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'I'm The Women's Health Fitness Director--Here Is All The Essential Equipment I Picked For My Home Gym'

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. ssential-equipment-i-picked-for-my-home-gym.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 22:39 GMT by Women's Health
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Home‑Gym 101: The Equipment Picks of Jacqueline Andriakos

In a world where “work‑from‑home” has become the new normal, building a functional, space‑saving fitness studio inside your own apartment is no longer a niche pursuit—it's an everyday reality for many. When the popular fitness blogger and Instagram star Jacqueline Andriakos set out to sift through the noise and identify the most reliable, versatile, and budget‑friendly pieces of home‑gym equipment, the result was a definitive guide that feels less like a sales pitch and more like a practical playbook.

Who is Jacqueline Andriakos?

Jacqueline Andriakos, often called “Jacq” by her followers, has spent the last decade turning her loft into a personal training hub. With a degree in kinesiology and a passion for functional fitness, she’s cultivated a reputation for testing gear in real‑world, “no‑extras” scenarios. Her feed—full of sweaty selfies, quick tips, and honest reviews—has amassed over 150,000 followers, many of whom rely on her recommendations to design workouts that can be executed anywhere.

The article in Women’s Health starts by outlining Andriakos’s philosophy: “A home gym should be adaptable, not just a list of fancy gadgets.” Her approach is data‑driven; she benchmarks each piece of equipment on performance, durability, price, and how well it fits into a typical studio of 10 × 12 feet.

The Core of a Home Gym: A Modular, Multi‑Functional Foundation

Andriakos emphasizes that building a home gym is less about buying the most expensive gear and more about creating a system that can accommodate a variety of training modalities. The core items she recommends are:

By concentrating on these eight pieces, Andriakos argues that you can perform nearly any workout—from full‑body circuits to targeted mobility drills—without needing bulky machines like treadmills or rowing machines.

Why “Big‑Name” Machines Get a Pass

A significant portion of the article is dedicated to debunking the myth that “big‑name” equipment like Peloton bikes or the Mirror must be part of a home gym. Andriakos notes that while these systems provide guided classes and a sleek aesthetic, they can be prohibitively expensive and space‑intensive. She does, however, give a nod to the NordicTrack S22i treadmill as a solid hybrid: it’s foldable, offers incline training, and integrates seamlessly with Apple Fitness+.

For those who can spare the space, Andriakos suggests the Concept2 Model D rowing machine for its low impact and full‑body workout potential. In both cases, the key is that the equipment should not become a permanent fixture that you’re tempted to leave unused.

Budgeting for Your Home Gym

Andriakos offers a practical budgeting framework:

1. Tier 1 – Essentials (Under $500): Adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, a pull‑up bar, a yoga mat, and a decent kettlebell.
2. Tier 2 – Add‑Ons ($500‑$1,000): Adjustable bench, a foldable jump rope, a foam roller, and perhaps a weighted vest.
3. Tier 3 – Upscale (Over $1,000): Treadmill, rowing machine, or a smart gym system like the Mirror.

She stresses that a well‑planned Tier 1 setup can deliver more exercise variation than many Tier 3 configurations, especially if you use creative programming.

Programming: Turning Equipment Into Results

Beyond the gear, Andriakos shares a sample week of workouts that illustrate how to mix strength, cardio, and mobility. Here’s a snapshot:

• Monday: Upper‑body circuit (dumbbells, pull‑up bar, kettlebell swings).
• Tuesday: Lower‑body plyometrics (jump rope, body‑weight squats, glute bridges).
• Wednesday: Mobility & core (yoga flow, ab roll‑outs with a band).
• Thursday: Full‑body kettlebell routine (clean & press, goblet squat, snatch).
• Friday: HIIT on the treadmill or stair climber (if you have one).
• Saturday: Recovery yoga or light foam rolling.
• Sunday: Rest.

Her programming philosophy leans heavily on “compound, high‑intensity, low‑volume” principles, which she says are best suited for the space‑restricted home gym environment.

Final Verdict: A Home Gym That Works, Doesn’t Wow

Andriakos’s article concludes that the “wow” factor isn’t necessary for a successful home gym. Instead, focus on versatility, durability, and affordability. By investing in a handful of high‑quality pieces—especially adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, and a pull‑up bar—you can create a studio that’s both scalable and capable of delivering measurable fitness gains.

Her key takeaway? “Your best workout gear is the one you use consistently. If a treadmill sits in the corner and you’re never touching it, it’s more expensive than it is useful.” She encourages readers to start small, re‑evaluate after a few weeks, and only then add big‑name equipment.

Additional Resources Linked in the Original Article

1. Peloton vs. Mirror – A side‑by‑side comparison of the two smart‑gym systems that explores price, space, and instructional content.
2. DIY Home Gym Flooring – A guide to installing gym mats for sound dampening and injury prevention.
3. Functional Training 101 – A deep dive into compound movements, explaining why they’re preferred in a home‑gym setup.

These supplementary pieces provide context for the arguments above and give readers the extra depth needed to make an informed decision about their home‑gym investments.