The only home gym you’ll ever need fits right into a book bag.
I’m not kidding.
If you’re a regular person (not a professional athlete), who’s short on time, busy with life, and wants the maximum results from their fitness program - you need a minimalist home gym. A gym that you can take with you anywhere. A home gym in a bag.
I’ve been a fitness/movement and meditation teacher for 15 years, and the VAST MAJORITY of that time has been spent training people with equipment that fits into a book bag.
I’ve helped countless personal training clients rehab injuries, avoid surgeries, lose body fat, get WAY stronger, and improve their over all quality of life - while training them in less than ideal locations, all with some very basic and portable equipment.
Not only has this portable gym served me very well with my in person clients, it’s also been essential for getting my online training clients the results they need from the comfort of their own homes.
I’ve spoken about the benefits of a portable gym in depth in my ebook “The Ronin Method”, but if you haven’t read that I’ll list some here. Having a home gym that is portable, simple, cost effective, and versatile is where it’s at if you wish to …
Eliminate the need for a gym membership
Save money on costly home equipment
Save time by removing the need to travel to a gym
Be able to train anywhere you travel - without the need for a gym
Fit in high quality workouts in small pockets of free time (excellent for busy parents and business owners)
Eliminate the need for specialized equipment, as the equipment in your minimalist home gym is versatile
Remove many obstacles that stand in the way of getting in a high quality workout
It doesn’t take much to get into outstanding shape, improve your injuries, and get a body that feels and looks they way you want.
I know that can be hard to believe.
But you DON’T NEED …
New shoes
Special shorts
Cute yoga pants/shirts
A gym membership
Expensive home equipment
OR … Lots of time
You just need a few minutes a week, performing some highly effective minimalist workouts, using some simple equipment that costs hardly anything at all.
I know this because it’s how I train myself and how I train my clients. It works for me, it works for them, and it can work for you too.
Here’s 5 essentials I would suggest everyone own, and keep in their bag, for their portable “home gym” …
1.) Suspension Trainer - Cost $50 - $200
A suspension trainer is something I suggest every client have in their home gym. A TRX is the most popular option, but there are plenty of cheap and effective ones on the market. As long as it’s easy to adjust and can be used at home hung over a door - you’re good. This simple piece of equipment allows for countless exercises. A set of gymnastics rings could also work as well.
The most important thing about a suspension trainer is that it allows you to perform pulling movements - something that most people NEED BADLY, and most bodyweight based workouts are missing.
Not only is a suspension trainer versatile - it’s small, it’s light, and can be rolled up to fit into a tiny bag or purse.
2.) Yoga Strap - Cost $12-$20
A quality yoga strap is one of the most versatile and portable pieces of equipment ever and an essential to your home gym.
It can be used to help deliver seriously intense isometric exercises, assist in bodyweight based movements, lash weights together for loaded carries and more.
I’ve delivered entire workouts to online clients, that progressed in difficulty over weeks, using only bodyweight movements and a yoga strap for isometrics. I can’t stress enough how awesome this simple piece of equipment is when you use a little creativity.
3.) Jump Stretch Bands - Cost $10 - $50
Jump stretch bands come in a variety of sizes and can provide anywhere from 10lbs up to 17lbs of resistance. With a few different sized jump stretch bands (I usually suggest a small, medium small, and a medium band) you’ll have a set of bands that can act assist in …
improving strength
increasing the difficulty of bodyweight exercises
reducing the difficulty of bodyweight exercises
challenging core stability
rehabbing injuries
improving mobility
assisting in warm ups
… and much more. They’re light, portable, tough, versatile , and cheap. Another essential item in your portable home gym.
4.) Yoga Block - Cost $10 - $20
The simple yoga block can be used in a variety of ways that will help enhance your minimalist workouts. I like the foam ones, but you might opt for the more expensive cork blocks … both are fine. Some of the ways I find myself using yoga blocks during training sessions include …
as a tool for isometrics
using the yoga block to better align joints during exercises
as a small step
placing them on a chair/bench to adjust the height of the seat
… just to name a few.
5.) 6 Foot Wooden Dowel - Cost $10 - $20
Ok, so this one doesn’t fit into a bag … it will be left at home unless you don’t mind using it as a walking stick. I mean, fuck it, you’ll get some weird looks … but your training will be on point!
I guess, just think of the 6 foot wooden dowel as an honourable mention in my list of essentials.
The dowel can help you …
assist balance
reduce the difficulty of bodyweight exercises
perform isometric exercises
increase mobility
improve core stability
increase awareness of joint positioning and alignment
…and a lot more. I usually recommend my clients pick one up from their local hardware store, it stashes away easily into a corner of a room or in a closet. One things for sure, the dowel will be a go-to piece of equipment in your portable home gym.
-Tim
P.S.
If you want to get into the best shape of your life, in minutes a week, using hardy any equipment - check out “The Ronin Method” ebook . It will teach you all of that and more - it’s the last workout you’ll ever need.