Many people like the convenience of an at-home workout with their own home fitness equipment. A home gym can be a huge time saver when trying to squeeze a workout routine into a busy schedule. With careful planning, a home gym can provide a balanced workout routine for many years to come.
Home Gym Equipment Space Constraints
Before purchasing the first piece of equipment, begin planning an approximate size and scope of the new home gym. This will help to determine an appropriate budget, as well as allotted space for the home gym equipment.
When selecting the home gym location, think about the following factors for at-home workout routines:
- Time of day. Will the workouts take place while others are sleeping in the house? Be careful that the location for the desired time of day does not disrupt others in the house. Quieter equipment may also be necessary.
- Type of exercises. Will there be free-form exercises (i.e. yoga, aerobics, kick-boxing), or will most exercises be equipment based?
- Ventilation. Many people prefer to exercise in cooler places like a garage or basement. Consider spaces with air conditioning and/or fans.
- Headroom and clearance. Many types of home gym equipment require a certain amount of headroom when standing on it or fully extending during exercises. Carefully measure the area to determine allotted space.
A thorough review of any space constraints will reveal the types of home fitness equipment most appropriate for the home gym. A desired budget should then be established based on the number of equipment pieces.
Selecting the Best Home Gym Equipment
A well-rounded home gym has a variety of fitness equipment supporting the three main types of physical activity: cardiovascular, strength and flexibility. A piece of fitness equipment should be selected to represent each area of a good at-home workout routine.
- Cardiovascular activity. Higher-end cardio equipment can include treadmills, stationery bikes, and rowing machines. Less expensive options can include step machines, kick-boxing bags or simple aerobic instructional videos. A good home gym should invest in at least one main piece of cardio equipment.
- Strength training. Equipment for strength training can be as simple as hand weights or as sophisticated as an all-in-one multi-gym machine. If space and budget allows, a multi-gym machine that accommodates multiple home gym exercises is a good investment that will offer consistent exercise technique. However, strength training can be achieved with inexpensive hand weights following a good workout routine.
- Flexibility training. There are several types of flexibility machines on the market – such as Pilates or stretch machines. Basic flexibility does not necessarily require a machine. Stretching bands, foam rollers, stability balls and mats are inexpensive and easy to use for basic flexibility training in home gyms.
Starting a New Home Gym
Once types of desired new home gym equipment have been determined, consider acquiring individual pieces of fitness equipment slowly. Be sure that the fitness equipment pieces fit well into the space and workout routine. The best home fitness equipment incorporates a variety of workout routines that challenge cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
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Diane Seltzer - Diane is a branding, pr and social media marketer with experience ranging from advertising to corporate marketing and consulting.
