Home fitness – getting in shape and staying fit means training in the comfort of their own private home gym. An home gym provides you with the opportunity to set your own workout schedule and set up home fitness routines to match your lifestyle. This saves you a great deal of time because you don’t need to travel to and from your gym. It saves you money over the long run and gives you the privacy that you want for a concentrated and time efficient workout session without sharing the equipment with a lot of gym members.
With a home gym you have many benefits over a gym membership such as…
- waiting in line to use the equipment is no longer an issue,
- concerns about using equipment that has been abused by members
- no shouting or other loud noises to interfere with your training
- no equipment that needs to be wiped down after someone else used it
It’s easy to see why having a private home gym set up is the dream of so many people.
Still, with all of the benefits of having a home gym set up, if the gym is not setup correctly, many people fall into the trap of having equipment that is never used. We probably all know someone who had purchased a treadmill with great intentions and then only used it for a clothes hanger. Here are 5 Key Cardio Machines To Choose For The Best Home Gym so that you avoid the trap of not using your equipment and stay on your path to health and fitness.
Cardiovascular conditioning keeps your heart and lungs in shape and is an essential element to any home fitness program.
With cardio machines and options available to the home market today, you can easily find the best cardio machine.
1. Treadmill
– Whether walking or running, motorized or nonmotorized, space saving, programmable, basic or loaded with features, a treadmill is the most used piece of cardio equipment in a gym due to its ease of use. When choosing the best treadmill you can find treadmills in different price points to fit your budget and your type of usage. To make sure that you get the right treadmill for you, look first at what you want the treadmill for.
How will a treadmill fit into your specific type of training?
If you are starting or continuing a walking program for your overall health and wellness and have no long term interest in running, a simple non-motorized, walking treadmill is the perfect choice. If you are engaging in a running program or are a runner who wants to maintain their running during bad weather days, you will want a treadmill that allows you to run at varying speeds and inclines to simulate your outdoor running experience and keep you on track for when the weather breaks and you’re back on the road.
Another important factor to consider regarding purchasing a treadmill is space. A folding treadmill is an excellent option if you have limited space and need to use your home gym for another purpose when it’s not being used as part of your home fitness routine. If you do get a folding treadmill, make sure that you keep it in a place where you can quickly and conveniently set it up for a workout session so that it doesn’t become a bother and hinder your desire to stay fit.
By keeping your treadmill free of any clutter and ready to go when you are, you will always maintain a vital element for your cardio training and not fall into the “clothesline trap.”
2. Elliptical
– If running on a treadmill is too hard on your knees or other joints, an elliptical, (also called a cross trainer), is an excellent choice for you. Ellipticals allow you to run without the joint stress associated with the pounding motion of running. They instead allow you to walk or run in an oblong (elliptical) pattern that simulates normal body movement with much less effort. Many ellipticals also offer the added benefit of upper body training by having arms that move forward and backward. This helps to increase your heart rate during your workout.
As with treadmills, when choosing the best elliptical you can find them with different features in several different price points. There are ellipticals with the hub in the front (front drive) or in the back (rear drive). If you are tighter on floor space and still want to enjoy the benefits of elliptical training, center drive ellipticals are an ideal fit for you and still offer the correct stride length.
3. Upright Bike
– If you prefer to get your cardiovascular conditioning done while seated, there are several upright bike options available for you. An upright bike is an indoor bike that often has a console that monitors your speed, calories burned, distance travelled and some other features. It’s a very safe to use piece of exercise equipment and requires very little room in your home gym. Many upright bikes feature wheels at the front to allow you to simply tip them forward and roll them out of the way until your next workout.
Spin Bikes
There are also upright bikes that are suited for specialized types of cycling training. A spin bike is an upright bike designed for fast cycling. Cycling fast to raise and lower your heart rate for an interval training workout. Interval training has been shown to be very effective for heart rate conditioning for overall cardiovascular health and fitness. Some spin bikes feature advanced handlebar ergonomics and seat positioning for a road bike feel.
Other types of upright bikes feature moving arms similar to ellipticals. The arms add an upper body training component to your workout. These bikes will have added resistance in the arms that increase the overall effect of the exercise which when choosing the best exercise bike these kinds of bikes might be better suited to your style of training.
Recumbent Bikes
Recumbent bikes are ideal if you have lower back issues. Comfort should be a major consideration with any home fitness training, no one wants to train if they are uncomfortable. The seat position combined with forward placement of the pedals reduce much of the stress in the lumbar region. A standard upright bike position can put stress on the lower back area
Ergometers are a type of bike that work either the upper or lower body. Some ergometers can be placed on a table where you pedal with your hands or place the unit on the floor and pedal with your feet. These models give you an inexpensive and space saving way to train pretty much anywhere in your home.
4. Stepper
– Steppers are another great cardio machine for your home gym. Steppers either work as two independent steps or a row of steps that continually revolve similar to an escalator. Steps are often counted on the monitor so that you can see and track your progress.
If you have knee issues, a stepper or step mill is not the best choice for you. The pressure on the joints is like walking up flights of stairs so could cause discomfort. If you have no knee issues and are looking for a strong cardio workout, a stepper is worth your consideration.
5. Rower
– The cardiovascular health benefits, overall body strength and conditioning have been documented for years. Rowing incorporates major muscle groups throughout the exercise movement while increasing your heart rate. Back muscles, biceps and legs all work together in making it an important element to your home fitness training schedule.
Depending upon the rower, you will have different types of resistance that you are rowing against to produce your result. Some rowers utilize hydraulics to increase resistance, while others employ magnetic, air flow or water for the resistance. Resistance is different between certain rowers, the end result is the same – to give you a vibrant cardio workout.
Rowers differ in size with some running on a long single rail with a single handle in the middle. Other rowing machines use a much smaller footprint with handles on each side of the seat.
Rowing allows you to exercise hard while in a seated position close to the floor. Rowing equipment provides a stable, safe way to train. Many different muscles are used in rowing and a good rower can accomplish your cardio and strength training quickly.