Having a healthy lifestyle is very important for your own personal well-being. Going to the gym to to keep yourself fit can be part of your weekly routine. However, if it becomes time-consuming and costly, setting up a gym right inside your home may be the next step for you.
Here are 10 home gym ideas to guide you about the right starting equipment, expenses, and other essentials related with this home project.
1. Set it up according to what exercise you like best
In a BBC report, Dr. Catherine Sabiston, North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity member, said the best exercise is the one you will enjoy.
You may set up a simple indoor basketball court or a rock-wall climb as featured on Houzz. Others may prefer dancing or swimming. The key here is for you to keep on exercising so that you will reach your goal.
2. Have a board with your schedule on it
BBC has also interviewed Pascal Bollmann, personal training gym owner in Freienbach, Switzerland, and he recommended a 10 to 15 minute morning routine exercise which may give you the needed energy for the day. You have to stick to your schedule to make it work for you, though.
Use a cork board to pin your weekly schedule or you may also use a white board.
3. Post instructions on how to use the equipment
You don't want to wear and tear your equipment by not knowing how to operate it properly. Also, it would do your body more harm.
Check out free sessions offered by some fitness centers to familiarize yourself with the equipment, Dr. Sabiston said. By doing that, you may learn about the principles behind each exercise---how to do it right or what to avoid.
4. Start with some basic equipment
For a home gym, buying an endurance machine may cost $300-800 for a cheaper brand, a TRX set may cost $190, $150 for a set of kettle bells, and a lower back bench for $160, BBC noted.
5. Have a space saving equipment
If you have limited space, you may buy foldaway equipment as it costs less. However, it may also not be that sturdy, Dr. Sabiston warned.
6. Be creative, use cheaper options/versions
One may also just use skipping rope, Swiss ball, dumbbells which can already target several body parts for toning. You may just need to buy a training stand worth $75 for your bike to turn it to a stationary indoor cycle, suggested Dr. Sabiston.
7. Avoid the basement
Dr. Sabiston explained that "Most of the time gyms are relegated to the basement, which is usually the least inviting space in anyone's house and the easiest place to forget it. The more natural light, the brighter your workout space is, the better."
On Architecture Art Designs, many gyms are set up with great views to motivate you further. Some are placed near windows or in the terrace with open air and if not possible, you may put a nice TV in front of you.
8. Have a nice wall decal
As seen on Houzz, a home gym with a wall decal with words like "commitment, focus, aim high" aims to inspire the owner.
Remember, we need to motivate our body, but it must start with a strong mind. "You have to know what you want to achieve. You need a road map, a longer-term goal, and you break it down into short term goals," Nick Mitchell, founder of Ultimate Performance training company, told BBC.
9. Add some accents to beautify your home gym
Architecture Art Designs has also featured home gyms with plants that make the ambiance more lively. Adding Zen-inspired artistic elements makes a yoga room more relaxing, Houzz recommended.
You may also add storage for towels to make it organized. Repaint your room or add some lights to make it bright.
10. Allow some space for work out sessions with buddies
Although this is a home gym, you must have enough space so you can invite friends to exercise with you once in a while. This will create a more competitive but a fun environment to lift you up.
