Creating a Home Gym: Tips for Staying Active and Healthy
Want to workout in your home?
Need a space to do yoga or meditate?
Want to save money on your gym membership?
In recent years, the concept of a home gym has gained immense popularity. Whether it’s the convenience of working out on your schedule or the ability to customize your fitness space to your preferences, designing your own home gym has become a dream for many fitness enthusiasts. If you’re considering creating a workout haven within the comfort of your own home, this blog post will guide you through the essential steps to design your own home gym.
We all have goals and New Years resolutions… There are a few things you need to consider when setting up your home gym. As well as the equipment you’ll need to make sure your space is functional and safe. We are going to go over some of the most common items people want and how to achieve your dream home workout space.
Start by considering the space you want to turn into your gym. If your space is small then you may want to consider smaller equipment or things that can fold and be packed away.
Should you hire a professional?
Short answer.. Yes.
Hiring a professional to manage your job for you, lets you worry about the finer details and enjoy the space to its’ maximum level of comfort and usability.
Structural strength is going to be important for your home gym. Feeling comfortable and knowing you have a safe environment will allow you to relax and have better workouts.
Create a dedicated work out space
Having a space that is well designed and suited to your needs will dramatically increase your chance of developing a good workout routine and achieving your goals. A professional design will allow you to express what you want, and get the most out of the space. Deciding on the layout first is important as outlets can be added in accessible locations to reduce dangerous cords and give a more professional, finished look.
Boxing bags can be hung from the ceiling and racks installed to store your workout gear efficiently and create space. Having a contractor design the room and install the shelving, adequate strength beams and proper flooring means you can stop paying hefty gym fees and get the workout you need at home.
Flooring
A ground floor or basement are generally recommended if you’ll be using heavy weights and equipment. The concrete floor is going to give adequate support and not get damaged. An upper floor normally is made from wood and may break under strain or become weak. It will also be loud and may creak under foot.
In addition to the foundational surface, consider interlocking matting which can be placed on the floor to create a softer, more supportive surface to work out on. This is easy to lock together for any space and can be packed up if needed then reassembled quickly for a workout.
A professional contractor is going to hire a flooring expert to make your home gym resemble commercial gyms. A resilient, water proof floor is going to last for a long time and make for easy clean up as you sweat your way through workouts. We recommend a vinyl or interlocking rubber floor to provide comfort, protection and a professional look.
Mirrors
Adding mirrors to your workout space will make it look bigger and allow you to check your form as you work out. Many people choose a basement or small room which may not have windows or be spacious. We recommend hanging mirrors that will add a spacious look and be functional.
Pull Up Bar
A common home gym item is a doorway pull up bar. If you don’t have space for a full squat rack (normally has dedicated chin up handles) then you have two main options, one simply tightens into the door frame. We don’t recommend this option.
Why?
1. It’s not 100% safe, you could easily fall and injure yourself if it becomes loose
2. It will almost certainly damage the door frame by leaving round marks where it was tightened
The second option is recommended because it is safer and puts less strain on one individual part of the frame. You don’t need to screw or drill it in, so the frame is left undamaged.
A couple of things to do before hanging your pull up bar to check the doorway strength:
1. Check if it’s nailed or glued, nailed will be stronger and less likely to break under strain.
2. Test the strength by pulling on the top of the door frame, it should not move or make any sounds. If you think it’s weak then it probably is.
3. Once you’ve tried pulling on the door frame, try hanging from it using your fingers to hold on.
The best option is to have a professional check your door frame for strength and build a new one if it’s old. This will provide you with peace of mind while you’re in the middle of ten reps.
A typical door frame can hold up to 220 pounds so be realistic about your weight and if you think pull ups on a door frame are suitable for you. A professionally installed pull up bar into the studs on a wall can support up to 600 pounds so this is a safe and affordable option.
Installing hooks and hanging items like barbells on walls can save space and make them easy to grab when you want them.
Equipment
Start with the basics and things you know you will use, things you have used in the past. A yoga mat or lock in flooring is a good start, followed by some dumb bells and a Swiss ball for core exercises. See if you can do the workouts you want to do and add equipment as you go. This will save your home space being crowded with unnecessary equipment.
Treadmill / Exercise Bike
You don’t need much space for these items and they can add a source of cardio to go with your routine. Professional electrical receptacle installation can ensure no cords are in dangerous positions and your equipment can function safely.
Yoga / Meditation
A mat is all you need here. Consider a wall mounted screen or a space for an iPad if you like following along to a class. A diffuser and a nice plant can help to soften the mood and allow you to relax into a session. A portable speaker that stays in the room or some kind of stereo will also allow you to play the music or class you want.
Routine
Try and get into a good routine, some tips are:
1. Work out at the same time each day, this is going to be different for all people. Some like to capitalize on morning energy and get their workout done first thing.
2. Have the gym space clean and ready to go, try not to clutter it and force yourself to have to move things just to work out. Keep your work out space just that, a work out space. Any excuses will be enough to prevent a workout, like “Oh, I really don’t want to move all the kids toys just to work out”.
3. Have snacks and energy drinks/smoothies on hand and ready to go, this will encourage you to work out and feel sufficiently fueled.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully you have got some insight into the thought process and the steps to follow to build your home gym. Your dream can come true by thinking through your workouts, what equipment you want and most importantly, the space you are working with. Consult a professional, as they can take your ideas and layout viable options for you, based on your wants, space and budget.
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