18 Home Gym Essentials For Seniors
Written by: RJ Winters
December 18, 2017
What It Is
Seniors fitness equipment includes tools of the trade that aid in functional movement, mobility, flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance.
Why It's Importance
Functional training deals with movements that aid with everyday life. These include doing exercises that help with everyday tasks like getting up from a chair or carrying the groceries into the house. As we age our range of motion begins to diminish. Having the appropriate equipment can aid you through full exercise movements.
Converting your spare room into a home gym? Choose equipment that both assists and challenges you with various basic movements. A chair or bench can help stabilize you with a squat. A pilates ring can help to power up a core twist.
How To Do It
Find a room in your house with adequate space. You need to be able to set up your big equipment and still have room to move around. This is a list of exercise equipment that will help you have an all around functional gym.
- Dowel Rod
- Fitness Ball
- Basketball
- Pilates Ring
- Yoga Blocks
- Yoga Mat
- Yoga Straps
- Massage Ball
- Trigger Point Cane
- Foam Roller
- Suspension Trainer
- Resistance Bands
- Free Weights
- Balance Trainer
- Adjustable Step
- Chair or Bench
- Bike Machine
- Treadmill Machine
Power It Up
Use the balance trainer or adjustable step to power up your lower body exercises. Remember to place them near the wall or other stable structure to help you. Also, start with the basics before you try more complicated exercise movements.
Resistance equipment like free weights and resistance bands will make simple movements a little more difficult. You want to find a weight range that challenges you but also allows for full range of motion. Most home gyms for functional training have a range from 1lb to 30lbs.
Modify It
Yoga blocks and straps will aid with flexibility training. Use the blocks to adjust the range of your exercise by stacking them to the desired height. Yoga straps will aid in range of motion for an exercise when you do not have the ability yet to perform the physical task.
Suspension trainers and basketballs can be used to modify a variety of exercises. Use a suspension trainer to help with exercises where you need slight support. Basketballs are an excellent light weight ball to use for medicine ball exercises.
Sole Shaping Blog is written by a nationally certified personal trainer, however, the topics and information given might not be specific for your health and wellness needs. The blog is intended for informational purposes only and not direct health advice. Consult with a doctor before beginning an exercise program or changing your nutritional diet. The blog is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but omissions, errors or mistakes may occur.
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