I have created a workout space at home. I love the flexibility I have to throw on some clothes and jump into my garage and squeeze in a workout daily. My original intent on improving this space was to create a welcoming environment so that I may feel motivated to practice yoga at home. Confession time: is that I haven’t done a lot of yoga at home lately. This is another goal of mine for 2009, to create the environment and dedicate specific time slots to practice yoga at home. But, I also use this space for weight training and indoor cycling workouts.
How did I create my home gym?
1. Clean, clean and clean some more. In our garage, we have the floor painted gray with specks that is paint specific for garages. It needed serious scrubbing before I could even put my yoga mat on the floor! We also had five or six little mice living out there, which needed to be taken care of, first!!
2. Organized, and donated as much as I could. There is more that could be done in this area…This is one space that is completely dedicated to fitness equipment and I’ve worked really hard to keep it clean. Those two lovely black marks are actually where two of the bikes are stored. Plans are to cover that space with some relaxing Yoga posters and install a fabric cover for the shelf unit (that stuff has to be there but I don’t want to stare at it!!)
3. Workout mat. These are a low cost item that can be purchased at your local sports store. They look like large puzzle pieces that are fitted together. This space that has been created by the mats is where we mount the bikes in the trainers.
4. TV. We have a 1990′s TV (hand me down from the parents) hooked up to a dual VCR/DVD player. When my husband is on his bike, he will watch reruns of the Tour de France! If it’s my turn on the bike, I will turn on an old romantic comedy, and have my IPOD hooked up. Another thing I like to do is multi-task while I’m on my bike such as watch instructional fitness DVD’s while I’m riding. Recently I purchased a Kettlebell and I need to learn the skills involved in lifting it!
5. Setting the mood: Particularly for yoga, I’d like to have some posters to hang on the walls to help me keep my mind on yoga- not on how unorganized the rest of the garage is!! Also, I plan on adding some fabric to this table to hide all the stuff that is hiding underneath the table. Yoga demands concentration for all of the poses but specifically for the balance ones, and I’d really like to see some calming, material there to keep me in the zone.
6. Weights. We were lucky enough to have some neighbors who gave us a weight bench. It’s a great set except, so far, I haven’t used it enough. There is so little space in the garage – we have 8 bikes plus kid bikes out there- that I can’t pull the bench out of it’s spot. So, I have purchased hand weights in 10, 15, and 20 pounds. I also have one 15 pound Kettlebell and the 8 pound medicine ball. This is one area in which I’m not sure about…we are still paying for a gym membership as I love the flexibility it gives me especially when I am home with my kids, but with the home gym equipment, I already need 25 pound hand weights! As I get stronger, I will need to lift heavier..
So, the question is do I continue to invest in heavier weights or just get my butt to the gym?
In the end, I’m totally happy with my flexibility for workouts at home! There is still more I can do, but, I can be absolutely productive out there. (We’ve never had cars in our garage, ha!!)
Now, it’s your turn. Do you have a space at home where you could workout if you wanted? What workouts do you do at home?
15 responses so far ↓
1 Jill Will Run // Dec 12, 2008 at 5:23 am
We keep our cars in the garage! But then, I am positive I wouldn’t want to hang out in my garage in the Vegas summer heat anyway!
We have a “bonus room” upstairs in our home. We have a treadmill, a TV, a DVD player, an old X-Box (with Yourself Fitness, an exercise “game”), several different sets of dumbbells and plenty of space for my yoga mat. I usually do yoga and some strength training at home, preferring to run outside. My husband runs on the treadmill at home and lifts weights at the gym.
I’m thinking I may join a yoga studio near my home after the new year though, I need to see a teacher to make sure I’m using proper form. I haven’t been to a formal class in over a year. It’s always good to get a tune-up with a pro (more frequently than I have been).
Jill Will Runs last blog post..Product Review: Action Wipes
2 MizFit // Dec 12, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I always do my cardio at home but for some reason, despite the allure of a homegym, I know Id wont do weights anywhere else but at a gymgym.
3 kara // Dec 12, 2008 at 2:46 pm
So far I have a small weight rack, one cable, fitness ball and a yoga mat…
O an Elliptical – in the bedroom ; )
http://twitpic.com/r04l
karas last blog post..A Year of Running
4 Amanda // Dec 12, 2008 at 5:29 pm
what do you use for your bike mount? I would like to try one, but didn’t really want to spend a whole lot.
Amandas last blog post..Naturally Nutty PB Prize
5 Fit Mommy // Dec 12, 2008 at 6:39 pm
We have a cyclo-ops, blackburn and rollers…you can find one through your local bike shop, ebay or craig’s list. Almost everycyclist I know has a few stashed in their garages. Ask around!
6 Stephanie // Dec 13, 2008 at 5:10 am
I much prefer working out outdoors so usually I’ll just lace up my tennies and go for a walk or run. It’s a simple, but effective workout…and the fresh air does me good.
7 Lance // Dec 13, 2008 at 10:31 am
I do workout at home! A couple of years ago, we finished off our basement. When we did, we specifically made a workout room. It has a treadmill, weight bench, and squat rack (along with weights). On one wall we’ve put mirrors. I’d like to get some motivational posters for the other walls. For the floor, we put in some old carpet we had. What I love about it is that if I want to workout, I just have to walk down to the basement. Convenience is the key for me, here. My wife, I think, would do better with a gym membership, where she could be motivated by others. With the snowy Wisconsin winters, I’m not ready to give up my garage just yet!!
Lances last blog post..Kindness Comes In Small Gestures
8 workout mommy // Dec 14, 2008 at 1:31 am
I have a set up at home, but don’t get to use it as much as I need or want.
(too many distractions)
now that I have kids, I need to leave the house to workout.
(your arms look fabulous!)
9 sally wess // Dec 14, 2008 at 2:15 pm
even if you can’t do a lot… still do… it all counts
10 Hannah // Dec 14, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to check out gyms too for used spinning bikes. I’m also working on a space in my basement to do yoga. Good luck!
Hannahs last blog post..I’ll take an Extra Large in the Sexy Panties….
11 Kim H. // Dec 14, 2008 at 9:18 pm
My best tip is to do it at the same time everyday and no excuses. Everyone (family and friends) know this time is yours and will respect that. At least they should.
12 Avalona // Jan 14, 2009 at 6:59 pm
My husband got me a WII Fit for X-mas. I love it, we actually compete with each other. To us, the cost was worth it!
13 Jason | Acai Berry // Mar 12, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Love the spin bike setup! I used to have everything in the garage but managed to score a room in the basement once I got the wife into working out at home with me.
I have to admit, there’s some advantages to not having to be in the garage in the Canadian winter!!
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