If you’re a regular nine-to-fiver, going to the gym is probably not the first thing that comes to your mind after a long day at the office.
But we can’t ignore the fact that regular exercising is important, and it’s never too late to begin a fitness regimen. In fact, there are a myriad of ways you can get necessary amounts of physical activity, even in the comfort of your own home.
In this article, we will talk about how you can plan a budget-friendly home gym, so that staying fit won’t ever clash with your schedule.
Planning your first home gym
As with any activity, depending on your allocated budget, you can create anything from a dedicated fitness facility to simply storing a few dumbbells and other equipment and setting them up for your home gym. If you’re planning to set up a home gym, you can start with these budget-friendly pieces of core workout equipment for just around $100 as suggested by CNET:
- Mirror
- Jump rope
- Dumbbells
- Yoga block
- Foam roller
- Headphones
- Exercise mat
- Lacrosse ball
Also check out our list of the best overall exercise equipment for a home gym, if you want to focus on building muscle.
However, you can still stay fit and build muscle even without the use of equipment through the help of bodyweight exercises that include your own body weight and a little gravity, which can be just as effective as the moves you do with fancy gym equipment.
In planning a home gym, it is important to ensure that the workout spot that you choose has an adequate air ventilation and temperature as much as possible, because as we exercise, our heart accelerates, which results in faster breathing. You also want to be aware of the flooring, as it may hurt your joints and knee during the workout.
But before anything else, it is important to assess your personal fitness level to help you create measurable fitness goals and identify possible areas of health or injury risks prior to any exercise. Moreover, make sure that you listen to your body and don’t push yourself too hard. Ignoring the signals sent by our bodies will lead to further soreness and injuries.
Choose the proper area for your home gym
When choosing the area for your home gym, there are a few things you need to consider:
- Your home gym should be set up in a basement or on ground-level for safety and practicality reasons.
- Allow a safe distance between your workout area and any sharp-edged furniture.
- Make sure there’s proper ventilation in the room in which you’re setting up your home gym.
- Measure the room by laying down in all directions, and write down the distance between your body and furniture/walls. There should be at least 2-3 feet of space between you and other elements.
Benefits of a home gym
According to Mayo Clinic, an average adult should get at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity or 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, and at least two strength training sessions per week that will target all the major muscle groups. However, many of us struggle with making time for exercise from time to time. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get moving and start your fitness routine at the comfort of your homes.
A home gym is a small convenient spot at home where a person could workout anytime they want, without having to go to their local gym and pay for gym memberships for workouts. We’ve compiled some of the most prevalent benefits of having a gym at home.
1. Always open – fits your schedule
Home gyms are way more convenient than gym memberships because they’re right at the comfort of your home, making it a lot easier for you to fit workouts into your schedule. It provides you flexibility to workout on the most convenient time for you, may it be during the morning, afternoon, or evening, without forcing yourself to comply with the operating hours of your local gym.
You can also avoid the hassle of packing your gym bag, filling up your water bottle, driving all the way to the gym, finding a parking spot, going to the locker room, and more. Many people simply don’t have time for that and end up missing out on taking care of their physical health altogether.
2. Comfortable atmosphere
According to Healthline, you can workout without feeling self-conscious or pressured to push yourself too hard and beyond what you can do just to keep up with those people around you. In front of other people, so as not to seem silly, people may tend to perform their repetitions haphazardly with the goal of lifting as much as possible, which poses greater risk of injury. You can alleviate this problem by considering a home gym to make things more comfortable all-around.
When setting up a dedicated place at home for your workout sessions, it is recommended to choose a specific area of your home that keeps you motivated and where you can genuinely enjoy spending as much time as you need to. Moreover, if you’re living in an apartment, make sure to choose a place where you’ll be out of the way so you can avoid noise complaints from your neighbors.
3. More time for family and friends
Families who stay fit and exercise together see their attachment, emotional management, and social development skills improve over time, as they spend more quality time with their family members. Family home workout can also be a cheaper alternative for expensive family bonding moments, like a costly family dinner for four that can cost you more than $100.
It also helps ingrain in children what are the normal and healthy lifelong habits to keep, such as making an active lifestyle a priority instead of just allowing them to spend the entire day watching television or playing computer games. They may dread the idea of this at first, but over time they’ll appreciate you, and be thankful of the initiative you took for their health and well-being.
4. Better variety
Equipment availability will never be an issue, and you won’t waste your precious time waiting for an equipment or settling for another activity because the class you’re eager to take was already full. Working out at home is highly customizable and you have all the freedom to choose which workout you want to do for a specific day, depending on your fitness goals.
Plus, thanks to YouTube, there are tons of internet workout and yoga videos available for free, which means you can take a fitness class whenever you want at the comfort of your home without having to pay for gym membership. From high-intensity interval training routines to traditional aerobics, you can access all these workouts and all you need is a stable internet connection and a little living room space.