Kareena Kapoor Khan’s trainer shares 10 equipment for an effective home workout

Home workouts have become a go-to solution for fitness enthusiasts seeking convenience, consistency, and results without needing to step into a gym. However, a truly effective home workout depends on thoughtfully selected equipment, not just filling your space with random gear; it demands tools that truly enhance strength, flexibility, and endurance. Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan exemplifies this commitment, maintaining her fitness with disciplined routines and targeted exercises. Her trainer, Mahesh Ghanekar, emphasises that a balanced home workout doesn’t need a cluttered space or bulky machines. Instead, minimal and carefully chosen equipment that engages multiple muscle groups, supports functional movements, and fits seamlessly into daily routines, can work.

In an interview with HT Shop Now, he recommends 10 essential home gym pieces to offer a full-body workout. From strength training to cardio and mobility exercises, such equipment ensures your home workouts remain effective, practical, and sustainable, helping you achieve balanced fitness without compromising space or time.

10 best home gym equipment for a balanced workout at home:

Having your own equipment allows you to tailor workouts to your schedule, space, and goals, as reported by the Cleveland Clinic. Explore the best options suggested by Mahesh Ghanekar, fitness expert.

Dumbbells:

They are a highly effective tool for home gyms, allowing varied exercises that target both large and smaller stabiliser muscles, improve range of motion, and are space-efficient. Fitness expert Mahesh Ghanekar recommends keeping a set of dumbbells ranging from 2.5 kg to 20 kg in your home gym. Research by the National Library of Medicine reports that short-term dumbbell training can significantly boost lean muscle and strength in older adults.

The Amazon Basics Rubber-Encased Hex Dumbbell Set (2 × 2.5 kg, Black) is ideal for home strength training. Its hexagonal design prevents rolling, while the rubber encasement protects floors and reduces noise. Perfect for exercises like bicep curls, shoulder presses, and lunges, these dumbbells are easy to grip and versatile, making them suitable for both beginners and regular fitness enthusiasts.

The Slovic Dumbbell Set 20 kg (2 × 10 kg) features hexagonal, anti-skid rubber dumbbells designed for safe and effective home workouts. Ideal for strength training, muscle toning, and full-body exercises, this set is perfect for fitness enthusiasts looking to build strength at home. Durable and easy to handle, it supports progressive workouts for both beginners and advanced users.

Olympic barbell:

It is a long, sturdy bar designed to hold weight plates for strength training exercises, such as squats, deadlifts, and bench presses. Fitness expert Mahesh Ghanekar suggests using a 5-foot rod for home gyms. Compact and versatile, it’s ideal for building muscle strength, enhancing stability, and supporting progressive resistance training within a convenient home setup.

This 5-foot Olympic barbell rod (28 mm internal diameter, 50 mm outer diameter) is perfect for home strength training, including bench presses, deadlifts, powerlifting, and CrossFit workouts. Equipped with two PVC collars for secure weight placement, it’s ideal for beginners and experienced lifters looking to build muscle, improve endurance, and perform safe, progressive resistance exercises at home.

Foldable gym bench:

A versatile addition to any home gym, this bench enables bench presses, dumbbell routines, and core exercises. Its foldable, space-saving design ensures stability and comfort, making strength and resistance training safe and efficient even in compact spaces.

This adjustable and foldable gym bench offers incline, decline, and flat positions, supporting up to 250 kg for versatile home workouts. Equipped with resistance ropes, it enables strength training, core exercises, and full-body routines. Compact and foldable, it’s ideal for small spaces, offering stability, comfort, and flexibility for both beginners and advanced users seeking effective and safe home fitness solutions.

Yoga mat:

It offers cushioning and grip for exercises, supporting balance and joint protection while making home workouts more comfortable and efficient.

This body alignment yoga mat with a strap features an extra-wide, 6mm thick cushioned surface for yoga, Pilates, and floor workouts. Its non-slip texture ensures stability during poses, while the strap aids stretching and flexibility. Perfect for home, gym, or fitness sessions, it protects joints, improves balance, and supports safe, effective workouts for both men and women.

Yoga Block:

It offers extra support and enhances posture during stretches, helping users achieve proper alignment, increase flexibility, and perform poses with greater confidence.

This high-density foam yoga block set (2 pieces) with a strap enhances home workouts, aiding balance, flexibility, and strength training. Perfect for yoga, Pilates, or stretching routines, it helps maintain proper alignment and supports challenging poses safely. Ideal for both beginners and advanced practitioners, it’s a versatile addition to any home gym that helps improve posture, mobility, and overall body control.

Kettlebells:

These are versatile weights that enhance strength, endurance, and functional fitness through exercises such as swings, squats, and presses. Fitness expert Mahesh Ghanekar recommends keeping 5 kg–12 kg kettlebells in a home gym, as they are ideal for both beginners and advanced users seeking full-body workouts in a compact space.

This cast iron kettlebell is ideal for home strength and fitness training, available in weights ranging from 2 kg to 92 kg. Perfect for swings, squats, presses, and functional workouts, it helps build muscle, improve endurance, and enhance core stability. Durable and compact, it’s suitable for both beginners and advanced users, making it a versatile addition to any home gym setup.

Jumping box:

It is a sturdy platform for plyometric exercises, such as jumps and step-ups, which help boost lower-body strength, agility, and cardiovascular fitness.

The Soft Plyo Box (61×61×60 cm) is ideal for jump training, conditioning, and full-body workouts at home. Its soft, durable surface ensures safe landings while performing box jumps, step-ups, and plyometric exercises. Compact yet sturdy, it enhances lower-body strength, agility, and endurance, making it a perfect addition to any home gym for practical, high-intensity training.

Stepper:

It offers an effective cardio and lower-body workout, improving stamina, balance, and leg strength. It’s compact and ideal for home gyms to support daily fitness routines.

This polypropylene exercise stepper supports up to 200 kg and is perfect for home workouts. It can be used for step aerobics, cardio sessions, lunges, and strength training. Its slip-resistant surface ensures safety and stability, helping improve coordination, endurance, and lower-body tone while adding variety to everyday fitness routines.

Power rack:

Adds structure and safety to strength training, helping users perform heavy lifts like squats or presses without assistance. It’s ideal for building strength at home while ensuring stability, control, and progression in every workout.

This heavy-duty power rack supports up to 300 kg, designed for home workouts focused on squats, bench presses, and strength training. Adjustable J-hooks allow safe lifting without a spotter, while its sturdy frame ensures stability. Ideal for fitness enthusiasts aiming to build muscle and train effectively within a compact home gym setup.

Bumper plate:

It is a thick, rubber-coated weight plate designed for Olympic lifting, allowing safe drops during exercises like deadlifts, snatches, and clean & jerks. Fitness expert Mahesh Ghanekar recommends keeping plates ranging from 5 kg to 25 kg for a home gym, providing enough weight variety for progressive strength training while ensuring safety and floor protection.

These Olympic color rubber bumper plates (2 × 5 kg) are perfect for safe, versatile weightlifting at home. Ideal for exercises like deadlifts, squats, and Olympic lifts, the rubber coating protects floors and reduces noise. Suitable for beginners and intermediate lifters, they offer progressive resistance and durability, making them an essential addition to any home gym setup.

Conclusion:

Investing in these 10 essential home gym equipment covers all key fitness areas: strength, cardio, core, and mobility. Start with a few basics and gradually expand your setup to build an effective, convenient home workout space. Focusing on consistency and gradual progress ensures long-term results and helps make fitness a sustainable part of your daily routine.

Disclaimer: The products listed in this article are not personally recommended by the trainer. They have been selected based on research, product features, and user reviews to provide helpful guidance for building a home gym. Consult a professional before starting any new exercise routine.