HOW TO CREATE YOUR HOME GYM......

SO YOU CAN GET FIT & STRONG IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME 

 A workout space doesn’t have to be an entire room. It only needs to have some flex space where you can shift furniture to create a zone that allows you the space to exercise effectively. You can use some of the furniture in the room as a prop to workout with (doing tricep dips from your ottoman or sofa). I recommend at least a 7′ x 7′ space where you can lay a yoga mat down easily and manage more active exercises (especially if you are working out to a video).

Organize your space so that you have a spot to store your equipment safely, and then you don’t need to pull it out of the closet every workout session. Trust me, the more work you have to do to get prepared for your workouts, the more reasons you will find NOT to exercise. Make it easy on yourself and keep it all in one location. If it's a large open room, consider getting free weight stands and decorative bins that will allow you to store your equipment in the room but maybe not in plain sight.

A Fitness Program you Can Follow
Have you ever started to workout and quit because you didn’t know what you were doing? It’s an easy trap to fall into when you start working out from home. It doesn’t have to be hard though and with a few resources, you can put together a plan easily. Knowing WHAT to do is just as important as the equipment you have or the space to workout in so creating a fitness plan or program is essential to helping you reach your goals. If you are looking for 1:1 help, personal trainers  will  help you set up a personalized program if you have specific fitness goals. Contact us if you would like to connect with a trainer. If you want free fitness resources, try Youtube videos and printables that you can get off Pinterest to get you started. ​

KETTLEBELLS & WEIGHTS 

​Regardless of whether you are just starting out, its always a good plan to incorporate strength training into your workouts.

Starting for the first time, our trainer recommends doing body weights and lots of  exercises with very light weights (3 lbs or 5 lbs) to strengthen your body slowly and safely. I happen to love using kettlebells. They are easy to grip, versatile, portable, and highly effective for any type of workout. They are good for simple strength training exercises, and they also allow you to easily incorporate them into more complex movements that work multiple areas of your body. If you don't have weights at home, you can also use water bottles and canned goods. 

RESISTANCE BANDS

Resistance bands are an inexpensive staple for any home gym! Resistance bands help you isolate and work specific muscles in your body so you can tighten your physique. They increase the intensity of your workout and help you continue to see progress as you get fitter and stronger. Our trainer recommends getting a set of three bands (light, medium and heavy resistance) so that you can use them for a variety of exercises.
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The other great benefit of resistance bands is they allow you to do strength training without having to have hand weights. So you can still get a full-body workout with all the benefits with these simple bands. Plus they are simple to store, easy to travel with & don’t take up a lot of space!

YOGA MATS

​Maybe you’ve never tried Yoga (but I hope you will), a yoga mat is essential for a home gym. It provides a textured surface that will give you stability for your body as you workout and ensures you don’t slip. The padded mat provides comfort as you move through the different floor exercises, giving you both comfort and support.

Yoga itself is a deceptively simple workout that stretches your body, working all areas of your body while improving your balance, strength & stability. 

 Yoga mats are a safe place that provides an escape from everyday stresses & worries. They are also a tool that gives you the flexibility to workout wherever you need to – whether it is at home or when you travel. There are simple bags you can get to carry your mat, or you can use a yoga belt to tie it up and carry it on the go.
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JUMP ROPES

Using a jump rope is one of the best ways to get a great cardio workout! It increases your heart rate swiftly and works key parts of your body including your arms, legs & core. You can easily create a customized HIIT workout with a jump rope that will have your body working hard and burning calories in a very short amount of time. Plus they are inexpensive and easy to store.

If you can’t use this inside, try in your garage or outside (depending on the weather).

 STABILITY BALLS 

For a stability ball, there are the standard ones that you can get or consider getting a Bosu instead. A Bosu looks like the top of a stability ball on top of a hard platform. I use these often for pushups, burpees, lunges & squats for balance therapy due to my inner ear imbalance.  They are great for helping you engage your core and push you to maximize your workouts.

I hope that this gives you all the information you need to create a functional – and appealing – workout space in your home. Whether a separate space with all the bells & whistles or a streamlined set up for a small home or combined living space – you have a ton of options that will allow you to workout effectively when practicing social distancing for the next few weeks.