Working out at home, regardless of your fitness goal, is an excellent way to keep in shape without paying for a club membership. But, before you head to shops for purchasing weights, a yoga mat, and a treadmill, make a list of activities you want to do. Then figure out how much space you'll need and what equipment you'll need to get the job done.
Are you ready to start building your home gym? Here are a few tips to help you get started.
If you have a spare room or a great garage that you can convert, you can go big with a treadmill, rowing machine, and multigym. Otherwise, a little area in your living room or bedroom might suffice.
- The right equipment
You might get tempted to purchase all the fancy equipment at one go, but be wise. It’s better to add a little at a time, especially when you’re working out the space and how frequently you’ll use your gym.
To get started with your muscle gaining, losing weight or non-cardio activities, the following equipment will help you reach your fitness goals:
- Olympic barbell
- A squat rack with a pull-up bar
- Iron or rubber-coated weight plates
- A flat bench
All these items will aid you to handle heavy lifts targeting severe muscle groups. Dumbbells, extra convertible benches, jump ropes, ab wheels, treadmills, ellipticals and other equipment may then be branded to provide an all-around, tailored success regimen from the convenience of your own home.
- Flooring mats
Good gym-friendly mats are an essential item for your home gym. There are several types of options available for flooring mats.
However, rubber mats, among others, are increasingly popular in most commercial and home gyms. They are sturdy and resilient, which makes them an ideal option for any type of exercise or equipment. In addition, they’re easy to install, durable and water-resistant. The cons of these mats are expensiveness and heaviness.
However, if a home gym is your long-term goal, you should make this investment.
- Sound system
Sometimes, all we need is some good music to get motivated for a good workout or heavy lift. Your favorite music can pump you up, making all your troubles disappear. However, to get the most motivation from music, you should have the right home gym speakers.
Like the majority of people, you might also be tempted to go for a random Bluetooth speaker on Amazon. Maybe a 5-star rating is your criteria or the cheap price. However, the right sound system isn’t just the one that is the loudest. You should consider your room size and the working of the speakers too.
- Proper storage
Working out at home comes with a lot of responsibilities. Your home will be stored with an array of bulky and vibrant-colored exercise equipment, which will inevitably take over your garage. Hence, to keep a check on them, you should decide on their proper storage beforehand.
Firstly, disassemble large equipment; some equipment will be easier to compact than others. Further, keep delicate items, like yoga mats, resistance bands, jump rope and stability balls, in sealed containers. For heavy lift equipment, such as dumbbells, a double-decker rack will offer ample storage.
- A mirror
A bit of self-reflection is a real key to making gains. And here we are talking about mirrors; they are a major part of your fitness journey. It helps track your progress and keeps you motivated throughout the workout session. Furthermore, they help you adjust your posture, reduce the risk of injury and replace a trainer. In addition, they make the room appear larger.
Well, while making a purchase of mirrors for your home gym, there are certain factors that should be looked into. They are:
- Size of the mirror
- The lighting of the room
- Your Budget
- Safety
- The thickness of the mirror
In today’s COVID-19 world, a home gym is all about safety. However, just like your normal gym, you might want convenience at its best. We hope the above-mentioned tips must have helped you to build a home gym that is the best of the two worlds – safety & convenience.
To put it to good use, you can even call your gym buddy. If they want strength training or want to come sweat with you, they can visit and have a workout session with you at your home, just like their real gym.
