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London Trainers Share the Best At-Home Exercise Equipment

London's Top Fitness Trainers Share Their Favourite At-Home Exercise Equipment and Props

Jun 26 2020

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Three weeks after the government announced the closure of all gyms and fitness studios in the UK, you probably have your home workout class schedule organised, but now is the time to upgrade your live classes and create your own boutique studio at home with the help of some functional exercise equipment and gym props to enhance your workout.

Louisa Drake, fitness expert and founder of the Louisa Drake Method (LDM), explained the importance of adding props into your workout and why they are such a benefit to your training. "I use props, including resistance bands, mini stability balls, gliders, blocks, and hand and ankle weights, in the majority of my LDM classes," she said. "By mixing up the moves and using equipment in my sessions, the workouts stay fresh, clients don't get bored, and the body is constantly being challenged so it doesn't plateau."

Whether you are looking to add more resistance to your barre and Pilates classes, keep tabs on your daily progress with a fitness tracker, or invest in the ultimate yoga mat, using props adds a new dimension to your workouts. "Using props when working out can be hugely beneficial in two ways," Louisa said. "In some cases a prop can make the exercise more difficult, creating a stability challenge, or increasing the work on one part of your body. They also help to increase muscular strength, conditioning, and support depending on how you master them."

If you have been furloughed, would rather save money until your favourite London spin studio reopens, or if you're new to exercise, improvised props also come in handy. Make these with objects you have at home; towels, for example, add extra resistance for core activation, water bottles can become makeshift dumbbells, and even cookbooks can be the perfect ingredient for strengthening exercises.

We discussed all aspects of home exercise equipment with some of London's top fitness instructors, so you can take inspiration from what they are using at home to step your workout up a gear; the props ahead will give a whole new dimension to your sessions.

Image Source: Getty / Anon Krudsumlit / EyeEm

Louisa Drake Method Stability Ball

Celebrity trainer Louisa Drake and founder of Louisa Drake Method (LDM) loves using the LDM mini stability ball (£10) in the studio and at home. "I love the mini stability ball as it is so versatile. It can be used to aid a number of exercises, for the core and lower body in particular. It doesn't take up too much storage space at home, and it's nice and portable — you can easily pop one into your workout bag."

"By performing exercises on or with the ball, you can boost muscle compared to without the ball," Louisa added. "In particular, activation of the abdominal muscles is encouraged by crunches on a stability ball, and it is ideal for support after injury, because it reduces muscle and spinal strain for certain movements."

Image Source: louisadrake.com
LDM mini stability ball
£10
from louisadrake.com
Buy Now

Liforme Yoga Mat

With over 19 years of experience teaching yoga behind him, Chris Salton, yoga teacher at KXU and private members' club Annabel's, knows a thing or two about yoga mats. "I've practised on many mats and my top choice has to be the Liforme (£100). You will love the feel and grip of this mat — it's fantastic. It also comes in a range of colours and the rubber is eco-friendly, too. Not a cheap mat, but worth every penny!"

With a huge majority of the world now practising yoga at home during isolation, Liforme has introduced a Yoga Support Fund and donating 100% of their profits in April to support the yoga community globally that are struggling financially during this crisis. Yoga fans can also either donate to the fund, or nominate a favourite yoga teacher or studio if they feel they should benefit from the extra support. Namaste.

Image Source: liforme.com
Liforme
£100
from liforme.com
Buy Now

Gritin Resistance Bands

For both stretching and working out Giovana Braia, trainer at StretchLab, loves using Gritin Resistance Bands (£14). Made out of natural material that's recyclable, these bands normally come in sets of five, each with different a resistance level. This is great for those who want to progress with their stretching.

Resistance bands are beneficial in many ways. They can help aid stretching by adapting to different flexibility levels, and allow you to modify different exercises so you gain the most from your workout. If a resistance band isn't available, a towel is an easy prop found in your own home that can be used to help you increase your flexibility through stretching.

Image Source: amazon.co.uk
Gritin Resistance Bands
£14
from amazon.co.uk
Buy Now

Mini Bands

Matt Cunningham, general manager and performance specialist at Workshop Gymnasium, also loves mini-bands "They're space-saving, lightweight, low-cost, and really versatile, and you can also get different grades for different ability levels and they are a safe option for people working out alone," Matt explained. "You can work upper and lower body with a variety of different movement options, and the intensity of the exercises can be manipulated according to the individual." Workshop Gymnasium-branded mini-bands will be launching online soon to purchase.

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Blk Box Kettlebells

Louis Rennocks, cofounder and trainer at Boxx, loves kettlebells and bands to create effective and challenging at-home workouts. "With these pieces of equipment, you can literally train your body from head to toe," he said, recommending the Blk Box Kettlebells (£29 and up). A kettlebell is super functional and you can perform so many exercises that target more than one muscle group at a time.

Image Source: blkboxfitness.com
Blk Box Kettlebells
£29
from blkboxfitness.com
Buy Now

Chair

A sturdy chair chair (£249) and hardback book are favourite household items that Maria Eleftheriou, head of barre at Psycle, likes to use for at-home barre classes. "A chair helps with ensuring correct alignment and gives a helping, supportive hand when those legs start to shake. It also enables you to try more fun and creative choreography," she said.

A hardback book also has many uses, according to Maria. "Stand on it to push the barre burn, squeeze your inner thighs around it, tricep drop into it, the list goes on. The book acts as a block to ramp up the heat in your barre workout and advance any position."

Image Source: heals.com
Heal's Oliver Chair
£249
from heals.com
Buy Now

Frame Gliders

"If you want to take your workout to the next level, then you need to get yourself a pair of Frame Gliders (£15)," said Emily Aitcheson, head of barre and dance at Frame in London. "An ultimate favourite of mine when exercising at home, gliders work your entire body and raise the heart rate like nothing else. Use them to level up your lunges and mountain climbers for a full-out cardio burn."

Image Source: online.moveyourframe.com
Frame Gliders
£15
from online.moveyourframe.com
Buy Now

Blx Box Dumbbells

If you have room in your home, "weights not only take your higher-intensity-based workouts to another level, but they also help you to build strength" said Tess Glynne-Jones, head trainer at Rowbots. "It's really tricky to get any form of pulling into your session when working with bodyweight. However, as soon as you use dumbbells — like Blk Box Dumbbells (£10 and up) — you suddenly open the door to a whole library of pulling movements that are key players when it comes to strengthening the posterior chain (back of the body). This will improve your posture, which is particularly beneficial for those of us who spend the majority of our days sitting down."

Image Source: blkboxfitness.com
Blk Box Dumbbells
£10
from blkboxfitness.com
Buy Now

Foam Roller

The instructors at London's leading reformer Pilates brand, Ten Health & Fitness, know a thing or two about what equipment is most versatile for targeted and effective workouts.

A foam roller is essential in helping you to ease muscle tension and release muscle stiffness. Ten's expert physios and massage therapists highly recommend using a foam roller every week to keep your body mobile, which is especially important if you find you ache a lot from sitting in front of the desk all day. Ten Health & Fitness At-Home Kits (£50), which include a foam roller, Pilates ring, and mat, are able to purchase by emailing orders@ten.co.uk directly.

Image Source: ten.co.uk
Ten Health & Fitness At-Home Kits
£50
from ten.co.uk
Buy Now

Weighted Backpack

Take that gym backpack that isn't getting much use right now and and stuff it with some household goods for weighted strengthening exercises, said Chloe Trigg, head trainer of strength & conditioning at Blok. We love the Sweaty Betty All Sport Backpack (£85) in black.

"Add as much weight to your backpack to suit your ability, whether it be some cans of beans, a couple of bottles of water, or some books," said Chloe. "Then tackle some simple bodyweight movements like air squats, planks, and push-ups. The added weight will deliver extra stress on your muscles, helping to strengthen and build them up. As you get stronger, the more weight you can add — homemade progressive overload."

Image Source: sweatybetty.com
Sweaty Betty All Sport Backpack
£85
from sweatybetty.com
Buy Now

Cookbooks

Barry's Bootcamp master trainer Anya Lahiri teaches 8:20am weekday classes on Instagram Live that have really been pulling in the crowds. And her cookbooks, such as the River Cottage A to Z (£30), have made multiple appearances.

"They were covered in dust before lockdown," Anya said. "But they're a quick and easy substitute for weights or kettlebells and I can adjust the weight quickly by adding or losing books. I've also been using them as a bench/step alternative to do split squats and uneven push ups. The added bonus — it's inspired me to try out recipes and chefs I've never tried before. I'm not the best in the kitchen, but it's given me motivation to be more daring and creative at dinnertime."

Image Source: amazon.co.uk
River Cottage A to Z
£30
from amazon.co.uk
Buy Now

Kitchen Pot With Handles

Get creative with your props and grab a large cast iron pot from your kitchen, "preferably a large with handles on both sides," said Katie Anderson, head of training at Fly Ldn. This Le Creuset Cast-Iron Round Casserole Dish (£99), is a perfect example.

"Fill the pot with tins or books to a weight you feel is challenging to lift," explained Katie. "This is to replace holding a dumbbell or kettlebell that you would normally find in the gym. You can hold the weight as a cradle to the chest when you're doing leg exercises, and also for two-handed bicep curls and core work. For exercises on how to use this at home, check into Fly Ldn IGTV in the next few weeks for a tutorial."

Image Source: houseoffraser.co.uk
Le Creuset Cast-Iron Round Casserole Dish
£99
from houseoffraser.co.uk
Buy Now

Water Bottles

Emily King, cohead of teaching at Barrecore, explained that "the beauty of our Barrecore Method is that, wherever you are, our expert teachers are able to give you the highly efficient, low-impact, full-body workout. Our online workouts don't require an actual barre, and are based around using your own body weight and some light home props. We recommend a towel or mat to stand on, a chair or table to hold on to, two filled water bottles — like these 1.5 litre Evian Bottles (£0.90 each) — as weights, and you are ready to go."

Image Source: waitrose.com
Evian Bottles
£0.90
from waitrose.com
Buy Now

Apple Watch Series 5

If you're looking for fitness motivation, the Apple Watch Series 5 (£399) will help you hit your fitness goals. "There is a huge product range of smartwatches to choose from, depending not only on your budget, but also on how deeply you're looking to venture into your personal wellness," Emily Mouskides, personal trainer and founder of Studio Yoga, said. "Even from the small insights a basic smartwatch can provide, you can really challenge yourself to work harder each day by burning more calories, hitting a certain number of steps, and elevating your heart rate to a certain figure. The beauty of it is that you will want to check in every day and, from a home workout prop, it becomes an everyday lifestyle addition."

Image Source: apple.com
Apple Watch Series 5
£399
from apple.com
Buy Now

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