Gym Equipment and Features in the Ideal Home Gym
This is my post about which gym equipment and features you need for the ideal home gym. If you can’t see the video click here.
Resolution revelation
I thought I’d do this post towards the end of January as that is when most New Year’s resolutions have been broken.
I’ll be honest, my one of taking a daily teaspoon of cumin (don’t ask) lasted about a week!
Of course the most popular January commitment tends to be going to the gym. How many of you joined in the first week? How many of you are still going?
Of course if you’re in lockdown, like me this was a non starter!
A fitness environment is perfect for some, but if it’s not working for you, stop wasting your money as I have another solution.
Creating a home gym may be easier than you think – even with limited space.
Room going spare?
Maybe you have a guest room. How often to you have guests to stay as would it not have more use if its primary purpose was to fight the flab?!
Now I understand not everyone has that space kicking around – particularly as homes are getting smaller. Just dedicating a corner of a room to sculpting your six pack could be all you need.
The important thing is that it’s somewhere you can leave gym equipment out. If you have to set everything up each day, you invite procrastination into your fitness routine.
Here are my simple, but vital criteria for the ideal home gym.
Mat out
Colour is worth thinking about. I have a red mat for my more energetic workouts and a cream one when I need calm, like when doing yoga.
Even if you don’t feel you need a mat it could have the psychological benefit of saying “I’m working out”, rather than “lolling around on the carpet!”.
Green fingered fitness
Research has shown that exercising in green spaces lifts your mood and can even help with depression. After all, happy exerciser is a regular exerciser.
Unfortunately the time taken to get to green spaces for many is too precious. Even if you live next to a park, the weather isn’t always on your side.
Making sure there are plants in your home gym or space has a couple of benefits. The aforementioned psychological points, but also the air purifying bonus. Don’t forget plants take in carbon monoxide (which we breathe out) and emit oxygen. The more oxygen available to us the better we exercise. Bingo! (oh and decreasing bingo wings!).
Spider plants and Dracaenas are great air purifiers.
That said, the upkeep of covering a room with plants can be time expensive. Time when you could be crunching those abs! How about supplementing a couple of real ones with faux plants that give you the mood lift without the maintenance.
Fitness focus
If you like to watch workout DVDs needs must, or you may just require a well positioned shelf for your phone or tablet.
If you do have a rug rat in your gym, obviously be careful about which gym equipment is left out.
Sorry. You didn’t need me to say that did you?!
Mirror image
Not that any of us revel in seeing ourselves in lycra but watching yourself doing certain exercises helps you to get them right. This makes them more effective and prevents injury.
For this reason having a mirror in your gym, and a large one if you have the space, should be considered just as important a piece of gym equipment.
Once you’re over seeing the lumps and bumps, at least you can watch your body taking shape over the weeks. Well that’s the idea anyway!
Remember to celebrate even the smallest of changes – even if it’s just that you’re liking the look of your elbows. “Ooh check out the elbows on her”!!!
Location, location, location
If you do have a little one, or one on the way, it’s worth thinking about where your home gym or exercise space is going to be. Naps, early mornings and evenings will probably be the only times you can fit in a workout. If, like me, playing loud music is what really gets you going, you don’t want to be limited to wearing head phones.
This obviously applies if anyone in the house works different hours from you.
See the light
It’s not always possible to have the sun gushing in. The day I’m writing this it’s hard to imagine there is a sun.
Having as much natural light as possible though can really help the effectiveness of your workout and your mood.
For more relaxed workouts like yoga or meditation, fitting a dimmer light could be worthwhile, but I personally think that you can’t do better than candles.
Cut the cheese
I do love to have my motivational cards on display when I’m exercising though. Yes I laugh at them, but they do help me go the extra mile!
Gym buddy
Of course, a furry cheerleader is an unnecessary but desirable addition to any home gym!
Do you know the irony of this post is it’s really made me want chocolate! Maybe if it’s accompanied with that teaspoon of cumin I could get away with it!
If you’re needing some extra motivation, make sure you’re setting SMART goals – here’s some help.
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