How to Create Your Own Gym At Home

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.

Your Guide to Cleaning Your At-Home Gym Equipment

With gyms getting shut down during the pandemic, many people reverted to building an at-home workout space to remain consistent with their fitness goals. When it comes to gym equipment, cleanliness and upkeep are just as important as putting in the physical work. Did you know that weights have 263 times more bacteria than a toilet seat? That’s why it’s important to keep up your cleaning routine alongside your fitness regime. Below we include tips on how you can start cleaning and caring for your at-home gym equipment. 

3 Step Cleaning Routine for At-Home Gym Equipment 

Here’s an overview of a cleaning schedule for your workout essentials: 

1. Wash your equipment daily with a simple soap and water solution to clean daily dust and dirt build up. 

2. Sanitize and spray down your equipment after each workout to reduce the spread of bacteria and germs. 

3. Disinfect your equipment monthly with strong solutions for a deep clean that eliminates germs. 

How to Clean Your Gym Equipment 

Every piece of fitness equipment deserves its own TLC. Here’s how to clean germs and bacteria off of different pieces of gear.

Cardio Equipment 

Cardio equipment includes stationary bikes, treadmills, stair masters and any other equipment you usually use to get your heart rate pumping. Follow the steps below to ensure you’re putting safety first: 

1. Unplug the machine. 

2. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. 

3. Dip a cloth into the soapy water and towel wash all of the non-electrical services including the areas that get the most love—the pedals and seats! 

4. Dry the washed areas with a second, clean cloth. 

5. Finish the cleaning routine by wiping down all surfaces with a disinfecting wipe or solution and let it air dry. 

Our shoes and workout clothing can also carry germs, so make sure you’re cleaning them often to avoid spreading the germs onto your clean equipment. 

Strength Training Equipment 

Strength training equipment includes gear like weights, dumbbells and resistance bands. Here’s a simple 4-step cleaning routine to implement into your strength training regime: 

1. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. 

2. Dip a microfiber cloth into the mixture and wipe down the equipment. 

3. Dry the weights with a separate microfiber towel. 

4. Finish off by wiping them down with the disinfectant solution or wipe and let them air dry. 

For more tips on how to clean different at-home gym equipment along with a DIY cleaning recipe, check out the infographic created by adidas below. Happy cleaning! 

Tips on Designing a Beautiful and Effective Home Gym

Do you want to work on your pre-pandemic weight? Or do you want to become a stronger individual that can handle all her jars on her own? Or do you just want to improve your cardiovascular and mental health with some exercise? Having a home gym at your disposal is a great benefit. However, how do you create a workout space that’s both practical and beautiful? Here are a few tips for designing a perfect home gym:

Designate a space

Before you start your first yoga session or drop down and give us 20, you need to find a proper spot for your home gym. You probably don’t have too much space at your disposal, but at the very least, you should free up enough room for a yoga mat and separate it with a room divider. If you have some more space and need a variety of exercises to reach your goals, open up some more space for HIIT workouts. If you’re planning to introduce some heavy lifting to your regimen, you will most likely need to designate a whole room to your home gym or at least join your home office and your gym.

Set up the floors

Before you start taking in the gear, it’s important to protect your floors and provide yourself with a comfortable and safe surface for working out. The best thing you can do is get a few gym-flooring square coverings that provide you with a little bit of cushioning while doing cardio. These are also slip-resistant, even when covered in sweat drips, and protect your floor from dropped weights and shoe marks. And don’t worry, you don’t have to splurge on gym flooring—these floor coverings can be found in places like Home Depot for less than $20, and you can install them yourself since they interlock like puzzle pieces.

Introduce equipment

As stated above, if you’re an avid yoga practitioner or love those body-weight HIIT workouts, you won’t need much gear. In those cases, a yoga mat and some elbow space are all you need. But if you love to lift or want to work on your cardio more seriously, you will have to look into gym and fitness equipment such as weights, benches, racks, treadmills, stationary bikes and similar—depending on what kind of workout you’re planning to do the most. It’s best to invest in commercial-grade equipment because such pieces are durable, ergonomic and don’t lose value that easy (in case you need to dismantle and sell your gym).

Add storage

Storage is a lifesaver in gyms. Firstly, you don’t want to look at ugly clutter all the time. Secondly, you don’t want to waste time searching for your jump rope or resistance bands. And thirdly, you don’t want to trip over dumbbells and end up in a cast. If your workout routines are minimalistic, all you need is a container that can hold all your equipment from a yoga mat to bands, sliders and tiny weights. But if you love to have all the gadgets at hand at all times, convert an empty wall into a storage station with shelves, hooks and hanging organizers—these will hold workout necessities and a few decorations like candles, potted plants and inspirational photos.

Don’t forget a mirror

Every workouts space needs a mirror for following form, focusing on certain muscles and taking cute selfies. But that’s not all—mirrors open up a space, making your tiny home gym look like a nice workout studio. And when you combine it with proper lighting, you will look and feel so good about your body.

As you can see, home gyms can be both small and big, depending on your needs and availability. But what they can’t be is ugly, depressing and cluttered. With quality equipment, good storage, a few accessories and a good mirror, the results will come on their own!

Is A Home Gym Worth The Investment?

Whether you’re buying a new home, building a new home, or repurposing your current home, the thought of an at-home gym has probably crossed your mind. Home gyms have become more popular throughout the year and are staples in many homes. During the pandemic, the necessity for a place to exercise at home became even more prevalent. But home gyms can be expensive, especially if you’re starting from scratch. So the question is, are home gyms worth the investment?

Health

We’ve all been told that investing in our health is one of the most important things we can do. Aside from eating well, exercise is an optimal way to stay healthy. Healthy living has long-term physical, mental and financial benefits. Doctors all over the country recommend daily exercise routines as a method of preventing long-term pain. Additionally, physical exercise helps to keep away diseases and medical problems down the line that are not only dangerous but expensive as well. Many preventable conditions, like hypertension and type 2 diabetes, come from lack of exercise and healthy eating. The cost of doctor's visits, prescription medicines, and co-payments takes more of a hit on your wallet than a home gym would. Having a home gym can aid in staying consistent with the physical part of healthy living.

Accessibility

The biggest perk of having a home gym is accessibility. Unlike a traditional gym, a home gym is open 24/7. Whether you need to fit in an early workout before work or a late-night session before bed, a home gym is never closed. You have access to all the equipment you like and you don’t have to wait in line behind other gym-goers for any machine. There is also no need for calculating a commute time when looking at an at-home fitness center. From any room in your home, you’re only a minute away from the gym. The perk of accessibility goes further if you or anyone in your household is in a wheelchair or relies on any sort of adaptive equipment. Many major gyms are not entirely accessible to those with disabilities. Being able to personalize both the machines and the location of the gym eliminates any potential accessibility issues.

Functionality

The price of your typical gym membership factors in a lot of different costs. The cost of rent, utilities, employees, machines, amenities, and maintenance churns out a hefty price tag. Oftentimes, we don’t even take full advantage of all the things we are paying for. Whether that’s because you don’t have the time or because you don’t like a certain machine or amenity, you’re still paying for all of it when you get that monthly bill. Putting together your home gym eliminates all these excessive costs. You can customize the space to be functional for you and your needs. If you’re more of a cardio person you can choose mostly cardio equipment. If you tend to stick to weights and lifting, you can choose machines that reflect that. While it may be more expensive upfront than a monthly gym membership, you’re paying for what you need and what is most functional for you.

Long Term Costs

Having a home gym provides more financial benefits than you would think. The obvious is having a home gym eliminates the need for a gym membership. These days, gym memberships and boutique fitness classes have become rather expensive. The U.S. average annual gym membership cost is roughly $507, with the monthly average ranging from $38 to $45.  While the gym may cost more upfront, in the long run, you still save money. You can also customize your gym to your needs and avoid purchasing unnecessary equipment which you’d pay for in a traditional gym membership. Aside from no membership costs, having access to a home gym helps people stay in shape which prevents the need for medical assistance down the road.

Bottom Line

Building a home gym can be expensive. The cost of the space, equipment, machines, and mats adds up. However, the long-term savings are extensive. Between cutting back on spending and saving on time spent going to and from the fitness center, a home gym could be exactly what you need. Like all things, there are pros and cons to this investment. Overall, if having a gym at home fits your lifestyle and makes your life easier, then this investment is a winner for you.