We have all felt the post-holiday malaise: after a few too many sedentary days, weeks spent catching up with loved ones on the couch, or lounging on bucket-list beaches, many of us end December feeling a little less strong than we would like. But with the right tools and mindset, you can press the reset button in 2026.
As a personal trainer specializing in orthopedic exercise and senior fitness, I’m often working with clients taking their first steps into a fitness routine or bouncing back after some time off. I have trained, counselled and created product recommendation guides for countless individuals on that same path.
Related: I thought I hated working out until I tried this fitness app
Whether you’re new to exercise or just looking to find more joy in movement, here are some top picks I recommend adding to a beginning at-home fitness routine, organized by what you’re looking to achieve.
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Get flexible:
CTRL Sports Stretching Strap with Loops
$19.95 at Amazon
If you find routine chores eliciting dull, throbbing pains or just more discomfort than you would like, working on your flexibility is worth it. These handy stretching straps are a safe and incredibly satisfying way to do that. After your workout or a dynamic warmup (to avoid stretching “cold” muscles), place the arch of your foot in the middle of the strap and grab it by the loop on both ends. Gently tug your leg toward your torso until you feel a gentle stretch in your hamstrings. To stretch your hip flexors, bring the strap out laterally and hold.
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Start moving:
Zidafit Adjustable Pedal Exerciser Bike
$89.95 at Amazon
It’s true: you can get your cardio in while you’re sitting on your favorite emotional support chair. This joint-friendly exercise bike offers a gentle, low-impact, full-body workout with its wide arm and foot pedals. An LCD monitor keeps track of your stats and a foot massage pad at its base helps promote circulation.
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Stay on track:
Pautios Pedometer Fitness Tracker Watch
$29.99 at Amazon $40.04 at Sears
I try not to get too bogged down by numbers when I’m training myself or others, but I do love to track steps. When you know how many steps you’ve taken in a day, it helps you feel empowered to make a similar decision tomorrow. This fitness tracker and pedometer doesn’t require any third-party apps or even a phone to function. The bright LCD touch screen displays your step count, heart rate, distance and even sleep stats in real time.
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Have fun:
Tone Fitness Aerobic Step
$15.19 at Amazon $15.99 at Walmart
Fitness doesn’t have to be that serious! The best way to commit to a fitness routine is to find something you genuinely enjoy. For me, fewer things make my heart race like a few minutes of step-ups or toe touches on this aerobic step I’ve owned for years. It has plenty of grooves in its surface for traction, and you can adjust its height to three different levels. If you’re just beginning, start low and work your way up. You can also plant your hands on it for assisted pushups, which minimize the decline for an easier way to start.
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Stay grounded:
Lululemon The Mat
Related: This natural rubber yoga mat lasted me a decade of daily practice
$98 at Lululemon
This Lululemon mat has served as the literal foundation of my fitness routine for several years, and I don’t see myself replacing it any time soon. It offers just enough cushion to take pressure off your joints without compromising your balance, it’s extra grippy to keep you feeling secure even in the sweatiest of conditions, and cleaning it is as easy as a quick wipe down – no messy foam crumbs here. Its moisture-wicking properties and an antimicrobial additive have kept mine looking and smelling pristine for years.
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Improve your mind-body connection:
ProBody Pilates Small Exercise Ball
$9.25 at Walmart $9.49 at Amazon
You don’t have to be well-versed in pilates to have a blast with a pilates ball early in your fitness career. These things are great for a range of functions – from activating your proprioceptors (that mind-muscle connection) to challenging your balance and control, to optimizing your posture for reduced pain and discomfort. This one is burly enough to confidently recline your body weight on it during core exercises.
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Release tension:
321 Strong Foam Roller
$27.78 at Amazon $33.85 at 321 Strong
We tend to store a ton of tension in our myofascia, that thin layer of connective tissue that surrounds our muscles and bones. When we don’t give it enough TLC, we can experience pain and stiffness. Consider this foam roller, a staple in my home gym, your ticket to pain-free movement. Its deep nodes accurately target trigger points to promote myofascial release, whether you’re working on your iliotibial band (located just along your outer thigh) or your quadratus lumborum (where many of us store stiffness at our lower back).
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Improve overall mobility:
TRX Go Suspension Trainer
$139.95 at Amazon
You’ll have so much fun playing around on this apparatus, you might just forget you’re working out. My dad had to turn down his workout intensity in recent years due to ligament issues, and he uses the cult-classic TRX suspension trainer several times a week. Instead of adding an external load to reach hypertrophy or strength goals, it relies on body weight to perform both pushing and pulling actions, which can help optimize overall bodily awareness. This can help strengthen balance, mobility and potentially reduce the risk of falls.
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Build balance:
Hapbear Exercise Balance Pad
$39.99 at Amazon
Balance may not be a muscle you can flex in the traditional sense, but it’s something you can work on to improve safety both in and outside the gym. This textured balance pad provides a narrow, unstable surface to challenge your balance while you perform a range of movements, giving you the core strength and confidence to tackle more advanced movement patterns as they come up in daily life, such as navigating sidewalk obstructions or stepping out of your car carrying grocery bags.
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Build strength:
CAP Neoprene Coated Dumbbell Weights, 3lb
$8.99 for two at Amazon $13.94 for two at Walmart
These neoprene-coated dumbbells are a fixture in my fitness routine, and you’ll find yourself reaching for them any time you’re looking for a safe burn. They come in weights ranging from 2 to 15lbs, each in a color-coded, non-slip coating. Hexagonal plates prevent them from rolling and also let them double as handles to steady yourself in planks or kneeling rows. Start with a low weight (between 3 and 5lbs) to ensure proper form, and perform each movement for three sets at eight repetitions each to reach your hypertrophy (or muscle growth) goals.