What Are Some Advantages of Having a Home Gym Vs. A Gym Membership?

What's the best place for you to get a workout? That really depends on the individual person who's working out. Some people thrive in the crowded environment of a commercial gym, while some can't properly perform their workout if they think someone may be looking at them. The best way to answer this question is to determine which type of gym you'll actually use on a regular basis - because the one you'll use is going to yield the most results for you personally.

That being said, here are some of the basic differences and advantages that each type of workout environment has over the other.

Customization

If you join a commercial gym, you are at the mercy of the equipment that they have on site. Though this isn't a problem for most people, as many commercial gyms are loaded to the gills with all of the latest workout machines and gadgets, if there is one piece of equipment that you feel you get the best possible benefits from there is nothing stopping you from putting it in your home gym.

You can situate your home gym in absolutely any fashion that you want - the only real limits are the amount of space you have available in your house and how much money you are willing and capable of investing in your home gym. In my opinion this is a huge advantage for home gyms over commercial gyms.

Time and Travel

Your home gym never closes; it's open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year. If you want to workout, for some reason, at two in the morning on Christmas Eve, your home gym will be ready and waiting. You home gym also requires zero travel - no going out in the cold, no fighting traffic - you can just workout as soon as you get your gym clothes on.

Variety

If you are the type of person who doesn't like performing the same type of workout for too long a duration, then a home gym atmosphere may be too limiting for you. Few people have the kind of money it would take to have the sheer variety of options that are available in a commercial gym. Some commercial gyms have a dozen varieties of treadmills and a dozen varieties of exercise bikes, not to mention elliptical machines, spinners, an Olympic size swimming pool and a whole host of classes to get meet your cardio needs. Even if you work on your home gym for a number of years, it's unlikely that you'll ever get to the point of variety that you'll get at a commercial gym.

Instruction

In your home gym, you're on your own - this is fine if you've got a good base knowledge of exercises and movements, but someone with no experience may need a little guidance. Many gym memberships come with a complimentary session with one of the staff personal trainers - if you feel you benefit from this service you can continue using a personal trainer for a fee. This is an added expense but some people need the education and motivation from a trainer to be able to get results.

As you can clearly see, there are advantages and disadvantages to both home gyms and commercial gyms. The whole point of going to any gym, whether it's at your house or not - is to get a good workout and to get yourself in better health. In order to get the results that you desire from any workout program - you actually need to do the workout. If you are lost and need instruction - a commercial gym membership may be the best investment; if you can't stand crowds, bright lights and waiting for machines than you'd probably be more comfortable in a home gym atmosphere. What it all boils down to is personal preference - the best gym for you is the one you are going to use, plain and simple.