Let’s be honest – the costs of gym memberships are often more than their real value. With the availability of equipment and access to all kinds of workout videos at home, it’s becoming way easier to get in shape and build muscle without ever leaving your house. A home exercise space gives you more flexibility to plan exercise on your schedule and trade travel time for more of your favorite workouts.
By creating your own gym at home, you can be sure that you won’t be distracted or interrupted by anyone, and that no one else will be hogging that one exercise machine you like. Unless, of course, they already live with you.
There are a few things that you need to consider before you set out to buy weights, exercise bikes, or yoga essentials. Here are a few tips for creating an ideal home gym for your space and budget.
Find a Suitable Space for Your Workouts
When you have a lot of extra space, you have plenty of options for creating your home gym. Ideally, of course, you should dedicate one room, like a spare bedroom, garage, or basement. This would be perfect for installing weight or cycling equipment. Make sure to use a durable rotor crankset on your exercise bike, so you can enjoy years of regular use. But you can have a perfectly effective workout even in a small apartment. Though you may need to be more creative and careful about picking adequate exercises that don't require too much space.
At a minimum, there should be enough space to place a yoga mat, which is enough for stretches and bodyweight exercises. Lunges, squats, and pushups are considered royalty among strength exercises, and you don't need plenty of space or extra equipment for doing them. If you don't have room for big, fancy machines, basic High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with a jump rope could be an ideal part of your workout.
The Essential Home Gym Equipment
While it is tempting to buy a treadmill or elliptical, you don't need bulky machines to make your home gym a productive workout space. First, think of all the exercises and combinations you want to do and start with essential equipment every home gym should have.
Save the money you would spend on a treadmill and get a simple jumping rope for a good cardio workout. If you want to step up the game, go for a weighted jump rope. These are generally heavier to turn, so your hand and arm muscles will work harder.
Invest in a quality yoga mat and other props for yoga, pilates, and stretches. A shock-absorbent yoga mat is practical for other high-impact cardio exercises since it helps prevent injuries.
There are plenty of bodyweight strength exercises such as pushups and squats that don’t require any equipment. But if you want to crank up the strength training, you will need free weights. Dumbbells & kettlebells are an excellent addition to any home gym because they add resistance and weight to exercises. Barbells and racks require much more space than dumbbells and kettlebells. But if possible, it is good to invest in them to further progress in your strength training. The bench is another valuable piece of strength training equipment. It is incredibly versatile and practical for workouts such as bench press, tricep dips, and bench jumps. Most of the benches are foldable, so you can put them away when you don't use them.
Consider some post-workout recovery equipment that will enable you to get the most from the stretches. Besides the yoga mat, you may need a foam roller and trigger point ball.
Create the Right Ambiance
The idea that an at-home gym is only about the equipment is one of the biggest misconceptions. Same as the traditional gym, a home gym is about the music, lighting, and general atmosphere. A functional but also visually attractive space will make the prospect of working out more enticing. It all depends on the size of the room, but here are a few ideas on what you can do to decorate your home gym.
There should be enough light in the room. Natural daylight is the most important, but consider adding overhead and accent lighting. It will make your gym more elegant.
Artificial turf is another worthwhile addition to your home gym. First, it provides a natural feel and comes with high shock absorbency. That said, by installing high-quality synthetic grass, you will significantly reduce the risk of impact injuries. It is also incredibly comfortable to work out on since it is as soft and gentle as live grass.
Many people enjoy listening to music when working out because it is motivating and inspiring. A great thing about the home gym is that you can decide the genre and volume of music ( be careful not to make the neighbors angry).
Mirrors are also home gym essentials since they maximize the light and improve the sense of space. They are also practical when doing exercises that require precision, such as squats & deadlifts, yoga postures, etc.
Keep It Tidy and Clean
There’s a real art to clutter busting. Make sure to clear your home gym of all the clutter that might distract you. Put the shoes in the closet and the work laptop on the desk. Additionally, make sure to clean all the equipment after use. Always put the equipment away after use. By keeping your home gym clean and tidy, you minimize the risk of accidents and injuries.
Put Your Gym to Good Use
Now you are ready to use your gym. Invite a friend who expressed a desire to do a strength workout to join you. You can also ask your partner to do a CrossFit workout of the day (WOD) together, or simply hit the weights for an energizing solo lifting session.
