• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Black Women in Hollywood
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • News
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • Black Women in Hollywood
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Health & Wellness

How to Build Your Own At-Home Gym

You don't need a fancy gym membership or a mega home gym if you don’t have the space or proper finances to make it happen. If you find yourself ready to take your workout up a notch, these 7 easy essential items are all you need for a full-body workout at home.

By Francheska Medina of Hey Fran He · October 24, 2015October 27, 2020
01
Dumbbells

Dumbbells are small and inexpensive yet extremely effective when it comes to providing strength-training results. Incorporating small weights into your workouts will strengthen your cardiovascular system, help you burn more calories and increase your muscle mass.

02
Kettlebells

Is your goal to burn more fat? Then the kettlebell may be more effective than the more traditional dumbbell. The shape allows for higher and more intense repetitions in a shorter amount of time, targeting more muscles at a time, and in turn increasing your body’s fat-burning metabolism.

03
Resistance Bands

If the idea of weights around the house doesn’t sit well with you, you can also try resistance bands. You can get the same intense strength training workout and then just fold them up and put them away in the closet. Not to mention the ability to throw them in your bag and take them anywhere you’d like.

04
Jump Rope

When I don’t have time to hit the treadmill or squeeze in an outdoor run, my jump rope comes in handy as an intense cardiovascular workout. It is equally as incredible for fat burning and muscle toning. I usually turn on my favorite high-energy song and try to jump, non-stop, until it ends. Amazing workout!

05
Yoga Mat

Incorporating yoga into your fitness routine will not only help reduce stress levels but will vastly improve your flexibility, blood circulation and overall posture. The practice is amazing for weight loss and muscle toning, as well. Even those who struggle with insomnia find yoga improves their condition and helps them get some Zzz’s.

06
Exercise Ball

Are you looking to target and tone your abs? Consider buying an exercise ball. Incorporating one into your workouts will help strengthen your core muscles and overall balance. If you work at a desk job, I would even suggest swapping out your chair for one as it’s Incredible for your posture.

07
Exercise Clothes

Ladies, toss out those old sweatpants! Having cute workout wear at home can serve as an extra incentive to get up and break a sweat. Not interested in spending tons of money on expensive workout apparel and footwear? You don’t have to! Sign up for Planet Gear and receive daily deals in your inbox (or as often as you’d like) to get up to 70% off retail price. Think of it as the fitness version of Groupon. 

08
Connect with Francheska

Francheska Medina is the creator and editor of Hey Fran Hey, a health, fitness and hair blog that focuses on natural, wholesome living with a bohemian twist. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Read More

Money & Career
How Nicole Russell Is Empowering Children Across The Globe â...
Culture
20 Poets You Should Know
Black Celeb Couples
Ashanti Responds To Rumors That She's Dating Flo Rida
Black Celeb Couples
Eddie George Named Head Coach Of HBCU Tennessee State Univer...
Entrepreneurship
These Teen Brothers Are The Geniuses Behind This Popular Mum...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now