The Three Things I’m Constantly Telling My Clients to Buy
I’m not one to promote consumerism, but let’s face it: when you’re working out, it’s nice to have a few tools in your toolbox. When working with clients, I almost always tell them to pick up these items for their home. Why? Because they’re inexpensive, lightweight and don’t take up a lot of room. They also give you a lot of bang for your buck. These items are especially great for people just starting a home workout routine and don’t want to invest a lot in expensive items they’re not sure they’re going to use. But even the experienced exerciser will find these useful, I promise.
Okay, enough blabber. What are they?
1) Mini bands. Go and buy a set of minibands right meow. You can get a set on Amazon (or anywhere else) for about $10. You can shell out more for fabric ones if you wish, but I find the latex ones more versatile.
Okay, so why do I like them? First off, these guys are GREAT for abduction (moving away from your body’s centerline) exercises: banded side-side walks, shoulder abduction, etc. It can be hard to create resistance for abduction movements unless you’re at the gym with a cable machine, so these are a great complement to your dumbbell set. No dumbbells? If you get a little creative, you can use these for curls, overhead presses, knee raises, you name it.
2) Yoga blocks. I don’t even really do yoga, but I use yoga blocks multiple times a week. If you want to add a little touch o’ balance challenge to your workouts, stand on a yoga block. Single-leg bicep curls on a yoga block? Check. Curtsey lunges off of a yoga block? Check. They look like solid blocks, but you may be surprised by how much your core has to work to keep stable on one of these guys. You can also use them as an object to pass or carry (superman swims, pick-up-put-on-shelf) or as a target/obstacle (leg lifts over a block). Finally, try any movement in quadruped position (such as bird dog, hydrant leg lifts, or bear crawls) with the block on your sacrum and lower spine; try to keep the block from falling off. It’s a great way to work core stabilization—and is trickier than you may think! One block will set you back for about $6-8 online.
3) Lacrosse ball. It’s smaller than a foam roller and a lot cheaper too; you can usually buy a set of two for $5. But it packs quite a punch when it comes to myofascial release. Foot cramps, stiff traps, or a pain in your piriformis, just put this little ball between a Rock (ie, your stiff muscle) and a hard place (floor, wall), apply a little pressure, and voila! Relief! It won’t fit it your back pocket, but it easily fits in a purse or suitcase.
Purchased together, you’re looking at maybe a $30 investment. But trust me, if you work out regularly, you will get so much out of these little guys.
Did you buy any of these items but don’t know how to use them? Well, you’re in luck! Check out some of these YouTube videos below—or go to my channel and search for more!
Glute workout with mini bands
Full Body Miniband Workout
Yoga Block Workout
Why you should buy a lacrosse ball, and how to use it