Due to the pandemic, 2020 unwillingly made many of us stay indoors with the implementation of the lockdown. This also forced us to rethink how we can stay active and healthy in the comfort of our own homes. The demand for home gym equipment and accessories skyrocketed to make way for home workouts. But with an end to the pandemic in sight now that a vaccine has been manufactured, will people really be returning to their old gyms?
Although local gyms have opened again, many people have found working out at home more enjoyable. Besides, if you’re on the more cautious side, going back to any crowded location would be quite uncomfortable. And let’s face it, would you really rather pay for those expensive membership fees again? So, going into 2021, why not start building your own home gym little by little.
Let’s Get Physical
Personal fitness highly depends on your preferred type of training. If you’re looking to gain a lot of muscle mass, lifting heavy weights is the way to go. If you’re more into cardio, hop on a treadmill. Doing yoga or pilates is also a good way to do some low-intensity training to help you relax and unwind. What makes a home gym more appealing is how you can specialize the equipment you need specifically for the program you want to follow.
Creating your home gym can be a daunting task, especially with all the exercise equipment available in the market. But, the first step is setting your own fitness goals and determining what kind of training will most likely help you achieve those goals. Investing in the right equipment will lead you down the path to a healthier, fitter version of yourself.
Setting the Mood
The ambiance and aesthetics of a home gym are as important as the equipment in them. You wouldn’t want to walk into a room and not feel energized to move around. So, it’s also important to design your space right in order to motivate yourself.
Putting up mirrors in your home gym can go a long way. Not only will it help you check if you’re doing an exercise with the proper form, but it will also make your space look and feel much bigger than it really is so you don’t feel cramped while working out.
Foam tiles are also a home gym staple. Although they add to the overall aesthetic, they also have their own functionality. Foam tiles provide a surface to protect your floors from all weights you might drop. They can also serve as support for your joints in absorbing the forces exerted.
Go Big
There are certain types of gym equipment that can take up too much space so it’s important to have dedicated spaces for them. This also means that these pieces of equipment will be the focal point of your home gym, make sure the build your space around them.
Power cages, for example, are important if you’re planning to lift massive weights. It can house plates for your barbell and serve as a squat rack. You could also place a utility bench inside it, perfect for doing the all-important bench press.
If you’re more into improving your cardio, a treadmill is your best bet. A lot of thought can go into purchasing a treadmill. You have to take into consideration it’s length, if it offers shock absorption, max speed, and weight capacity, among other things. Conventional treadmills also require specific requirements like having a dedicated circuit, so make sure to contact an experienced electrician before installation.
The Essentials
Of course, it won’t be a home gym without all the other seemingly small but still necessary workout equipment. These must-haves can vary in form, but they are all essential for at-home training. It’s important to have at least one iteration of these types of equipment, or your personal gym will be incomplete.
Jump ropes are the perfect warm-up companion to get your heart rate going and improving your range of motion. When choosing the best jump rope, go for ones that offer adjustability, are tangle-free, and have a comfortable handle.
Dumbbells are the bread and butter of any gym. They can also be used for various exercises from bicep curls to squats. However, most dumbbells with a weight rack can take up too much of your space. Fortunately, space-saving dumbbells exist which can give you the versatility of an entire rack just by adjusting a few pins.
A yoga mat and a foam roller are also crucial to your pre-workout routines and post-workout recovery. Their utility is often overlooked. These two pieces of equipment can go a long way in your fitness journey, don’t take them for granted.
These are just a few of the many, many pieces of equipment you can put in your own home gym. Personalize your space however you see fit. 2020 has been a tough year for all of us. In 2021, let’s all be tougher and stronger together.
