Turning a spare room, garage or basement into a home gym is a great alternative to joining one on the high street – the initial investment can save you significant amounts of money that would otherwise be spent on membership fees. ‘And whether it’s sourcing exercise equipment at the best prices, hiring a personal trainer to show you how to use it properly, or pulling together various tradesmen to build an outside room to house a work-out studio, we can help you,’ says Zoe Springbett, one of our home experts. ‘Call us to discuss your gym and exercise needs.’
The room
Depending on how much equipment you intend to buy, a home’s smallest bedroom is usually enough space for a home gym. That would allow room for a weight bench, an exercise bike or stepper and an area to stretch. If possible, have enough space around the machines so that when using them you don’t have to move anything – otherwise it provides an extra excuse to not complete a full work out.
If you don’t have a spare room, a foldable screen can be used to section off part of a large room and hide your gym equipment when not in use. Air will need to circulate in the room, so if it’s windowless, consider investing in a fan or air conditioning – our team of lifestyle managers can help you with this.
If you want to convert your basement or loft into a proper room to house the gym, or build an extension/outside building, the works must conform to the latest planning and building regulations. Call your local authority to check what can and can’t be done.
We can recommend architects, builders, electricians and other tradesmen to complete the project, and also companies who can kit out the room with all the latest gym equipment. Call us to discuss your options.
If buying several pieces of heavy weight equipment, the floor might need reinforcing. If you would like an expert to assess the situation, call us for a list of people we recommend in your area.
Kitting out your gym
A gym needs cardiovascular equipment, such as an exercise bike, rowing machine, treadmill or stepper; resistance equipment, such as a weight bench and free weights or a multi gym; and a mat on which to stretch and do floor exercises. If space is limited, avoid rowing machines or treadmills as these take up more space than other options, and buy a compact upright multi-gym where all the exercises can be done seated – more traditional multi-gyms have a flat work out bench that takes up more room. If you want to avoid too much weight on your floor, opt for a multi-gym with bands rather than weights – this will be lighter.
Cardiovascular equipment and multi-gyms can be bought from high street sports shops, stores such as Argos or online. If you require help sourcing the top-of-the-range equipment found in members’ gyms, or would like an expert to help you pick the best combination of workout apparatus for your needs, speak to a lifestyle manager.
Motivation
It’s easy to lose motivation when exercising alone so consider hiring a personal trainer to join you on some of your workouts. They can also adapt your programme as your strength and fitness improves. Or perhaps join a weekly running club or ‘boot camp’ workout group. Call us for a list of what you can do in your area.
