Preparing your body for the summer season may be an annual ritual that you start to regret when you see the packed parking lot at the nearby gym. Gyms see a surge of attendance when the temperature rises, and you might stand in long lines to use your favorite equipment. Rather than dealing with the chaos at the local fitness center, you can set up a home gym that allows you to exercise at any time. After selecting a trusted equipment provider, you can purchase machines, supplies and dumbbells online.
What Equipment Do You Need for a Home Gym?
A home gym can fill a massive room (similar to a public center) or occupy a modest area in your basement. The size and scope of your project depend on your fitness goals and preferences. Your past experiences with the local facility can provide a blueprint for your home gym project. Which machines and equipment do you frequent the most when you work out?
If you’re only interested in strength training, you may get by with purchasing a weight bench and kettlebells online. If your standard workout includes a combination of strength training, cardiovascular exercises and Olympic weight training, you need a larger space to accommodate power racks, fan bikes, barbells and gym machines. However, you do not have to replicate an entire gym in your home for an effective workout.
Regardless of the size of your project, home gym equipment conserves space by combining several machines into one station. For instance, a power rack allows you to perform pull-ups, deadlifts and bench presses. A similar workout in a public gym would require moving to multiple stations around the room.
Benefits of Having a Home Gym
Although you may enjoy your workouts at the local center, a home gym has several advantages:
- Sanitation control
- Schedule freedom
- Atmosphere and design
- Cost savings
Unlike a public place, you have control over the cleanliness of the facility. You don’t have to worry about using a machine covered with sweat or a disorganized weight room cluttered with errant dumbbells. Keeping your space sanitary is your responsibility instead of a gym manager.
When you own the gym, you can exercise whenever you want and forget about fighting traffic to hit the center before closing time. Some public facilities allow twenty-four-hour visits, but you’re always safer exercising in a home gym late at night. Most all-night fitness centers are unstaffed and rarely have security guards.
You can also control the atmosphere and design of your home gym. Franchise fitness centers often feature deafening music, color schemes from the 1980s and staff members harassing you with upgrade packages and perks. In your home, you can create a gym design that fits your personality and tastes and put on invigorating background music from your playlists.
Although some fitness centers offer first-time members discounts, the gyms’ monthly fees typically increase after a brief grace period. When you purchase power racks and fixed weight barbells yourself, you own the equipment for life and can forget about the rising membership fees.
Get yourself in shape for the summer in the comfort of your own place. With the right equipment from a premium dealer, you can set up the perfect home gym for your fitness needs.