Monkii 360 is my favorite Covid-era home workout device

Here in Oregon health clubs have been closed for most of the pandemic. I'd been working out three days a week at Courthouse Club Fitness, so needed to find an alternative way of getting in my usual dose of aerobic exercise and weight training.

I've bought five devices that seemed promising. Three of them currently are sitting unused. I'll mention them briefly, then share what I like about the #1 and #2 favorite home workout devices.

(I walk two miles a day with our dog up and down some fairly steep hills, so my device focus has been on strength and core exercises.)

Early on I got a Gorilla Bow. I used it for a while, but it didn't appeal to me all that much. The Activ5 is a palm-sized gadget that lets you do isometric exercises via a smartphone app. At first I liked it, but eventually it came to seem too difficult to use correctly. The Nucleus Central Core Pro is a simple water-filled device that I'd still be using if I hadn't discovered...

Monkii 360. (Scroll down that web page to see a video and description of the device.)

As shown in the photo above, Monkii 360 consists of a cleverly-designed ball with hand grips that allow you to grasp it in different ways depending on the exercise you're doing, resistance bands ranging from 20 pounds to 45 pounds that afix to the ball via a carabiner in three possible locations, and optional weights that fit inside the ball to adjust the intensity of a workout.

The other end of a resistance band is easily tethered to a door in your house -- either at the top, side, or bottom. A well-designed smart phone app leads you through a variety of multi-day programs such as Cardio, Core, and Hybrid (mix of Cardio and Core).

I've been using the Monkii 360 every day for about five weeks.

I finished the 36 day Hybrid program a few days ago. It starts off with short easy workouts, then ramps up considerably by the end, where a heavier internal weight and stronger resistance bands made for a pleasingly sweaty 20 to 30 minute workout session. 

The smart phone workouts are a blend of timed exercises, short rest periods, and exercises with a set number of repetitions.

This makes for an enjoyable workout that is challenging, yet not excessively so. I still enjoy my Monkii 360 as much, or more, as when I first got it. Every day I look forward to heading to our utility room, which has the best door for attaching the device, and experiencing another workout on whatever program I'm using.

Bottom line for me: Monkii 360 is a fun way to exercise at home. It's a full body workout, for sure.

I've gotten considerably more fit after using it for the past five weeks, and I was in pretty good shape before. The wide variety of movements you can do with the device makes it a winner. It can be used by people of all ages and fitness levels. 

I feel good that at the age of 72 I was able to get through the entire Hybrid program with no problem. Here's a video that explains Monkii 360 nicely.

Lastly, I can also recommend the OYO Personal Gym. I use it every day after doing some physical therapy and yoga exercises in front of the TV. It's well designed and is a good substitute for lifting weights. I just can't call it fun, like Monkii 360 is. For me, at least. Your opinion may vary, naturally.

Comments

[El]

Liked the videos on the Monkii as well as Oyo thanks! I'm considering it, and love that you did all the research, consideration, as well as testing.

Basically, when I need something, all I have to ask is what does Brian Hines use. I hope people realize just how much trouble you can save them, THANKS!

[El]

P.s. I cut this bit out of my previous comment and now i think wth, I'm adding it as a p.s.
What interested me about the OYO, thanks for mentioning it, is tha I'm familiar with a light weight routine which I did for more than a year, a few years back, and the only objection I have for at home is (in my head, this is just me) the messiness of different weights, the decisions, and seriously, just picking them up. I had access to state of the art equipment/machines before. What I find apealing about the Oyo is it seems so TIDY plus the creativity of going in both directions.
Working with weights is appealing because I find the repetitive motions calming, it is actually recommended for kids on the spectrum (over group games which require communication and interaction skills and can lead to feelings of frustration and being left out). I don't know why I bring this up but things that work for spectrum peeps always appeal to me. For instance bouncing on a fitness ball is a great solution for spectrum kids in a classroom since they focus better when they move. I loved that bit of info, because I found leading people thru an exercise routine bouncing on a ball is a great start-the-class icebreaker:- it settles people, they can chat and be distracted and it still works, and once you add rythmic jazzy music and arm exercises, their mindset is shifted and established in calm fun. Try bouncing on a ball when you're upset or despondent next time, or just when talking on the phone or watching TV or a video.