Fitting Out A Home Gym

There are some advantages to joining a formal gymnasium - you get some motivation from those around you and there is usually an expert or two on hand to offer advice and to help you perfect your exercise technique. But for many people there simply is not a gym that is convenient enough for them. For anyone who doesn't have a facility near their home, is short of time because of work or perhaps has commitments that keep them at home (a newborn, for instance) home gyms are clearly the answer.

Where should you start with a home gym? You are at an advantage if you are an experienced gym user - you will be fully aware of your likes and dislikes when it comes to equipment and your own strengths, weaknesses and needs. If you are a total novice then you might want to try your best to get to a gym so you can learn a little with some expert guidance. If you have spare money but cannot make it to a gym then you could take on a personal trainer who will be able to both help you decide on equipment and guide you in the correct use of the new gear. If you use exercise equipment incorrectly you can cause yourself damage. A final alternative would be to learn with a partner - you can each devour a few books on the subject, check out some DVDs and then one can technique-spot for the other and visa versa.

Now let's think about where to put the gymnasium. By far the best option is a room where the equipment can be left permanently assembled. I generally feel that fold away equipment makes it more difficult to keep to your exercise schedule - you have to set it up for before you start. Plus it is often poorly built. Downstairs rooms (if you are using weights a second floor location is not ideal) or the garage are good places. If you are lucky enough to be able to trust the weather you can think about building an outdoor gym - Venice Beach in your yard!

Okay, we've decided on a setting for our gym, now it is time to equip the place. All workouts should include a cardio session, and this may be the hardest thing to accommodate in a home setup. Low cost stationary bikes and treadmills are often not worth the money. A more costly running machine might do the trick if your pockets are deep, but they are also large items. A rower has the advantage of being easily stow-able - just tip it upright. These can be quite good value, but rowing is not everyone's cup of tea. Compact but expensive are the Nordic Ski and the Step. If you cannot decide then why not take a half hour jog at the start of each session instead?

One of the main things to consider is the weight training machinery. Multi-gyms often appeal as they seem to offer all you need, but you might regret it. Knowing what you want to achieve and what you enjoy doing helps with this decision. Sometimes a long bar and a set of dumbbells with a selection of different size weights may be a good choice and certainly it is cheaper. If you decide on this, then spend any money saved on a good bench that has a attachment for legs and so enables you to work hamstrings, quads and calves etc. In addition, get a cover for the floor so you can stretch and do floor exercises such as press ups and sit ups. And that's it, a great gym in the convenience of your own home.