Audiophile Review’s Guide to Working Out at Home

I was never a jock when I was young. I’d rather build a model airplane or listen to music rather than play baseball, much to my father’s chagrin (he was the manager of a little league baseball team). I didn’t even begin to go to the gym until I hit 30…I’d gained about fifty pounds during the decade between 20 and 30 and a comment by a masseur about my “soft muscles” lit a fire under my butt and I began to work out…lost 30 lbs. and began my regular regimen of workouts three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which I have continued with only minor interruptions since then…yeah, so I get a gold star…

But the COVID social distancing threw my workouts for a loop – my gym closed. Faced with the prospect of home workouts I looked into what I would need to continue working out at home. My house isn’t huge, and I don’t have any space for a home gym system unless I want to place it between my loudspeakers and my primary listening chair, which would be less than ideal…

So, I began to investigate workout solutions that did not involve big machines (or large outlays of cash). My first acquisition was an exercise mat. Even with carpets, doing anything that required putting all my weight on knees is not an option for me. My first outlay was $15 for a mat.

The next exercise tool I purchased was a large inflatable ball. This simple device is good for both stretching and strength exercises (especially abs). Lots of purchase options, but if one comes with a pump, if you don’t already own some way to pump it up, would be a savvy choice. Another $15 gone.

The next addition to my fitness group was a strength band set. This consists of five different strength bands with carbineers at either end, a door anchor, two handles, two leg clamps, some instructions and a carry bag. With this set I can do leg, torso, arm, chest, and shoulder strength exercises. These are priced from $25 to $45…look for ones with larger anchors and more robust leg clamps. I bought two sets because that way I have lots of spare parts (the Velcro on the leg straps will wear out) and enough bands to cover even my most herculean efforts.

The next, and for some, last workout tool I got was a TRX-style strap system with door anchor. This is basically two adjustable straps with arm grips that attaches to the top of a closed door. My work-out gym had a complete TRX system, and while I can’t do all the exercises available at the gym’s system I can, with this simple strap, do all the strap exercises I would usually do on a full-blown gym set-up…Cost for the “X-RT” system I got, was around $60.

One final piece of gear that is optional because it will boost the final tally of money spent past $100US, is a BOSU ball. BOSU stands for “Both sides up.” This device, which resembles a ball that has been cut in half with a platform across the open half, let you stand on either side, and will, with regular use vastly improve your balance.

You can also do strength and agility training with a BOSU. My balance has never been great, but after a couple of months with a BOSU it has much improved. My wife had a bout of vertigo a couple of years ago. Her balance used to be far better than mine, but after the disease, it wasn’t. A couple of months with the BOSU and once more her balance exceeds mine. I got a BOSU during a sale for $80.

So, there you have all the gear you will need to keep in shape… you only need to add is a brisk walk for five or ten minutes for the aerobic part of your fitness program (I know several older gents who only walk for exercise and it works great for them) and you should be stylin…and one more thing I recommend – turn on your music during the workout and make it LOUD…