4 Essential Equipment to Have in Your Home Gym

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4 Essential Equipment to Have in Your Home Gym

 

Setting up a home gym is a dream for many. Whether it’s just a small corner in your garage with a few dumbbells or a full-fledged home gym with power racks and other equipment, your home gym can help you achieve your fitness goals. Depending on the available space in your home, you might have to carefully choose the right equipment that will fit the space without cluttering it. You need to have free space to move around freely without obstacles leading to accidents and injuries.

 

It would often make sense to purchase home gym packages instead of buying individual equipment. It will not only save you a lot of money but using the equipment from one brand gives you compatibility and consistency in your workout. As different brands have different measuring standards, it’s best to purchase the complete packages that come with all the essential workout equipment such as power rack, dumbbell rack, Olympic bar, weight plates, cable setup, and different attachments. Before you plan to set up your home gym, you need to know what equipment is necessary. Here are four essential pieces of gym equipment that you must have in your home gym.

 

1. Training bench

 

A training bench is one of the crucial additions to your home gym. They allow you to lay on it for lifting weights and use them for support for numerous exercises like bench presses, shoulder presses, step-ups, decline pushups, dips, and many more. Many home gym packages include training benches as their standard addition.

 

The training bench should be adjustable to different angles so you can perform inclined, fat, and declined exercises with ease. The bench should be made from high-quality, durable material to withstand your weight and provide stability while lifting weights. The foam material should also be high quality to avoid slipping and offer a better grip.

 

2. Power rack

 

The power rack or weight rack is the centerpiece of your home gym. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced lifter, adding a power rack to your home gym will offer a lot of functionality in your workout. You can perform many workouts on the power rack, such as deadlifts, squats, bench presses, pullups, lat pulldowns, dips, etc.

 

Lifting heavy free weights can be dangerous, especially when you don’t have a spotter to spot you. In such cases, power racks offer a safe workout environment to perform your workout with safety and ease. Power racks can lift more than 1000 pounds and have different attachments for various exercises.

 

3. Resistance bands

 

Resistance bands are the most versatile yet often overlooked fitness equipment. A resistance band helps tone your muscles by targeting particular muscle groups through resistance training. When you use the resistance bands, it creates substantial pressure on your muscles and contracts them. The thickness of the band also plays a key role. The thicker band needs more resistance to stretch, which means your muscles get activated with higher resistance. Resistance bands come in different sizes, thicknesses, colors, and resistance capacities. Resistance bands are a must-have in your home gym, whether you are a beginner or an experienced athlete.

 

4. Foam floorings or mats

 

Weight plates are heavy, and they are made of metal. If you accidentally drop them on the floor, they can easily break the files and cause severe damage to your flooring. Therefore every home gym must have foam or rubber flooring to protect the floor. These floorings offer better grip as well. You don’t want to slip while squatting 200 pounds of weight on your shoulders.

 

Your home gym must have all the essentials to make your workout easier and more intense. You can also add other non-mandatory additions to your home gyms, such as motivational posters, downlights, and a music system to create that energizing ambiance of commercial gyms.

 

Joffe Books tell us of their treats for the week

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We have a bumper crop of fantastic books to share with you courtesy of Joffe Books this week, from the brand-new murder mystery by 2021 People’s Book Prize winner, Victoria Dowd, to the latest breathtaking psychological thriller from #1 bestselling author Patricia MacDonald.

But first things first, the book of the week is A BOOK OF MURDER by Victoria Dowd, and essential reading for anyone who loves a classic British murder mystery with a slice of humour.

Nineteen guests with secrets to hide.   One exclusive party on a private island.  An invitation to die for?
Trouble always seems to follow the Smart women . . .

“One of the greatest crime writers of her generation . . . unputdownable!” Bestselling author Awais Khan

“A razor-sharp mystery full of twists, turns and brilliantly cutting humour.” Louise Mumford, bestselling author of Sleepless

“So original that she deserves her own genre.” Tim Ewins, author of We Are Animals

CLICK HERE TO BUY A BOOK OF MURDER BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR VICTORIA DOWD FOR A MERE 99P | 99C.

Now let’s look at this week’s belters  from Joffe this week.

                             

Lost Innocents by bestseller Patricia MacDonald. £2 / $3.99  A NAIL-BITING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER 

Meet Maddy Blake, devoted wife and mom. She stood by her husband when he was accused of the ultimate betrayal.   Now witnesses place him at the scene of a terrible crime.    Can she trust him again? Be ready to bite your nails…

Detective Siv Drummond by Gretta Mulrooney   Books 1 – 3  99p/$1.99

Discover the stunningly suspenseful crime fiction of Gretta Mulrooney in a great value three-book box set.  Such a gift, really it is. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A pleasure to read.”   The Independent.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A memorable tale with a shocking denouement.”
Time Out

Rhiannon by Carole LLewellyn 99p/$1.99  Rhiannon must choose between following her dreams and keeping her promise to Mair, who needs her now more than ever. Not crime, but a lovely saga.

Wales, 1908. Deserted by her step-mother, Rhiannon Hughes finds herself abandoned and alone. With  no one to turn to, Rhiannon must take her younger sister Mair from the only home they have ever known in the Welsh valleys and head for Cardiff, where her aunt is a music hall star.

And now a bit of a peek at the treat coming on Thursday:

MURDER BY THE SHORE, the absolutely gripping new crime thriller from bestselling author Gretta Mulrooney. Yes, another Gretta Mulrooney. We are being spoiled.

Gretta’s editor, Joffe Books Project Editor Laura Coulman-Rich, had this to say:

“In my eyes, Gretta has always been a queen within this genre, but what really sets her latest offering apart is the incredible emotional depth she brings to her cast of victims, suspects and detectives. Within the first few pages, she outlines the most devastating double murder I’ve seen in print for quite some time — and from this point on the tension never lets up, with various skeletons lining up to burst out of the Pullman family closet.

And that’s even before the denouement, which I must admit, came as a complete shock to me! If you’re looking for a summer read to draw you in and keep you turning the pages late into the night, then this is definitely the book for you.”

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER MURDER ON THE SHORE BY GRETTA MULROONEY FOR 99P | 99C.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AN EXCLUSIVE COVER REVEAL FOR MURDER ON THE SHORE BY GRETTA MULROONEY.

To learn about Joffe’s lovely great  list of books see HERE

 

The Little Library on Cherry Lane by Katie Ginger reviewed by Natalie Jayne Peeke West Country Correspondent

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Elsie Martin may lead a quiet life, but working in her beloved local library is enough to make her happy. After all, books have always been her armour against the world. So when the library is threatened with closure to make way for a new housing development, Elsie knows it has to be saved – and that, despite being painfully shy, she needs to lead the campaign to save it.

Jacob Yardley thinks he’s doing the right thing by building a new affordable housing development. Why shouldn’t local people be able to buy a house in the place they grew up? Having to leave his own small hometown broke his heart. Plus, people don’t really use libraries anymore, do they?

As Elsie and Jacob clash over the future of the library, sparks begin to fly. Jacob is falling back in love with books and libraries – could he possibly be falling for her too? And will Elsie be able to save the library that means so much to her?

 

The very first impression that I got from this book is how beautiful the cover is. I know, I know ..I mustn’t judge a book by its cover but it is gorgeous and makes a beautiful addition to my bookshelf. As I had expected the story that waited for me within the artistic covers was equally beautiful,

Ginger creates a heart warming, funny and romantic story, with wonderful and believeable characters that are the cherry on top of this delightful cake. The Little Library on Cherry Lane will make for a perfect beach read this summer, you will become invested in the world that Ginger has made. I highly recommend this for fans of Jenny Colgan and Heidi Swain.

The Little Library on Cherry Lane by Katie Ginger is available in paperback, audio and ebook.

WANDSWORTH JOINS THE BIG PLATINUM JUBILEE LUNCH

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Partnering with the World Heartbeat Music Academy to provide free live music for the occasion across Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common,Furzedown Recreation Ground and Coronation Gardens.

To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Enable and Wandsworth Council will be participating in the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday the 5th of June. Not only will they be helping you find your perfect picnic spot, but will also provide free lunchtime entertainment in Battersea Park, Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common, Furzedown Recreation Ground and Coronation Gardens, to make for the perfect summer picnic.

Not for profit Enable is also delighted to announce it has successfully been awarded a grant from Arts Council England’s ‘Let’s Create’ Jubilee Fund, administered by The London Community Foundation, to deliver a special programme of musical entertainment for the occasion. The Foundation provides critical funding to community-based organisations around the city, in its mission to support grassroots organisations.

The focus of this fund, as Arts Council England note, is to ‘empower community organisations to work collaboratively with artists and cultural organisations in a way they might not have before, producing creative events that are driven by them and highlight their ideas and creativity.’ In this spirit, Enable is excited to partner with the World Heart Beat Music Academy to provide free live music and entertainment for the Wandsworth community as they celebrate the collective history of the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

Thanks to the grant given by Arts Council England’s ‘Let’s Create’ Jubilee Fund, Enable will work with the World Heart Beat Music Academy to provide a series of music education workshops to local primary schools within Wandsworth, culminating on the event day with performances from the participants.

Featuring young local musicians aged 5-25, the Wandsworth based World Heart Beat Music Academy promotes music as a universal form of communication – that transforms the lives of young people through its unique and richly diverse teaching environment, where young talent is nurtured through a broad programme of music lessons, workshops and events, matching the Big Jubilee Lunch theme of community cohesion perfectly.

Started in 2009 by the Eden Project, The Big Jubilee Lunch is a national opportunity for all communities to celebrate their connections, bringing neighbours together and getting to know each other a little bit better. And what better setting than our beautiful Wandsworth green spaces for five incredible performances from young musicians and artists. So, pack your picnic blankets and Coronation chicken sandwiches and head to your local greenspace for a special Wandsworth royal knees up.

The Big Jubilee Line-up

Battersea Park –  World Heart Beat Music AcademyContemporary Gig Bands – 12.30PM
Tooting Common – New Orleans Second Line Marching Band – 13.00PM
Wandsworth Common – Otto and the Matapa Calling – 13.00PM
Furzedown Recreation Ground – Rebecca Wing’s Jazz Band – 14.00PM

Coronation Gardens – World Heart Beat Music Academy Piano Party – 13.00PM

 

Follow Enable’s social media for more information over the coming weeks

Instagram: @enableparks Twitter: @enableparks

SUNDAY SCENE: MISA BUCKLEY ON HER FAVOURITE SCENE FROM ARCHANGEL

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I love writing romance. Throwing two people who are often poles apart and watching the sparks fly. In my novella ARCHANGEL, my leads are as different as you can get. Gabriel is an ex-criminal who used to deliver questionable packages, while Abigail is a sculptor selling her art in a L.A. shop. Gabe is practical, level-headed man who doesn’t believe in much. Abigail is a medium and believes in heaven and hell, and all that entails.

So how do two such opposing people even meet? Well, ARCHANGEL is a paranormal romance. The antagonist has sold his soul to the devil for power, sealing the deal with a series of grisly murders – that Abigail “sees” happen. Gabriel is the guy sent to protect her… though it ends up being a lot more.

In the following scene, Gabe has taken Abigail for dinner, then a stroll around the hotel they’re staying at. At the pool side, they’ve gotten talking about his sketchy past, and Abigail decides to move things along. Not only is this their first kiss, but here we see her absolute belief that Gabe can be a better man.

 

“I trust you, Gabriel,” she said, her voice soft but earnest. “I know you think I’ve every reason not to, and perhaps you’re right. But I didn’t ask for good. I didn’t ask for perfect. I asked for someone to protect me, and you have. You will.”

“You need more than that.”

“You are more than that. You just don’t give yourself enough credit.”

I told hold of her wrists and pulled her hands from my face. “With good reason. You’ve no idea what’s going on in my head.”

Her laugh shocked me. It bounced off the tiled walls of the pool room, rich and pure. Still laughing, she tugged her wrists free and then wrapped her arms around my neck. Her floral scent filled my senses. Her body against mine shut my brain down.

“It’s probably similar to what I’m thinking,” she murmured, then her lips were on mine, firm yet sweet.

 The temptation to taste her overwhelmed me, and I gave in with very little resistance, if any. Her lips were fruity from the wine we’d drunk. I licked them and they parted, giving me access to her mouth. I slid my tongue in and her groan vibrated against my teeth, sending shocks of desires though my bones.

 My determination to keep things professional evaporated like dew in the desert. I carded the fingers of my right hand into the thick silk of her hair. My left hand found her hip. I pulled her close, and she moulded against me, her arms tightening.

 Warning bells rang. I told them to go to hell. For once I just wanted to lose myself in someone who wasn’t being paid to make me feel good. In someone who believed in me, even when I couldn’t.

 

What I really love about this scene is Gabe’s shift from cynical disbeliever, opening up – even if it’s just a little – to someone else and the possibility of being loved. I think most people deserve that in their lives.

 

 

 

 

5 Books that Changed Me KM Kelly

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  1. 1.Nightfall 1 by Isaac Asimov

 

This volume of short stories by Isaac Asimov opens with perhaps his most famous, Nightfall, the story that started his career. My father had bought it and left it lying around and I picked it up and started to read. I was perhaps eleven at the time. Up until that point I had read only children’s books, but the stories in those pages introduced me, quite literally, to two new worlds – the world of adult literature and the world of science fiction. This marked a transition for me as a reader, from children’s fiction to adult fiction and I don’t think I ever looked back.

 

  1. 1.The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

 

This is a pivotal book for me because it steered the way for my future career in oceanography. Reading science fiction had already instilled in me a fascination for science, but this story led me to the sea. In many ways it is a book ahead of its time. An alien intelligence is melting Earth’s icecaps and the descriptions of the impact on our drowning world are both powerful and, in many ways, prophetic. Only we don’t need any alien influences to melt the icecaps. We’re managing that all on our own.

 

  1. 1.Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household

 

This is the novel that first introduced me to the thriller genre, but the added fascination for me was the Dorset setting. An area I know all too well. I still get a thrill when I’m out exploring and I walk along one of the Holloways and I think of the un-named character hiding out in such a place. It’s an exciting story of pursuit and survival, one man against the odds.

 

  1. 1.The Last Days of Pompeii by Lord Lytton

 

Whenever people saw me reading this they would say “Ah, I know how it ends.” But it is this knowledge that adds to the brooding sense of foreboding. I read this before I actually visited Pompeii, saw it for myself, walked the streets, visited the villas and saw the bodies described in the novel. I loved the way the people of that ill-fated city had been brought to life by this book. I visited Pompeii during my honeymoon which was a turning point in my life and Lytton’s novel will always be part of that.

 

  1. 1.Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

 

This is a book that I should have read a long time ago, but somehow it slipped through the cracks. Then I started researching my family history and came to my Antiguan Great Grandfather, Ernest. I had always suspected that his story was an interesting one and when my DNA showed up a cluster of West African countries – something I suspected but never knew for sure – I realised I had to know more about this part of my heritage. Research is slow because records are sparse and to try to learn more about where Ernest came from I sought out literature. That was when I realised I had never read this book. I soon put that right. It’s a powerful story of passion and not truly belonging, feminism and post-colonialism, written as a backstory for Mr Rochester’s first wife. I can see why people say it is such an important book.

 

Buy The Sleepers by K M Kelly here

Amazing Products You Need to De-Stress

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SBC ARNICA MUSCLE SOAK – £15 SBCSKINCARE.CO.UK
Harnessing Arnica’s renowned comforting properties, SBC Skincare’s Arnica Muscle Soak works to help alleviate muscular tension and fatigue. The perfect start to your night-time self-care ritual, simply pump into a steaming bath, lie back, breathe in the delicate herbal aroma, and let the stress soak away. Notes of rosemary, sweet orange and ylang-ylang aid relaxation, while Arnica Montana helps to soothe your aching body, so you can truly unwind at the end of a hard day.
 
EMBRYOLISSE LAIT-CREME CONCENTRE – £13 BOOTS
Used as a mask in your self-care routine, this cream combines ingredients of natural origin, rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins to provide the skin with nutrients and water for its balance and helps protect it from aggression. Moisturised and nourished, the skin becomes supple and elastic once more. It is plumped, smoothed, and incredibly soft. Signs of dryness and discomfort are reduced, leaving the skin feeling soothed.
MYLEE NAIL POLISH ESSENTIALS KIT – £89 MYLEE.CO.UK

Whilst not something that’s going to instantly de-stress, doing your nails can be used as a distraction and quite a therapeutic activity. The Mylee Nail Polish Essentials Kit comes with a Pro LED Lamp, 4 stunning MyGel Polishes, Top and Base Coats, Gel Remover, and Wipes so you have everything you need to take 10 minutes for yourself.
ONLY CURLS EXFOLIATING SCALP SCRUB – £24 ONLYCURLS.COM
Another step to add to your self-care routine, as it is suggested that a scalp massage can help ease the stresses of the day and promote feelings of relaxation. It can also work wonders for your hair if combined with a scrub that will gently exfoliate to remove product build-up, excess oil and dead skin cells that gather at the root of your hair, thus promoting healthy hair growth.

Mask Your Way to Beautiful Skin – Arbonne Launches 3 NEW Face Masks to Target Common Skincare Concerns

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I am a huge fan of face masks. I find nothing brightens my face as much as a good face mask. I tried the new face masks from Arbonne and I loved them. They are vegan and plant based. What’s more; they really, really work. Get them here. 

Arbonne is expanding its skincare range to launch three new masks that are formulated to target some of the most common skincare concerns. The dermatologically tested, vegan masks are made using premium plant-based ingredients, suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Whether you’re looking for a dry skin saviour, an oily skin preventer, or a way to prevent breakouts in combination skin, Arbonne have a skincare solution for you.

Instant Cooling Moisture Mask with Peppermint – £34, Arbonne

Clarifying Detox Mask with Exfoliating Charcoal – £39, Arbonne

Cell Exfoliating Mask + Cleanser with Bamboo -£37, Arbonne