If you lead a busy lifestyle and cannot make it to the gym on a regular basis, consider building your own home gym that you can use according to your schedule. Building a gym isn’t as hard or expensive as it may sound when you take in to the cost of an annual gym membership. A single gym membership can cost up to $1000 per year, whereas a home gym can be used unlimitedly by all members of the household. Follow these simple guidelines and enjoy your new home gym.
Location
The location of your gym is essential to how much use you will get out of it. The gym should be in a well-lit room which will naturally increase your energy and endurance. Basements or garages without windows or lighting fixtures should be avoided.
The floors of your gym should be hardwood, ceramic, tile or concrete. A carpeted surface is difficult to balance on and can cause accidents.
Whether you have TV or audio in your gym is up to you. Some people feel the need to watch TV while on a treadmill to make the time go by faster and others need music in the background to keep them motivated. Only you know what conditions you like working out in, but make sure these conditions are met so that you are motivated to use your home gym.
It is important to note that a gym doesn’t need to have a whole room. A home gym, with the exception of large equipment pieces like a treadmill, can be stored in a closet or storage bin and taken out as needed.
Cardio Equipment
A good home gym incorporates both cardio and strength equipment. The best cardio machine is the treadmill. It is the best way to run and walk and build endurance. Though it might seem expensive, consider the cost of a one-year gym membership and how quickly it would pay for itself.
Steps that can be raised and lowered are great cardio tools. You can easily climb stairs and do aerobic exercises in one place. Steps are a great idea for small spaces.
Strength Equipment
If funds are not a problem, buy a set of weights. Dumbbells can be used for hundreds of weight-lifting exercises and they can target specific muscles to broad areas. Start off small, only buying several sets of weight that you can currently lift. As you start building muscle you can gradually buy heavier weights.
Resistance bands are the most economical way to build muscle and are also great in addition to dumbbells to increase flexibility and stability. Resistance bands can be purchased in a variety of weights and sizes. Attaching an anchor that can hold up to double your weight to the ceiling would allow you vary the exercises with your resistance band.
These are the first pieces of equipment that you need to build the best home gym. Gradually you can add more sophisticated pieces but these essential basics are great to get started.
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Kimberly Desario is a fitness guru and aspiring blogger, who enjoys writing about all things health and fitness related.
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