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In these days of isolation, when our own living rooms suddenly have to stand in for our favorite studios and gyms, breaking a sweat—and letting off some steam—can seem next to impossible. And yet, fret not: While a rowing machine or stationary bike may not be practical for many, if not most, Manhattan apartments, there’s a handful of home workout equipment that’s small in size but still packs a serious punch.
But of course, not all mats and medicine balls are created equal, which is why a handful of fashion’s favorite fitness trainers—from one supermodel beloved Dogpound coach to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s yoga guru—have chosen the very best of the bunch, below.
“Bala Bangles are my favorite,” declares Flatiron Pilates’ Amy Nelms, whose in-demand one-on-one workouts have become a fast-favorite among the fashion crowd, who now maintain their sculpted physiques via FaceTime with Nelms. “Super comfortable and simply chic, Bangles are amazing for toning and lengthening. While I especially like them for the side kick series, they’re also great to wear on your wrists for arm work and ankles for leg work.”
Of all her home workout equipment, Nelms is particularly “obsessed” with her foam roller, which can relieve muscle tightness and soreness, and increase range of motion. “I love it for thoracic extension and for opening the shoulders, and it is especially good for my clients who suffer from tech neck! It can be a relaxing ritual at the end of the day, but it’s also good before and after exercise.” However, Nelms cautions, “Be careful not to roll on your small joints, such as your knees, elbows, and ankles.”
“This multi-purpose Magic Circle works the full body, but it’s especially good at targeting the inner and outer thighs, abdominals, and arms.” Plus, Nelms notes, “It’s great for finding your powerhouse and even helps with proper alignment.”
As the co-founder of Los Angeles’s Love Yoga, Kyle Miller—whose thrice-weekly Zoom flows have become homebound Angelenos go-to for a mind-body reset—doesn’t skimp when it comes to her asanas: “This is the Cadillac of yoga mats; it’s huge, thick, comfy and totally non-slip,” says Miller. “I wouldn’t recommend lugging it to classes at a studio as it’s way too heavy, but it’s incredible for a home practice set-up.”
Miller also swears by Manduka’s ultra-supportive cork blocks. “Restorative postures are an essential part of my at-home practice and these blocks are sturdy enough that I can really release the weight of my body and let go of habitual tension and gripping. They’re far superior to the flimsy weightless blocks I used to practice with.”
“I love a medium resistance band for added tone and strength on the arms, butt, and legs,” says former ballerina and Ballet Beautiful founder Mary Helen Bowers, who leads over 300 videos in the waist-whittling programs’s online streaming library. “These bands take up zero space and weigh next to nothing! They are a great low-impact addition to our workouts. I use them for posture and outer thigh work, and crazy booty lifts that totally transform the body.”
“Jump ropes are an incredible tool to burn calories, improve cardiovascular health, and sharpen your hand-eye-foot coordination. They are portable and very cost-effective, making them an essential tool for an at-home workout,” says Rhys Athayde, the founding trainer of New York City’s supermodel-favorite Dogpound gym, who now offers daily Instagram Live workouts. “My favorite jump ropes are from Rush Athletics because of the weight distribution between the handles and rope. I recommend finding and mastering 3-5 jump variations and doing them in succession for 1 minute on, 15 seconds off. If you mess up in the first minute of work, start back again from the top!”
Another favorite of Athayde’s? The Ab Wheel. “It’s a simple but deadly exercise tool that is both cost-effective and space-efficient,” he adds. “Ab Wheel Rollouts are extremely difficult and should only be done with proper form. If not, there are several regressions you can do to work up to this exercise. Not only does this exercise work the abs, but it also targets the back, shoulders, and arms. I like using the ab wheel after a series of bodyweight ab movements, as my core is properly warmed up and I’m engaging it properly. I proceed to do 3-4 sets of 10-20 reps.”