Your gym, your rules! Seven benefits of creating a home gym

Fitness is more popular than ever, so why not join thousands of people each year and create a home gym? Don’t you think creating your own workout space would be great? And it doesn’t need to be a huge space, either. In this article, find out what you need to know and what’s essential to consider when making your home gym and perhaps most importantly, the seven benefits of creating a home gym.

These benefits apply regardless of where your home gym is, spare room, conservatory, or garage. And you’ll find them genuinely helpful in deciding if a home gym is right for you.

 1. Train when you like, with no commute

The first benefit is that you can train when you like, which is undoubtedly the principal benefit of having your home gym. If you want to train twice daily, you can! Best of all, there is no commute to consider, and with fuel prices at an all-time high, it can genuinely save you time and money.

With a busy life, finding time for a workout is often difficult, especially if you have a 10-minute commute to and from the gym. However, if you have a home gym, you have no excuse. You could squeeze in a 10-minute HIIT session before dinner or a quick TABATA before work; cutting out the commute will save both time and money

 2. No queues

Being able to get started quickly and manage yourself and your equipment more efficiently means you will spend less time waiting and more time doing! One of the biggest peeves of gym-goers is queuing; this ceases to be a problem if you are the only one using the facilities.

 3. Your gym, your rules

If you want to work out in your pants, you can; no one can tell you otherwise. But, seriously, you can work hard, make noise and not worry about others. Training harder can help you get the best out of a session and allow you to concentrate without distractions or worrying about what people are thinking.

 4. Leave equipment set up

There’s nothing worse than needing to reload each machine before you start. Well, in your home gym, you are ready to get on much faster, and you can leave your favourite machines loaded for next time.

 5. Fewer germs

Was it a dodgy takeaway? Nope, you’ve picked something up from the gym. Hopefully, it won’t be too bad, but you can reduce the chances of picking up flu or worse, by steering clear of public gyms.

 6. Save money long-term

Ok, so a gym can cost a bit to set up, but over time you are saving money, and if you share this with a friend or partner, then you reduce the cost sooner.

With an average gym membership costing around £40.00 per month, according to Money Helper, within a year, the comparable price would buy you a rack, bar and plates for your home gym. After that, you are in credit. If you finance on £1000, the monthly instalments can be less than £30.00, depending on the deposit amount.

Another suggestion would be to start with the equipment you know you’ll need, which could be an absolute minimum, then add to it over time with the extra equipment that you want and know will provide additional benefits.

 7. Your Gym grows with you

Apart from the obvious benefit of creating the look and feel you want from a home gym, another is that your gym grows with you. If you decide to sell your old equipment, this also counters any new purchase.

Your home gym can develop with you, and as such, you will find inventive ways to create the perfect space. Building over time helps you better understand how you like to work out, optimising your equipment and functional space.

Summary

If you are excited about the prospect of your own home gym and our seven benefits of creating a home gym have inspired you, then some essential starter equipment should be considered. Below we have added some examples of popular home gym solutions.

Home gym must-haves

 Flooring– Ensure you have appropriate slip-free flooring to keep you safe, avoid trip hazards and equipment damage.

Racks– When training alone, it’s best to train with spotter bars installed in your squat rack or power rack. These will save you by catching the bar if you fail a lift.

Barbells– If you are considering weight training, then a barbell is a great selection. They can be used for all of the main compound lifts, including bench press, squat and deadlift.

Dumbbells– Brilliant for reps and accessing smaller muscles that help you build size and definition.

Motivational posters, flags or banners– Remember not to underestimate the benefit of encouragement. Without others, posters, flags and banners can help keep you highly-motivated

Lighting– Last on the list, but it can add real impact to your gym and be a mood enhancer.

Have you considered finance for a home gym?

Fitness companies should provide finance for those looking to buy more than £1000 worth of kit. However, it’s crucial to remember to look at buyers’ guides and, better still, gym packages, as you can make more significant savings. For example, Mirafit’s home gym packages provide substantial savings, and finance is available.

So if you were on the fence about creating a home gym, we hope these seven reasons have helped make your decision easier.

But don’t forget: always check the appropriateness of space before buying your equipment! Gym communities are great places to ask for recommendations. Good luck!