.
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9. Pull-up Bar
Pull-ups are the mother of all pulling exercises. If you want stronger arms and a beautifully (and naturally) shaped back, then do more pull-ups. If you want to challenge your strength, then give them a shot as well.
A pull-up bar offers a lot of versatility too because not only can you do a whole variety of pull-ups, but you can also train your core with some pretty intense movements as well.
Even workout equipment like the Perfect Pull-Up, which allows you to set up a pull-up bar in your doorway, are amazing alternatives for those home workout fanatics.
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10. Foam Roller
Last but not least – the foam roller!
You’ve trained hard and now your muscles are tight, fatigued, and plump with lactic acid. Well, bring in the foam roller for massaging out all your kinks and muscular tension.
I guarantee that if you spend 10 minutes per day rolling out your muscles on the foam roller you will feel so much looser and your muscles will perform so much better as they will have less toxic build-up within them!
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