Because my small condo gym is tiny, I am entirely careful about any investment into greater fitness equipment. I like to have enough free space to jump rope, lift, lunge, squat as well as perform all weird exercises without worrying about running into something. I have purchased a small set of free weights, a medicine ball, resistance bands, 2 yoga mats as well as jump rope. I felt that my inventory of gear was adequate for a variety of workouts as well as to target all the various muscle groups. I could incorporate high-impact aerobics, strength training, stretching, static holds as well as much more. I used the yoga mat to perform weird styles of abdominal crunches. Since I focus so heavily on the section around my waist as well as my tummy, I do a lot of crunches. The yoga mat was not great for this. I scraped the skin off the section around my tailbone. It was very raw as well as painful. I did some research as well as came across the idea of buying an inclined bench. The bench doesn’t take up entirely much space. It can be pushed narrow against the wall when not being used. It adjusts to varying degrees of incline as well as includes a thick padded seat. It increases the difficulty as well as benefit of all styles of crunches. I periodically hook my feet and toes so that my head is closer to the ground as well as perform typical sit ups. In this same position, I can crunch as well as perform twisting exercises that contract as well as hit the external oblique muscles. When I hang on with my hands as well as have my head at the high end of the bench, the exercises focus on the lower abdominal muscles. I’ve noticed a big improvement in my muscle tone since adding the incline bench.