As COVID subvariants and Health Risk Notices (HRN) upend the routine of daily life, gym workouts included, you could be forgiven for almost throwing the towel in on fitness.
If however, you’re looking to sustain the momentum of movement and up your strength, these home gym fitness essentials—from weights to recovery balls—will keep you and your mental health in good stead in these consistently exhausting times.
“Where there is movement, there is health. As dynamic beings, we need to consistently stay active or take more initiative when it comes to taking care of our body and well being,” explains Kathy Gabriel, craniosacral therapist and yoga practitioner. “Staying active has great benefits for our mental and emotional state.”
This may be easier said than done, especially if you’re stuck in a rut where fitness is concerned. To restart your workout and sustain the momentum and motivation, Gabriel recommends keeping it “simple and realistic.”
“If you sit at your desk for eight to 10 hours at a stretch, it is fundamentally quite destructive and counterproductive to get the body to suddenly run a marathon or lift really heavy. This is also how injuries happen,” says Gabriel.
“If you’re finding it hard to fit a routine in, keep your goals really simple; you don’t need to run 5 km at a go, you can go for a leisurely stroll or even two to 10 minutes around the block can do wonders for your brain, body and soul.
“Fit it into a pre-existing routine. So for example, if you would like to fit a run in, run to the grocery store to pick up your daily essentials. If you are commuting to work, take the stairs on the MRT/when you get home from work or go to the office etc. You’re basically sneaking it into your everyday life so it doesn’t feel like a chore or an arduous task especially when one is faced with a lot of inertia or completely unmotivated to move.”
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lululemon Release and Recover Ball Set
Whether you’re feeling tight and tense after your workout or a day spent at your desk, these dense foam and rubber-blend balls help to target and melt tension in hardworking muscles. Use the large ball to hone in on the glutes, quads and lats; the medium ball for areas such as the back of the neck and shoulders as well as calves; and the small ball to soothe forearms and feet.
lululemon Release and Recover Ball Set, $48, available at lululemon
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Bala Beam
Offered in 6.8kg and 11.5kg weights, Bala’s sculptural design offers a workout that’s focused on concentrated and compound movements. Its uber aesthetic yet functional design means you can press, row, curl, squat and more your way to better balance, strength, endurance and tone.
Bala Beam, $149, available at Bala
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Apple Watch Series 7
Gauge your blood oxygen levels, get an ECG reading on-the-go or even pause for a mindful moment—it’s all possible with the Apple Watch Series 7. And because recovery is every bit as essential as closing those workout rings, this handy holistic health coach on your wrist tracks your sleep and encourages better sleep hygiene.
Apple Watch Series 7, from $599, available at Apple
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Pent Lova Luxury Kettlebell with Solid Wood Stand
Move over neoprene weights, elevated fitness tools are here to stay with Pent. No luxe home gym should be without this series of objet d’art kettlebells. Made of American oiled walnut wood and fixed steel, the weights come in stainless steel or bronze, with handles in either natural walnut or black ash wood.
Pent Lova Luxury Kettlebell with Solid Wood Stand, US$552, available at Pent
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Band of Sisters White Terrazzo Fabric Booty Band Exercise Band
Train in style with this medium-intensity resistance band. From squats to donkey kicks and more, this machine-washable non-slip band will help you feel the burn as you workout those glutes, thighs and quads.
Band of Sisters White Terrazzo Fabric Booty Band Exercise Band, $27.90, available at Band of Sisters
