Are Home Gyms worth the investment?

It is becoming increasingly common to own at least one piece of gym equipment in a household. Since the Covid-19 outbreak disrupted local businesses across the country, the habit of going to your local gym has either been restricted or inhibited. This can ultimately affect your wellbeing.

How Covid-19 has affected activity levels

As a result of the pandemic, the British population have been pushed to break new grounds in relation to exercising and keeping fit. Staying active during lockdown became increasingly important to maintain health and wellbeing across the country. Suddenly, participating in activities such as walking, running and home workouts became increasingly popular. So much so that there was a huge increase in sales for home gym and fitness equipment.

Whilst local gyms have recently been reopened to the public post-lockdown and provide members with the opportunity to interact with people once again. Social distance measures remain heavily in place. Although, going to the gym is just as effective as home gym workouts, it is worth noting that you have control over the cleanliness of your own equipment. There is no way of knowing whether other gym goers are maintaining the same levels of hygiene as you when it comes to cleaning down the machines after use. 

This leads us to the question of whether it is worth setting up our own home fitness rooms. 

What is the difference?

Home gyms are now being encouraged as a safer option to keep fit in these uncertain circumstances. Not only is it considered to be a precaution to limit interaction as much as possible with other households. But it is actually cheaper to do your daily workout at home. 

For example, you only have to pay for your home gym equipment once to be able to use it again and again. Whereas you have to pay a monthly or yearly fee to access your local gym as a member. Putting the current terms of use for the gym into review, with classes remaining unavailable and being unable to train with friends. It may be more worthwhile to do it from home.

Furthermore, home workouts and gyms are rapidly becoming a must-have for fitness fanatics to maintain their wellbeing and the following reasons are below.

Top 5 Reasons why you should have a Home Gym:

It is easier to stick to your fitness routine.

Although it’s typically easier said than done, you can adhere to your workout plans using private equipment. For example, you have access to the equipment as and when you need it. You don’t have to wait for it to become available. Moreover, half of the equipment is cordoned off to reinforce social distancing measures.

With local gyms implementing strict hygiene rules. For example, all machines must be cleaned down by each person after use. Consequently, it now takes even longer to access the equipment you usually use when it is busy. It also means that you can avoid the traffic and hit your daily exercise goals all in one space.

You can workout no matter what the weather. 

We have all done it. Using the bad weather as an excuse to stay in the comfort of our own home has often led us to break our workout routines.

However, having a home gym automatically takes away that well known excuse. You also don’t have to worry about the commute to the gym, especially if the weather conditions make the roads unsafe.

The luxury of privacy.

It can be motivating to be surrounded by other people who are getting sweaty and pushing the limits. However, home gyms can relieve those with the anxiety of being judged at gyms.

Up to 65% of women and 36% of men avoid the gym due to being afraid of what others may think. Some of these reported fears include low fitness levels, using equipment incorrectly and wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes. Whereas, the beauty of owning a home gym means you can avoid these hassles and comfortably increase your wellbeing.

You can get the whole household involved.

It doesn’t matter who lives with you. Whether it be your parents, a partner, children or even grandparents! You can get everybody to join in when you have a home gym. Do you remember when up to 6.4 million users were tuning into ‘The Body Coach’ and his live PE lessons for schoolchildren on Youtube everyday during lockdown? It just goes to show it all can be done from home.

Furthermore, according to The World Health Organisation people between the ages of 5-17 should be engaging in up to 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Even older adults with limited mobility are advised to exercise 3 times a week. So why not get a home gym? It makes it easier for the whole family to maintain their wellbeing and fitness.

You design the space.

As a member of a local gym, you are limited to the machines and the equipment provided. For example, you may find that they only have two stepping machines which are usually in use or they haven’t got that squat rack that you used to use at your old gym.

On the other hand, having your own home gym means that you get to decide what goes in that space and choose the equipment that works best for you. Do you want a spin bike? Get one. Do you need a cross trainer? Go for it! You can even hire a fitness consultant to look at your space and provide you with the advice to suit your workout style. The opportunity to personalise is endless.