Louisa Drake Method Stability Ball

Celebrity trainer Louisa Drake [7] and founder of Louisa Drake Method [8] (LDM) loves using the LDM mini stability ball [9] (£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."

Liforme Yoga Mat

With over 19 years of experience teaching yoga behind him, Chris Salton [10], yoga teacher at KXU [11] 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 [12] (£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.

Gritin Resistance Bands

For both stretching and working out Giovana Braia [13], trainer at StretchLab [14], loves using Gritin Resistance Bands [15] (£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.

Mini Bands

Matt Cunningham [16], general manager and performance specialist at Workshop Gymnasium [17], 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 [18]-branded mini-bands will be launching online soon to purchase.

Blk Box Kettlebells

Louis Rennocks [19], cofounder and trainer at Boxx [20], 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 [21] (£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.

Chair

A sturdy chair chair [22] (£249) and hardback book are favourite household items that Maria Eleftheriou [23], head of barre at Psycle [24], 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."

Frame Gliders

"If you want to take your workout to the next level, then you need to get yourself a pair of Frame Gliders [25] (£15)," said Emily Aitcheson [26], head of barre and dance at Frame in London [27]. "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."

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 [28], head trainer at Rowbots [29]. "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 [30] (£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."

Foam Roller

The instructors at London's leading reformer Pilates brand, Ten Health & Fitness [31], 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 [32] (£50), which include a foam roller, Pilates ring, and mat, are able to purchase by emailing orders@ten.co.uk directly.

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 [33]. We love the Sweaty Betty All Sport Backpack [34] (£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."

Cookbooks

Barry's Bootcamp [35] master trainer Anya Lahiri [36] 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 [37] (£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."

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 [38], head of training at Fly Ldn [39]. This Le Creuset Cast-Iron Round Casserole Dish [40] (£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."

Water Bottles

Emily King [41], cohead of teaching at Barrecore [42], 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 [43] (£0.90 each) — as weights, and you are ready to go."

Apple Watch Series 5

If you're looking for fitness motivation, the Apple Watch Series 5 [44] (£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 [45], personal trainer and founder of Studio Yoga [46], 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."