There are a some great training equipment options to have available for your workouts within your home, and or surroundings. These can add to the overall workout experience. To learn more about equipment and training tools visit Performbetter.com or Power-systems.com. You can also find equipment at Sports Authority, Gym Source, etc.

1. •We also make it easier for you by bringing all the necessary equipment and training tools to your training location. 
   

2. •Depending on certain locations, we may not be able to provide the necessary equipment, if needed. Send us an email to ensure that we can provide equipment, if necessary, to your area.
   

3. •Equipment is just an addition to a workout and it is not a must for an effective or complete workout.
   

EQUIPMENT OPTIONS:

1. •Stability Ball - Either a 55 cm, 65 cm or 75 cm stability ball (also called physio ball. It depends on your height as to which one would be best for you or you can purchase all three which will allow for greater variety and challenges.
   

2. •Powerblock Dumbbells - These Powerblock DB's are great to have and we have been using them for many years with no problems. They take up very little room at just 2 dumbbells that convert into many. They are reasonably priced compared to buying individual DB's that can cost you significantly more. They come in a few versions, including a kettleblock version.
   

3. •Foam Roller - This is a must have! Self-myofascial release is another form of stretching that focuses on the neural system and tissues of the body. We will use this to apply gently force to adhesions, "knots" or general tight musculature that causes pain and discomfort which alters the bodies posture causing injuries & inefficiency. Think of its as your very own massage & stretch therapist. Click here to learn more...
   

4. •Exercise Mat - Mats are great to have and must be durable and have some integrity to them. You do not necessarily need a mat but I do recommend one. Something that you can use both inside and outside. You can also use your rug or grass which will work just fine. Sports Authority has an okay selection, click here to view, just be sure that the mat is not too soft and that it is dense enough; you do not want to kneel on it and feel the floor beneath.
   

5. •Heart Rate Monitor - Using a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM), will add great benefit to your workouts. With the combination of your RPE (Rating perceived exertion) and  at heart rate monitor you will gain a better understanding to prescribed training loads, workloads, intensity and effort. You can purchase a HRM at many locations or order them online. Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Timex, Nike for men or Nike for women. These all make great HRM's with some being more advanced then others offering GPS options.
   

6. •Medicine Balls - Medicine balls are a great addition to your in-home gym and come in many varieties.  MB's are an awesome way to train any area of your body while always integrating the core (abdominal complex, hips, glutes, low back and along the spine) in a functional manner.
   

7. •Bands & Tubing - These allow further training in all planes of motion, stressing your functional posture & core strength. Any exercise you have seen in the gym, can be done with these + much more.  The one's we like to use are the JC All-Purpose Exercise Bands. They come in 5 levels of resistance, so be sure to ask us which one's would be best for you. We do recommend you purchase all of them (5 in total). These are very durable bands and can be attached in many ways.
   

8. •Mini- Bands - These are great for lateral resistance and movements.
   

9. •Slackline - Gibbons slacklines offers a great way to enhance balance, core and functional strength.
   

10. •Kettlebells - Kettlebells offer a great way to powerfully train functional & dynamically the entire human movement system in an explosive manner.
    

11. •Weighted Vests - Increase intensity during exercise by incorporating a weighted vest into cardio, circuit or alternative strength training. Weighted vests add resistance similar to body weight, allowing individuals to train with minimal modifications to their natural biomechanics.
    

12. •Additional choices:
    

13. Cones, Jump ropes, Stretching helpers (Stretch out Strap), BOSU Balance Trainer, PB Discs Pillows, Airex Balance Pads, wobble boards, Ankle weights, Parachutes, Speed & Agility Ladders, Sled Dawg 2, Punching bag + Gloves + Punch mitts, Plyo-Boxes, Hurdles & Cones
    

Other equipment additions to your home gym can include but are not limited to...

1. •Treadmills - Life Fitness Treadmills, Reebok Treadmills, Pro-Form Treadmills, etc.
   

2. •Stationary Bike or Spin Bike
   

3. •Cycling Trainers & Rollers - Such as the one's from Saris Cycling Company which you can purchase at Campmor or your local bike shop.  These are great and deliver a road like feel with varying resistance to almost mimic what the response would be when you head outside for a ride. 
   

4. •Precors and Cross-Trainers
   

Please explore the equipment links provided for you and if you have any questions and would like further information or other recommendations, contact us.

CLOTHING: 

Clothing needs to be comfortable and fit well. Synthetic materials over Cotton, such as a Polyester material base is best, especially when we head outdoors and the Fall season is nearing. Polyester offers a soft feel against the skin, retains less odors, is highly breathable and quick drying. You can find socks, t-shirts, shorts, underwear, sports-bra's, long sleeve shirts, pants, etc, all made from Polyester or other Synthetic materials. You will find that companies use a combination of Polyester, Nylon, lycra or their own synthetic material which allows for more variety with resistance to weather and how they fit. Nike, The North Face, Under-Armor, Mountain Hardware, Patagonia & EMS are just a few companies that make breathable, quick drying clothing.  

Clothing Protection against Lyme Disease and ticks:

Light colored clothing, long sleeves and paints with the shirt tucked in, along with a repellent containing DEET can help with prevention. However the only way to prevent the transmission of Lyme Disease if your a trail runner in the North East, is to be able to see a tick and remove them before they attach themselves to your skin. Be sure to keep an eye out for ticks throughout your run. Check each other if your running with another and wash your clothing as soon as you can when finished. Be sure to give yourself a whole body examination each day before bed, make it a ritual. Ticks also attach themselves to pets so be sure to check them as well because they can simply pass them along to you.

1. •Click here for more information about Lyme Disease and Ticks.
   

2. •Click here for a map of high risk areas for lyme disease.
   

3. •American Lyme Disease Foundation
   

FOOTWEAR:

Your sneakers or running shoe, trail shoe, hiking boot, dress and casual shoes all must fit right! Without proper fitting footwear, you will be exposed to higher stresses in the foot & ankle complex, the Knee complex, all the way on up into the hip complex and then on to the cervical (neck) and shoulder complex. This can lead to injuries in anyone of these area's. Back pain which effects 75% of people at one time or another during their life and can be related back down to their feet, so proper footwear is essential. You need to know if your feet have a low arch, medium arch or high arch and if they under-pronate, are straight (neutral) or over-pronate when you stand, walk or run. Your shoe must meet your needs for both support, stability and cushioning. Many of the shoe companies have a huge variety of footwear and can meet your needs. They are very light weight and offer substantial cushioning compared to the early years. They do however break down pretty quickly, so depending on how much you use them, you can plan on purchasing a new pair monthly on up to every 6 months. When you are coached & trained by us we will let you know how often you should replace your sneakers and you will have access to a shoe log. The best thing to do is to head out to your local running store, try on many shoes and be patient.  Remember how they fit and feel is very important.  

Training Barefoot:

We were born barefoot and must relearn the essential skill of moving around freely while being barefoot and re-establish foot strength, stability and mobility in the 33 joints of the foot. This will strengthen the entire body to the core and establish proper biomechanics throughout the human movement system. We will discuss this further in time and when you become a client of Mountain Peak Fitness you will be giving the encouragement to move in this direction. For some further information you can visit the Vibrams Five Finger website to learn more.

1. •Click here for Trail Running Gear & Essentials.
   

2. •Click here for Hiking Gear & Essentials.