Home Gyms
No memberships, no lines, no commute time—the beauty of home gyms.
By Debbie Rech
What can a home gym do for you?
Just ask Ann Gitter of Center City. She and her husband have had a home gym in their carriage house for more than 20 years—a big open space with hardwood floors, black rubber mats, free weights, a stationary bike and an assortment of fitness balls. It has changed over time to best meet their workout needs, while offering the convenience and comfort she requires.
“I work a lot,” Gitter said, “I don’t have time to get dressed (for the gym), go to the gym, workout, shower, change. That alone takes 30 to 40 minutes. And, that doesn’t include the workout.”
The reasons for building a home gym vary–from having an aversion to the busy, crowded nature of gyms, to being self-conscious about working out in front of others, to being strapped for time.
Home gyms offer a level of accessibility regular gyms simply can’t match. The added bonus of not worrying about membership agreements or monthly payments is appealing to many.
Alex Levin, mother of two and full-time Asset Manager, began a home gym workout last May–quickly losing all her baby weight in a modest setting while proving that a home gym doesn’t require high-end aerobic and strength machines. Her home gym is in a small backyard space with concrete flooring and a covered trellis top. Not exactly what you picture when thinking home gym, right?
“I have a basket of stuff that I bring out to the concrete garden. A mat, hand weights, elastic bands. With the outdoor stereo system, the space is really nice and I look forward to working out,” Levin said.
Like many, Levin dislikes the traditional gym experience. Plus, her job requires frequent travel, and taking the time to actually go to the gym never worked with her schedule.
To get her started, and to enhance her workouts, Levin utilized the skills of personal trainer Pete Mattis, program director at Sweat Fitness of Philadelphia. He came to her home, consulted with Levin about her goals, took a look at the space, considered her budget and voila–instant home gym solution. Since she began her workouts, both with Mattis and solo, Levin said she has met and surpassed her fitness goals.
Gitter also has a weekly at-home appointment with a personal trainer to keep her motivated, to keep her workouts interesting and to keep it fun. Working out and fun in the same sentence? “Absolutely,” said Gitter.
The number one question you have to ask yourself when creating your home gym is what is right for you? You have to analyze your individual fitness goals such as defining how many pounds you want to lose, or what target body fat percentage you’d like to maintain, as specifically as you can,. Your goals will help you select the proper equipment for your workout space.
The cost really depends on you, your budget and your needs. The most important factor is not what you spend but your goals and finding the equipment you need to help you achieve them.
Debbie Rech lives in Media, Pa.
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.