If you’ve decided to start working out, you are likely wondering about whether to exercise at home or at a gym. The truth is that, once you’ve considered what pieces you actually need,having your own exercise equipment can provide you with a host of benefits.
It Can't Possibly Be More Convenient
Let’s face it; having exercise equipment at home is as convenient as it gets. You don’t have to worry about driving to a gym before a busy work day; your commute is only as far as your spare room, basement, or garage.
There’s also no need to worry about having to wait until you can use equipment, which can be the case with a busy gym. You can also work out at times that suit your schedule best. When your workout is done, your private shower is just steps away.
No Excuses
One of the best things about a home gym is the fact that it eliminates excuses. When you work out at home, those factors that can keep you from going to the gym no longer apply. These can include:
- Your car breaking down
- Having a long work day ahead of you
- Inclement weather that’s unsafe or stressful for driving
- Gym hours that may not be suited to your needs
Of course, a home gym won’t provide you with the motivation you need to get up early and work out before heading to your job. However, when you invest in home fitness equipment, you eliminate many of the excuses for not working out, which can clear the way for a long-term commitment to exercise.
Time in a Home Gym Is Quality Time
You may spend up to two hours at the gym, but half of that may be taken up by waiting for equipment and chatting with other members, not to mention the time it takes to drive to and from the gym, among other variables. Not only that, but the above variables may take even longer if you happen to hit the gym at a peak time of day when it seems everyone is working out.
When you work out at home, you can focus completely on your workout and really put your nose to the grindstone. At home, you have the freedom to create a complete workout that will help to exercise and strengthen your whole body, as opposed to being forced to do what you can because the equipment you need isn’t available.
No Interruptions
There’s nothing more annoying than being focused and in the middle of a workout, only to have that focus interrupted by a trainer who tells you that you’re not doing something right or that you shouldn’t be doing a particular exercise. In your home gym, your focus on your workout is uninterrupted, and you can adjust your workout intensity by listening to what your body—not what someone else—is telling you.
You Control Everything
In public gyms, the rules for certain activities and use of exercise equipment are there for good reason. However, depending on the kind of equipment you’re using and the workout you’re doing, those rules may limit you. For example, you have to listen to the music the gym has chosen to play. You may also only be able to use so much of the gym’s supplies, such as chalk for lifting weights.
At home, you get to control every single aspect of your workout. There are no time limits, the music is always good and motivational, and you can use as much chalk and as many towels as you need to. You can also put up whatever images inspire you on your walls, and you do not have to be concerned about what someone else will think of them.
The ability to create an environment for working out that you always enjoy will go a long way toward helping you achieve the results you want.
There's No Pressure
Another great benefit of having a home gym is that you are all alone. There’s no pressure on you to compete with anyone and maybe do more than you should. As well, signing up at a gym may include attempts at persuading you to sign up for additional exercise programs and meal plans that you might not need.
Not only that, but you have no choice but to pay every year for a gym membership, and you have to do so on the gym’s terms. Not so with a home gym.
Your personal gym’s only member is you. You decide which exercise bikes for sale and other equipment you’ll buy and how long your workouts should be; you can stop whenever you feel like it; and, if you need to purchase any additional equipment or food, you can do it on your time at a price that’s comfortable for you.
You'll Save Money
The most important thing to remember about a gym membership vs. a home gym is the frequency of payment. You’ll have to pay each year for your gym membership and for as long as you decide to be a member.
Not only that, but you pay whether you show up to work out or not. With home gym equipment, you pay once and get to enjoy your equipment for several years. Should you decide not to work out, at least you won’t have to keep paying for your equipment.
How much money will you save? That will depend on the kind of equipment you buy. If you lift weights, your equipment will have a different cost than someone whose home gym requires an elliptical machine.
If you’re looking to save money, you can substitute some equipment. Let’s say you want to start walking. Instead of purchasing a treadmill, you can simply walk around the neighborhood. You can also walk in your local mall or tramp up and down the stairs in your house or apartment building.
When you consider the money it costs to purchase a gym membership in your area, and multiply that amount over 5 or even 10 years, it becomes clear just how much money a home gym can save you.
There Aren't Any Rules
In some public gyms, members must adhere to a dress code. As well, working out with certain members simply may not be your ideal scenario. In your home gym, you can work out by yourself, or invite whomever you like to join you in your workouts. Also, there are no dress codes to have to worry about.
You Might Inspire Your Family
Your home gym may have a positive effect on your spouse and kids. Seeing your workout equipment and watching you work out can instill healthy habits, which can have many health benefits later on. Even if you don’t have kids, your neighbors might also get some inspiration for living a healthier life from you.
If your family decides to take up working out, and you do so together, you all gain the added benefit of enjoying quality time making positive memories that will last a lifetime. Those memories in the gym can also inspire the family to take up other healthy activities, such as hiking, cycling, and kayaking.
Your Stuff Is Safe
Your home gym is a place where you never have to worry about losing your stuff. You can keep your keys, wallet, and workout wear in the open, and no one is the wiser. That’s not to say commercial gym locker systems aren’t safe, but there’s always a risk of unexpectedly losing your things.
Mini Workouts
Your schedule is absolutely ridiculous this week, and there’s simply no fuel left at the end of the day for a full workout. It happens to us all, but that’s perfectly fine when you have a home gym. Actually, it’s even better. How?
Because you can work out as intensely as you like, and whenever you like—between loads of laundry, during commercials, when you can’t sleep, or at any other time when you have a few minutes but no energy for a complete exercise routine. A few minutes of exercise is better than none at all.
A home gym gives you an incredible opportunity to get in shape on your terms and get results without distractions, interruptions, or unnecessary stress.
If you have any questions or concerns about equipment or space, contact us today and we'll help you get started!