Despite the pandemic recently forcing everyone indoors, I’ve been a huge fan of working out at home for awhile now! I know it’s not for everyone, but as a new mom, I’ve found at home workouts to be my jam. It all started when I was diagnosed with SPD and a short cervix during my pregnancy. I wanted to keep moving (albeit very gently), and found it easier to take things at my own pace in the comfort of my own home rather than modifying on the fly in a class. As a former boutique group fitness junkie, I began to really enjoy the flexibility in time and effort.
After EJ was born, I was excited to run back to exercising in person, once I was ready of course. I craved normality and my old self. But the truth is, I’m not quite ever going to be my old self again. In the few months I had between working out postpartum and the pandemic, I just couldn’t get my butt out the door and in class more than one or two times a week. Between the exhaustion of new motherhood and finite childcare resources, I didn’t have the time nor energy to exercise much outside of the home. Then covid hit, and it didn’t really matter anyway.
While many gyms and studios have opened up their doors again, I personally don’t feel comfortable attending right now. I also really love my at home set up! Over the past year I’ve really vamped it up invested in amazing essentials. I’m super pumped to share my favorite basic must haves with you!
- Bala Bangles – Lightweight, comfortable and multi-use (wrist, ankle, handheld etc). Comes in 1lb or 2lbs each. I like to rock the 2lb version for a little extra oomph during Pilates. Also great to wear during your cardio workouts!
- Resistance Bands – Never under estimate the power of a 10 minute booty band workout. Great for travel as they’re so compact.
- Fitness Mat – This mat has held up great over the years. It’s not too heavy or thick, doesn’t slide around, and barely has any signs wear and tear.
- Mini Exercise Ball – Whether it’s Pilates, Yoga, or Barre, this ball is a must-have for core strengthening exercises and balance.
- Adjustable Kettlebell – Ok, so this is my husbands buy, but I am truly obsessed! I love the muscle definition I get from lifting heavy weights, and paired with the Bala bangles I can get even more precise with how much weight I want to use.
- Neoprene dumbbells – My very first weight set! The range of weight is perfect. I’ll use the 3lb weights for high repetition exercises and the 8lb weights for a slow and controlled burn. And, yes, I also use my Bala Bangles with them which allows me to get 7lb and 10lb options as well.
- Foam Roller – This one is recommended by my prenatal chiropractor, Dr. Randi Jaffe, who is such a gem! Foam rollers come varying degrees of rigidity and this one is definitely on the firmer side. At first it can be a bit much, but after repeated use, your body will adjust. I swear regular foam rolling has been a huge help with mobility, flexibility and recovery.
- Woven Basket – This is our fun basket to hold everything together! It literally fits everything listed here except for the kettlebell. We’ve also thrown some old hand towels in there to keep the sweat in check. A great way to keep everything neat and in one place.
Not picture above is our Peloton (here’s my code for $100 off: C6ZDYE). I’m big into cardio, and loathe running. Out of all of the ways I’ve tried to get my cardio on at home, this is by far my favorite. I realize that getting a Peloton bike may not be in everyone’s budget, but here’s a little secret: their classes can actually work with any exercise bike. All you have to do is get a membership and stream the classes on any screen while you ride.
Automatic Ad Middle Of Content
These are all products that I already use myself and love. If you purchase through my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Just an easy way to support, if you so choose.
As always, thank you so much for checking this out! Drop me a line below or on Instagram if you love any of these products too!