If you walk into a sporting goods shop, you are bound to see a multitude of home gym accessories for sale. While it is true that the quality of each and every one of these home gym accessories based upon the particular manufacturer, the fact remains that most of the items provides a valuable benefit for the consumer. However, the average person who is unfamiliar with health, fitness and exercise may be somewhat confused at which home gym accessories to purchase as the sheer volume of products on store shelves can be overwhelming. So, it would be prudent to examine some of the must have home gym accessories that any person looking to get in shape should own.

Bungee Chords

No, not those 30 foot long bungee chords! No one wants you to perform a bungee jump! Actually, what bungee cords refer to within the context of home gym accessories is a substitute for dumbbells. Basically, mini bungee chords with handles attached to them can provide decent resistance training for an individual looking to tone and build the muscles without pumping heavy weight.

Plyo Medicine Balls

Plyo(metric) medicine balls are essentially light weight medicine balls that weigh under 12 lbs and are designed to be able to bounce. While this may seem more like a toy than a weight training device the reality is that a plyo medicine ball is a fantastic means of developing function strength and muscle building with a unique spin on an old school weight training tool. (And, by the way, the classic heavy medicine ball is a great tool to own as well)

The Yoga Mat

Even if you are not practicing Yoga (not that you shouldn’t – it is an OUTSTANDING way of boosting health and fitness) it is wise to purchase a Yoga mat as it is one of the more critically important home gym accessories you could purchase. After all, many exercises such as sit ups, push ups, etc require lying on the floor and it would be best for a number of reasons to have a Yoga mat on the floor. Not only is it more comfortable to stretch out or perform exercises on a Yoga mat as opposed to performing them on a carpet, it also provides more stability which allows for getting the most out of the exercises that you perform.

Of course, there are many, many more home gym accessories that you could purchase, but the three listed above can serve as a great starting point for a home gym workout program so put them on your shopping list next time you head to a sporting goods store!