My Favorite Home Gym Essentials & Recovery Must-Haves

New Year, new moves! Whether you’re diving into fitness for the first time or leveling up your routine, having a home gym setup tailored to your goals can make all the difference. Over the years, Kris and I have built our own little wellness sanctuary at home, and it’s been a game-changer.

No home gym is complete without a cheesy inspirational decal on the wall, our gym motto “Fu*k Average, Be Legendary” 😉

Here’s my list of favorite home gym equipment that keeps us motivated, moving, and feeling strong!

The Big Players

Peloton Tread & Bike: Cardio is so much better with Peloton’s immersive workouts. The Tread is perfect for interval runs, and the Bike’s cycling classes keep me sweating and smiling.
Rogue Weight Rack & Bench: The gold standard in strength training equipment. Plus, having a designated spot for weights keeps our space organized.

Strength & Resistance

Dumbbells: A must-have for everything from basic lifts to high-intensity workouts. Versatile, efficient, and effective. We have these Amazon Basic Dumbbells from 5lb to 50lbs and they are great!
Kettlebells: Supports a wide range of resistance training exercises. We also love the Amazon Basic Cast Iron Kettlebells.
Resistance Bands: These are my go-to for activating muscles before a workout or adding extra burn to lower-body exercises.
Weighted Slam Balls: Nothing relieves stress like slamming a 20lb weighted ball into the ground. Trust me, it’s a killer workout.

Mindful Movement

Yoga Mat & Blocks: A non-slip yoga mat is essential for everything from stretching to a quick HIIT workout.
Pilates Ankle Weights & Ball: These little additions make Pilates workouts much more challenging.
Bosu Ball: Great for balance training, core work, and leveling up squats and push-ups.
TRX: Perfect for low-impact full body exercises, stretching, and improving mobility. The TRX system is versatile and great for building core strength and stability within a small space.
Jump Rope: A childhood classic turned cardio powerhouse. Perfect for quick, heart-pumping workouts.

Recovery & Mobility Must-Haves

Foam Roller: A classic for a reason. Foam rollers are perfect for myofascial release, easing muscle tightness, and improving blood flow. Opt for a textured roller for targeting knots.
Stretching Strap: A simple yet effective tool for improving flexibility and range of motion. Perfect for targeting hamstrings, calves, and shoulders.
Massage Gun: A game-changer for recovery! Massage guns, like Theragun or Hypervolt, deliver percussive therapy to relieve soreness and improve circulation. I can’t live without mine!
Resistance Bands: Light bands are great for rehab and mobility exercises to gently strengthen stiff or injured muscles.
Compression: For the ultimate recovery splurge, try the Normatec compression recovery boots. They use dynamic air compression to reduce inflammation and speed up muscle recovery. I use mine at least twice a week! They even have calf sleeves (for all my runners) and a heated back wrap (must for back pain) for full body recovery.
Infrared Sauna: If you’re serious about recovery, consider adding an infrared sauna blanket to your recovery toolkit. It’s perfect for detoxifying, reducing inflammation, and relaxing tight muscles.
Tiger Balm: This timeless remedy is a lifesaver for sore muscles and stiff joints. A little goes a long way in soothing aches after an intense workout.
Bath Soak: Treat yourself to a magnesium bath soak. Perfect for reducing muscle soreness and promoting deep relaxation after a tough day or workout.

Having this setup at home has made it so much easier to fit in a workout, whether it’s a super busy day or crazy weather – I can always workout. Whether I’m crushing a Peloton class, lifting weights, or just stretching it out after a long day, these tools make it easy to stay consistent even on the busiest days.

What’s in your dream home gym? Let me know your favorites—or what you’re eyeing to add next (I’d love to add a rower)—because fitness is always better with friends cheering each other on. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to a gym space or have all the latest fancy equipment. Keep in mind, this took us years to accumulate the equipment that we wanted. Just make use of whatever space and equipment you have access too…Team No Excuses!

DON’T FORGET! Working out is not just about looking good, it’s about making sure you are healthy and mobile for not only yourself but your family as well. Health = Wealth.

Let’s make this year our healthiest and strongest yet! 💪

+ Shop all my Home Gym Essentials & Recovery Must-Haves

++ Try a 7-day trial plus 1 month free for The Sculpt Society app, my favorite at-home Pilates & Sculpt workout!

Gina