TARC Essentials
The kit that got me through — and that I still use today
When I was going through treatment, a handful of simple pieces of equipment made a real difference — to my strength, my mobility, and honestly, my mood on the harder days. Sometimes exercising at home is simply the safest option — whether that's avoiding the infection risk of a busy gym during chemo, or working around a day when fatigue hits hard. Having the right kit close at hand meant I could always find a way to move, safely, on my own terms. These are the pieces I came back to again and again, and the same ones I now recommend to TARC clients depending on where they are on the Traffic Light Fatigue Management System™.
(Some links below are Amazon affiliate links — if you buy through them, it doesn't cost you anything extra, but it helps support TARC at no cost to you.)
Resistance Bands (Mini)
Lightweight, portable, and endlessly versatile — the mini bands are perfect for glutes and smaller stability work, while the larger bands add scalable resistance for fuller-body strength moves as capacity builds. Gentle enough to use even on tougher days, and these travel everywhere with me.
The Essentials Value
Not sure where to start? A good rule of thumb is to match your kit to your Traffic Light colour for the day. On Green days, reach for the kettlebell, hand weights, or the Adidas HIIT Deck for a fuller session. On Yellow days, the bands, Swiss ball, or rebounder let you keep moving at a gentler pace. On Red days, the yoga mat and foam roller are all you need — a bit of stretching, breathwork, or rest.
You don't need every piece of kit to get started. Even one or two items — a mat and a set of bands, say — is enough to build a simple home practice. Add to your collection as you go, based on what you actually reach for.