Setting Up a Home Gym in Your Basement

Basic Equipment

• There are four pieces of equipment that will start your home basement gym without breaking the bank and provide you with a full workout when you use them. A yoga mat is the first. This works for yoga, but also any floor exercises. An exercise ball works out your abs, and is used in a wide variety of ways, including stretching. Buy an exercise band, which is a piece of rubber tubing with handles on each end, for a full-body strength training system. Lastly, purchase a set of hand weights. Start with 5 to 10 pounds and move on from there as you gain strength.

Cardio Additions

• Large pieces of cardio equipment, like a treadmill or exercise bike, are viable choices if you have space in your home gym and the funds to purchase them. Other choices that are more economical, both monetarily and space-wise, include an aerobic step, a miniature trampoline, a jump rope or a piece of equipment that stabilizes your road bike for stationary use. Invest in at least two or three of these pieces of equipment so that you can add cross training to your home workout.

Strength Additions

• When you're ready to expand the strength training portion of your basement gym, start with a weight bench. This gives you options for exercises using your hand weights. A weight ball is excellent for use doing core strengthening exercises. A doorway pull-up bar is both cost effective and easy to install. Consider a set of kettle balls as an addition to your strength system, as well.

Extras

• A television and DVD player, along with a library of exercise videos, is a great addition to your home gym. Set up a portion of the gym just for these virtual classes. If your basement has an available wall, consider adding a large mirror or mirroring the whole area. Having a mirror handy makes it easier to judge your form, especially during strength-training exercises. Many people find music inspiring during workouts. Consider adding a sound system to your home gym.