How to Create Your Own Home Gym

 

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No one can deny the importance of physical exercise. It keeps you fit and healthy, makes you feel great, and helps extend your life by several years. Going to the gym is a fantastic way to burn calories, build strength, and improve your physique.

But there are many issues with public gyms that mean they aren't a viable option for some people. Firstly, gym memberships are expensive. The average membership fee in the US is $58 per month, which adds up to a whopping $696 per year. Not everyone has this kind of money to burn. Secondly, many people don't have the time to go to the gym. If you have a busy schedule and don't live and work next door to a leisure center, fitting in the time to drive there and back can be a logistical challenge. 

A neat solution to both of these problems is to work out at home. A home gym is a brilliant way to save time and money when exercising. You don't need to travel anywhere, and aside from an initial purchase of gym equipment, there are no ongoing costs. A home gym can be anything from a dedicated workout space in your living room to a fully kitted out gymnasium with state of the art treadmills strength machines. It totally depends on your preferred level of exercise.

If you are interested in creating your own home gym, here are some tips to get you started.

Find a space

The first step to creating a home gym is to find a space to do it. This will entirely depend on your property. If you have limited space, you may wish to dedicate a section of your living room or bedroom to work out in, but if you have a larger property, you could have an entire room suited to the task. Perhaps you could even convert a basement or attic to do the job. Whichever space you use, it should be spacious enough to move about in and store any equipment.

Buy some equipment

It is perfectly possible to get a full workout without any equipment whatsoever. But if bodyweight exercises aren't your thing, it is worth investing in a few fundamental bits of kit. Some dumbbells and an exercise mat are really all you need, but resistance bands, pull-up bars, and foam rollers are also useful.

Create a storage solution

Once you've bought all this equipment, you need somewhere to store it. Whatever your home gym design, leaving it strewn across the living room floor won't impress your family. Invest in some shelving or cupboards to keep your workout equipment out of sight.

Plan your workouts

You've got all your equipment set up and ready to go. Now you just need to know what to do with it. Public gyms can make working out much easier as there are staff to tell you how to use equipment as well as workout classes and other help. When working out at home, you are left to fend for yourself. Find a workout regime that works for you and stick to it regularly, fitting in exercise when you have the time. There are plenty of free workout plans and other tools online to help you.