Most of us wish to stay fit and healthy but don’t have the time to head to a gym daily. Regardless of what you are paying for your gym membership, the hassle of going all the way there is never tempting, but what if you could bring a gym into your home? Would that motivate you more to adopt a healthier lifestyle?
If the only thing keeping you from working out is the distance between your home and the gym, then why not set up a small gym at home? The process is simple, and you can easily accomplish the feat with the tips we’re sharing below. But first, let’s answer the following two questions:
Where to Set It Up?
The first consideration while setting up your home gym is to determine if you have space for it. If you have a spare room in your house or apartment, it can work best as a dedicated area for your workouts. However, if setting aside a whole room is not a possibility, consider allocating at least half of it to your workout sessions and equipment. You can choose to convert part of your living room into a gym as well, depending on the lifestyle you enjoy and the frequency of guests at your place.
The purpose behind determining the space beforehand is to ensure that your gym equipment will be kept set and ready to use all day, every day. This will ensure that you do not start skipping your workouts due to the hassle involved in setting up the equipment and taking it back down repeatedly.
What’s Your Budget?
You’re setting up your home gym and what’s the first thing you’ll get to hear? Well, most people believe that setting up a gym at home can actually be pretty costly and that is what a vast majority tell you. Contrary to popular belief though, setting up your home gym is a one-time investment and is actually going to be a lot cheaper over time, if you actually use it regularly, especially when you consider the gym membership costs you’re asked to pay every month, without even using the facilities on offer.
However, that doesn’t mean going overboard with setting up your home gym. Ideally, figure out just how much money you have in hand to spend on the project before you begin. Remember that the exercise machines in stores are not cheap and you might have to work out on cheaper alternatives until you save up enough to make an investment. This should not affect your motivation to work out though, as several home-based workouts are quite effective as well, without the need for costly gym equipment.
Tips to Setting up Your Home Gym
Now that you have space and budget concerns sorted out, let’s get started with the tips and considerations that you need to keep in mind:
Align It with Your Workout Preferences
Some of us work out to stay fit, others do it to lose weight, and some simply want to build up strength over time. Set up your gym based on your requirements. What do you want to achieve from your home-based workouts? Your answer will determine the equipment that will decorate your gym. If you prefer yoga over lifting weights, a yoga mat and a stability ball might be all you need to improve your flexibility. However, if you want to build some muscles, you will require dumbbells and weights for your daily workout. Similarly, a treadmill or an elliptical bike might be ideal for cardio workouts. The choice of equipment depends on your use and purpose.
Let the Light In
Seeing sunlight entering into a room can be uplifting and motivating. While letting in natural light is the ideal solution, it might not be possible for people living in an apartment. Adding glass walls for the sunlight to enter is also not a possibility for people living in a house without an exterior boundary wall. So, you should go for the next best alternative.
Most professional gyms have a lot of mirrors and glass walls with bright lights that reflect off surfaces everywhere. The effect not only creates an illusion of space but also results in an ambiance that is bright, active, and motivating for all the fitness enthusiasts frequenting the establishment. Apply the same trick to your home gym and set up a lot of lights and mirrors in the space. The mirrors will not only make the area appear more spacious but will also help you monitor your posture during a number of exercises.
Soften Your Landing
Well, you’ll rarely actually fall off an exercise machine, but if you plan to exercise daily on the floor, it is best to add rubber mats to the floor, so your body is not sore from working out on the hard surface. Additionally, consider added similar padding or insulation to the walls, as this can block out sounds and ensure that your neighbours and family members are not bothered by grunts, growls, or the noise of the exercise machines, which can be quite loud at times.
Don’t Forget the Essentials
Regardless of what your workout goals might be, there is some equipment that is a must in all gyms. Among these are a yoga mat, a stability ball, resistance bands, a pull-up bar, and a stopwatch. Most of this stuff is usually already available in the home of fitness enthusiasts, and you might not need to actually spend money on buying the basic equipment for your home gym.
Buy Only What You Will Use
This tip is especially for the exercise machines that you’ve been wanting to bring home for some time now. While the idea of having a treadmill or a stair climber or an elliptical bike is charming, will you really be using it every day?
The machines are not cheap, and unless you have extra cash to spare, it is recommended that you review your workout regime and determine what machines will actually be of use to you. Invest in those and those alone. When it comes to buying exercise machines, remember that the better the functions, the more the price and in most cases, the better the quality of the product. Here, spending more on additional functions can actually be a good idea.
Measure Your Space
If you’ve decided on the exercise machines you want to purchase for your home gym, you only have to go to the store and buy them, right? Wrong! Rushing things can cost you dearly. If you’ve made up your mind on the machines you need, start by measuring the space that you’ve dedicated to your home gym.
Exercise machines are available in a range of sizes and in portable as well as standard versions. Your choice will depend on the space you have available for setting up the equipment because crowding your gym with too many machines will only bring down your motivation levels fast.
Stick to Your Workout Plan
The purpose behind setting up your home gym was to ensure that you’d be able to work out daily in the comfort of your own home, so stick to your plan. If you don’t have one, now is the time to make one. Create a workout regime and stick to it for effective results. Your investment in the home gym will also be well worth it if you can follow your workout sessions as scheduled.
Setting up your home gym is easy with the help of these tips, so get started and move towards a healthier and more active lifestyle today!
