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304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Some of the items included are easy to use for both experienced and new exercisers. I recommend reaching out to a personal trainer or someone who knows their way around a gym to show you how to use some equipment you’re not familiar with.
Suspension coach: the Suspension coach It is a great tool that you can use as a beginner, or if you are experienced, you can use it to make other body weight exercises harder or easier. It has adjustable straps and requires hanging an anchor above the door frame or having a strong, long horizontal bar (Like a drag strip) to cut it. The straps can be adjusted to suit the type of exercise you are doing. Luke Zucchi, A Personal trainer at the center The great thing about suspension trainers, he says, is that they engage multiple muscle groups at once while also improving core stability. “The suspension trainer is great for all skill levels, as you can use it to increase the difficulty of the exercise or it can be used to decrease the difficulty of the exercise,” he explains. So, for beginners, this is a good tool to use if you need extra support while doing this SquattingLunges and inverted rows. For experienced users, you can challenge your upper body with push-ups, tricep presses, bicep curls, inversions, and even adding a kettlebell or dumbbells.
This is the hanging device I have at home that I usually hang behind the door to use.
Yoga food: The yoga mat takes up little space and can be used for bodyweight or weightlifting exercises as well as stretching, Pilates and yoga. You can also easily move it if you want to take it with you when traveling. Zocchi recommends considering the thickness, material, texture and size of your yoga mat. “The thickness of the mat will determine how comfortable and supportive the mat will be on your body, while the material and texture will help ensure you have a non-slip mat on all surfaces, especially after a sweaty workout,” he explains. Additionally, he points out that standard mats are typically 68-72 inches long, so depending on your height, you can choose the most comfortable yoga mat for your height.
The yoga mat can be used for different activities and does not take up much space.
Jump rope: The same goes for a jump rope that’s small enough to put in your gym bag and take to the park or use indoors. It’s an easy way to do cardio and create circuits using your body weight or through strength exercises. When purchasing a jump rope, Zocchi recommends considering these factors: handles, length, and weight. “The handles should have a comfortable grip to prevent hand fatigue, while the length of the rope should be able to accommodate your height,” he explains. Also keep in mind that the heavier the jump rope, the more resistance it provides during a difficult workout.
The jump rope is portable and easy to use indoors and outdoors.
Kettlebell: If you’re new to the Kettlebell, this piece of equipment is a good alternative to dumbbells and can also be used to do squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, and core exercises. The Kettlebell is designed like a cast iron cannon ball with a handle in the middle, so when you hold it, the weight is evenly distributed in your hand, whereas with dumbbells the weight is on each end. “It’s important to buy a bell with a good grip, because a soft, slippery handle can make it difficult to maintain a secure grip,” Zucchi says. It’s a good tool for strength training, but if you want to take things up a notch, you can use it for cardio and learn from a certified Kettlebell instructor how to do kettlebell swings, cleans, snatches, and more to get a workout in. Full body workout.
Kettlebells can be used for strength and cardio training.
Dumbbell: If you are using dumbbells, it is a good idea to have several pairs. “The weight sizes you should have depend on your fitness level, but we generally recommend having light, medium, and heavy weights so you can challenge yourself at all levels,” Zucchi says. You can also opt for adjustable dumbbells if you prefer since they tend to offer a variety of weights (usually 5 to 50 pounds) while also saving space. Having these options allows you to easily step back and advance exercises as needed.
The dumbbell holder keeps your weights stored neatly and easily accessible.
Resistance bands: I have taken into account that perhaps not everyone has the space to own dumbbells or barbells, and an alternative could be resistance bands. Resistance bands come in a variety of weights and lengths. Zocchi says when shopping for a resistance band, it’s important to look for three things: resistance level, material, and length/width. “Lighter resistance bands are great for beginners or exercises focused on mobility and rehabilitation, while heavier bands provide more resistance for strength training,” he explains. Resistance bands are usually made of rubber, latex, or cloth. “Rubber resistance bands tend to break easily during exercises, so the best option for minimal wear is a fabric option,” Zucchi says. I personally keep resistance bands both long and small because they are an easy way to make most exercises more difficult or to warm up.
Resistance bands come in long and short shapes and have different weights.
Adjustable weight bench: If you have the space, an adjustable weight bench is a complement to the dumbbells, and you can use it to do exercises like lying chest presses, bent-over dumbbell rows, triceps curls and other upper body exercises on an incline or flat. Most adjustable tools allow you to fold them flat or into a smaller size for easy storage. When shopping for an adjustable weight bench, Zocchi says it’s important to consider stability, adjustability, padding, and comfort.
Medicine ball: A medicine ball is a weighted ball wrapped in leather and comes in different weights, so choosing the right ball depends on what you are using it for. Typically, medicine balls are used to build strength, so you want something that’s easy for you to control quickly but still challenging enough. These types of explosive movements include exercises like wall balls, putts, and mid-ball chops.
You can practice some serious strength moves with a medicine ball.
Cardio Equipment: Finally, some people just want a piece of equipment that they can hop on and move around. This is where owning a piece of cardio equipment can come in handy. Choose one based on the capacity of the space you have and the one you are likely to use. If you get bored of going at one pace on an indoor bike, treadmill, rower or elliptical, you can always come up with circuits to do in less than 30 minutes. This may include a quick jog on the machine followed by a rest period and some bodyweight exercises or weightlifting exercises, repeated several times.
The Peloton Tread is the perfect treadmill to enjoy if you love doing interval training.