Swag Bag!
Gym Equipment. What do you need?
So we will approach this in two ways. Someone who already has access to a full gym and someone who has absolutely nothing.
Home Gym Ideas:
Barbell/Dumbbell/Resistance Bands:
The first thing you will need is some sort of external loading. This can come in the form of resistance bands or dumbbells/ plates or a barbell. Whichever you choose make sure it coincides with the program that you have built out for yourself or your coach can help you plan for.
Racks/Rigs:
Depending on your space you might need something minimal for lifting then a basic rack is a great place to start. If you are going to be sharing the space or need something a little more sturdy for gymnastic or bodyweight exercising I recommend a power rack of sorts to fit your needs.
Benches/Accessories:
To get the most out of your weight and rack you should consider an incline bench. The multiple position can be used for a strong variety of exercises. Another thing I would recommend would be some sort of Gymnastic Ring or TRX set up for similar reasons of being able to adjust your pulling and pressing angles in gymnastics Lastly, adding in a landmine attachment would be a great blend of bother worlds. Squatting, pulling, hinging, pressing, rotating, or lunging can be done easily with this wonder. As long as you have a barbell for it.
Have a home gym already or access to one? Great! Here is what you should consider.
Shoes:
Simply this is the platform for your performance. Your base of support and where almost all movements are based. Granted you have no major feet issues I would recommend a flat stiffer shoe or no shoes at all for the reasons above. Solid base, minimal flex, and allowing your foot to be in a good position to work in balance with the rest of your body. Vans, Chucks, Metcons, Nanos, and yes even Nobulls are all great options. Consider your function and figure out what works best for you.
Straps:
When your grip becomes an issue for an exercise that isn't meant to work your forearms it’s time to consider lifting straps. They can allow for the focus being placed into the working muscle groups rather than having a cliff hanger fingertip grip. If you don’t have straps things to consider would be chalk, or hook grip.
Water Bottle:
Seems simple but it’s a good idea to have a container that is portable and works well for what you need. Most gyms will have a filling station of some sort. Allowing your body to have that water on the ready will only make your performance better. Besides, no one likes riding an assault bike with a cottonmouth.
These are the basics for getting started. It doesn’t need to be anything spectacular. You really don’t need anything to get started but an idea of what you are doing it for. With that direction you can get a plan going to begin the process of progress.
