This activity could help you live longer and healthier, and it isn’t running

I love the convenience of not having to travel to the gym and being able to use all of that energy on a solid home workout instead. Whether it’s for privacy or convenience, many people are switching to smart home gyms that offer multiple workouts in one machine. As a health and fitness writer, I can honestly say that not all smart home gyms are created equal.

Recently, I put the INNODIGYM® OMNI X1 Pro to the test for a whole month, and this machine is a beast. Once you know what you’re doing, you’re off to the races, or should I say, off to your very own high-tech home gym? I remember the first time I ever set foot in a gym, and all the different machines seemed a little daunting. That said, it was pretty easy learning how to use the OMNI X1 Pro, and it’s all right there in one good-looking machine. Overall, I’m impressed with the quality, craftsmanship, and user-friendly nature of the OMNI X1 Pro, especially the straightforward setup.

The gym and I have always been at odds. From long commutes to memberships that feel like a life sentence, the extra effort chips away at my goals. Outdoor workouts offer a little less friction until they don’t. Weather fluctuations, crowds, and pretending I don’t mind people watching me contort into strange positions takes its toll as well. My solution? The smart home gym. 

These days, at-home workouts don’t require massive cages, rows of dumbbells, and complicated trainers that collect dust. Sleeker design and newer technology have unlocked a new world of at-home fitness that looks as good as it works. Best of all, restorative spa devices joined the party too, so you can decompress after a long workout just steps away from your gym setup. 

Every man has a similar thought when they first get up to go to the gym. We see it in movies. We see it in TV shows. The bench press is the number one representation of strength. When the movies or TV shows want to showcase their character’s strength, they send them to the weight bench with piles of plates on each side of a bar. The result of that is that when we head to the gym, the bench is the first destination. So, we need to make sure every man is armed with the knowledge and confidence. Men have to learn how to do a bench press and how to do it well.

That is why I reached out to one of my favorite fitness experts for our next edition of Fitness 101, James McMillian. As the President and Head Coach of Tone House, New York City’s premier athletic conditioning studio, he’s spent over a decade in the fitness world. From personal training and coaching high-energy group workouts to bringing people together through fitness experiences across the country, he is likely the busiest father and entrepreneur in New York. He is also in better shape than all of the Avengers and dresses better to boot. So, I will let him take the lead on teaching us about the bench press.