Russian twist using a Mirafit Medicine Ball

Training at home is easy, cheap and gives you the space to try new things.

However, there are many of us who enjoy the motivation of going to the gym, as well as the social interaction. Classes are a great way to get yourself out the house and just get some time to yourself – especially if you have children.

So, what's the answer?

If you're a member of a gym, going to classes and seeing friends, but would also like a space to focus your goals, a box room gym is a fantastic way to supplement your training regimen.

They're cheap, don't take up much space and you can use them to work on old injuries or areas of weakness, or just get in some extra strength training.

And on the days when it's pouring down with rain, or you've had a long day at work and you just don't feel like going to the gym, you still have ways to work out. After all, it's a space where you can relax, strengthen and get some space. Or even do a really high intensity workout at a time that suits you.

And by being savvy with your kit, you can easily get a full body workout without having to spend a fortune on big pieces of gym equipment.

Getting fit isn't about spending huge amounts of money on fancy pieces of equipment. It's about functionality and being creative in finding ways to reach your goals.

So even if you only use one piece of equipment like a Weight Bench, there is still so much you can do with that one piece. Work with it and find new ways to challenge yourself.

BUILDING A HOME GYM

Med ball plank with knee tuck using Mirafit Medicine Ball

The beauty of having a home gym is that you get to choose exactly what goes into it. And before you start putting together your gym equipment wish list, take a step back and consider these five important points:

1 - GOALS

Ask yourself: what are your goals? When you're limited on space, you'll want to make sure the pieces of kit that you have in your gym are targeted towards your goals.

You might also want to think specifically about what your home gym goals are. If you're supplementing your gym workouts with a home routine, focus on areas that you're less likely to work on in the gym.

If you want to improve your performance in your Yoga classes, then having a Yoga kit might be a better option that getting a step and a skipping rope.

Equally, if you want to improve your squats, a foam roller at home can help with mobility issues and a sissy squat bench can help you target your quads in order to help you progress your weight load.

2 - VERSATILITY

Having a small space means you need to think about how much you can get out of each piece of equipment. For example, weight benches can be used for strengthening, cardio and ab work. So this is a really versatile piece of kit.

And you can get creative too. For example, exercise steps aren't just for stepping. You can use them to do decline push ups, box jumps, triceps dips, mountain climbers and more.

3 - STORAGE

It's most likely that your box room is also used as a bedroom or an office so having pieces that you can move to the side or store away easily is also really important.

If this is that case, then think about some of the things you can use instead of the bigger items. For example, Slam Balls tend to be smaller than wall balls. Body Bars take up much less space than sand bags. And a Mini Step can be a great alternative to larger aerobic step.

4 - AVAILABLE SPACE

As well as considering how much room the equipment is going to take up, think about how much space you need in which to work out. Buying a few kettlebells is great until you realise you need more room to be able to swing them around.

The same goes for skipping ropes and hula hoops. They're so easy to store, but you need a good amount of room to be able to use them.

The exercises that take up the least amount of space are the ones you want to concentrate on if space is an issue. Exercises that you can do on your back, on your knees, on a weight bench or even up against the wall.

5 - NEEDS COME FIRST

The best way to design your home gym is to start with the things that you already do and then work upwards. If you buy a brand new piece of kit while promising yourself that you will definitely use it, it's still just as possible that you won't. And then when that happens, your motivation is likely to slide.

Work with what you do already. Supplement your training and find out what works best. Rather than seeing it as additional training, see it as something that improves and progresses what you already do. That way you can start to see the benefits of training at home and reap the rewards.

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Tags: Misc > Gym Planning