“The traffic was horrible today”. “I couldn’t find a babysitter”. “My boss asked me to stay late”. “I just don’t have enough time in the day”. “I’ll start back tomorrow.” “I’m so tired”.
How many of us have missed the gym or a favorite fitness class because of one or more of these reasons? Has it become an every-week-occurrence? One way to tackle these barriers is with a home gym. I don’t mean spending thousands on Bowflex and Nautilus machines. It can be as simple as having a small space in your home/apartment with a few hand weights and an exercise mat.
I relish the camaraderie of fellow gym mates and the challenging classes offered, but I also enjoy the freedom of working out at home. Here are five things I’ve found to be beneficial about home gyms.
1. You can be yourself. If you want to sing out loud while you’re doing deadlifts, who cares? No one is in earshot. Want to roll out of bed in your PJs with your hair a mess and grab your barbells? It’s cool because no one is around to judge your appearance.
2. Multitasking is a fave of mine while working out. Need to catch up on that Game of Thrones episode you missed? Awesome- do that while squatting and crunching. You can even prepare a dinner dish with a long bake time and put it in the oven while you do your exercises. For me, it is a time to also catch up with my family members who are three time zones ahead, without the worry of rudely disrupting someone else’s workout.
3. Money money money! Now this is a huge factor for a lot of people. Every workout item you see in my photo (minus my dog), as a total, costs just a bit less than the average luxury gym membership which is around $180 per month.
Here’s the breakdown:
2 medicine balls (4lb and 6lb) = $36
Swiss stability ball= $20
Resistance band set (includes 5 bands/manual/carrying case)= $33
Reebok balance board= $21
Neoprene dumbbell pair= $13
Nike speed rope= $13
Pilates mat= $24
Total= $160
So when you add my one-time equipment cost of $160 versus my gym membership which, for the full year, equals $1080, there’s no debate about which one is easier on your wallet.
4. A Time Crunch can be disheartening when you’re stuck in traffic after work and know you’re about to miss your 6pm body sculpt class that doesn’t happen again until next week. If you have small children, from what I hear from friends who are parents, it’s especially stressful to carve out that extra time for your fitness schedule- a babysitter conflict, your son is sick, etc. Having exercise tools in your own space adds a layer of convenience for you. Hopefully, you can get home, and after everyone else’s needs are met, you can focus on yourself for 20-30 minutes and squeeze in a quick total body workout. If you have a dog, even better. Add in some outside cardio by taking him/her for a long walk. The fresh air will do you good.
5. Hygiene is a factor you can definitely control better from home. Germs spread so easily at gyms, from one surface to the next, and I have personally witnessed people working out even while snot-nosed sick. If you’d rather not be exposed to this “germ incubator”, find solace in exercising in your home gym. You can take on 100% responsibility for cleanliness in your own workout space.
However you choose to strength train, burn calories, and get or stay in shape, (public gym/studio/home gym/etc.) just know your potential options outweigh your excuses. Set aside time for yourself, your body will thank you.
XOXO,
Tasha
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