How to Set Up Your Ideal Home Gym

“With the low-budget option, you’re spending on tools to help you build strength, stability/balance, flexibility, and mobility,” says Gretchen Zelek, a fitness instructor in Los Angeles. At this price, the cardio aspect will be simple, often involving moves like jumping jacks or marching in place.

In addition to the equipment listed here, you may want to have a TV or laptop in your gym area so that you can use a workout app or turn on your favorite show. It’s also nice to have a mirror to check your form, ample lighting, and good ventilation, says Ayland Letsinger, PhD, who chairs the Strategic Health Initiative on Aging for the American College of Sports Medicine. While doing strength moves, you can sit on a stability ball, perch on a sturdy chair, or simply stand.

Resistance bands/tubes ($18): These large rubber bands increase in resistance the more you stretch them. You can usually buy them in sets of thin to thick, reflecting different difficulty levels, similar to having a set of dumbbells except they’re much cheaper. Look for bands with handles, which are easier to grip than flat bands. They can be useful for some physical therapy moves as well.

Stability ball ($30): These inflatable balls can function as a weight bench and an excellent tool for various resistance exercises, especially core moves, Holland says. They range in size, so get one that suits your height. The wobble aspect of using a ball means you have to engage more core muscles to keep yourself stable.

Ropeless jump rope ($10): Weight-bearing exercises help keep bones strong, and jumping rope burns about 12 calories per minute (roughly twice as much as walking). Jumping rope is generally an outdoor activity, but you can do the same motion without the actual rope (so there’s no tripping).

Balance pad ($27): To help build balance, stand on this rectangular block of foam during strength moves. Or try closing your eyes for 30 to 60 seconds while balancing on one foot.

Stretching strap ($16): If better flexibility is one of your goals, a stretching strap can come in handy. You simply hook the center or one of the built-in loops around your foot or leg (there are different types of straps) and use your hands to adjust the intensity of the stretch.

Mat ($20-$100+): You don’t absolutely need a mat, but you might not enjoy lying on the floor. A simple yoga mat will give you a clean, slightly cushioned spot for strength moves and stretches.

How to Use This Setup
A circuit-style approach can keep you engaged and your heart rate elevated.

Here’s how it works: After warming up with a few minutes of cardio (jumping jacks, marching in place, jumping rope, etc.), do a set (10 to 12 reps) of a strength move (with resistance bands, for example), then move on to another exercise (like pushups), and then another. After the last rep of the third move, do another 30 seconds to a minute of cardio. If you need rest between sets, take a minute.

Continue with this pattern for 20 to 30 minutes (or longer), then use the strap to help you stretch when you’re finished.

Yoga mat:
Iuga Pro Non-Slip Yoga Mat ($60-$66)
Shop: Amazon

Resistance bands:
First Place Safety Toners ($16-$24)
Shop: Perform Better

Balance pad:
ProsourceFit Exercise Balance Pad ($27)
Shop: Amazon, Home Depot, ProsourceFit, Walmart