Introduction
It’s no secret that the home gym scene has exploded over the last three years through the start of the pandemic and continuing with lockdowns and restrictions. With gyms being shut down, people had no choice other than to start the journey and build out their own training space. Most of those people found what we pre-pandemic gym owners already knew, and it’s that this is no temporary journey. Building a home gym has a long list of benefits, and those can be different for different people. Most of them are shared throughout the community, but the fact remains that if you haven’t started already, you need to create a home gym even if you love the current gym you’re attending.
This article discusses why many may not want to cancel their commercial/CrossFit/other types of gym membership, the reasons to start your own home gym, and then “why not the best of both worlds?”
(Most of You)
The home gym will benefit everyone who starts one aspect or another, but for a few people, those benefits will not be enough to replace their commercial training facilities as their primary workout option.. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Social: The gym can be a major part of a person’s social life. Whether a person enjoys training with a large group in classes, or if they are a part of a team (powerlifting, weightlifting, etc.), removing someone’s social ritual of going to the gym can be similar to taking away their friends. Gyms like Crossfit gyms or Weightlifting Clubs are built around this ‘community’ and ‘team’ aspect, and it’s one of the reasons why people are willing to pay significantly more to be a part of them. If you are a social gym-goer who starts their home gym and begins training alone, you may soon crave your old gym life and realize you spent a lot of money building a home gym that you no longer want to train in.
- Equipment: Gym equipment is expensive. If you like training with a variety of equipment in your gym that includes machines and other specialized equipment, you may struggle in a home gym. The good news is that you do not need all of those fancy pieces of equipment in order to build muscle size and strength; it just makes it more convenient. If you are unwilling to give up the access to specialized equipment and you either can’t afford all of the pieces you want or need, then a home gym may not fit your needs.
- Atmosphere: There are some gyms that have an environment that is not replicable. If you have ever trained in these gyms, you know that the monthly membership fees are well worth it. The unfortunate part of the commercial gym field is that these gyms are rare. If you happen to be lucky enough to belong to one of the few gyms that has an atmosphere that is unique and that you love to be apart of, the home gym may not be for you.
- Distractions: There are plenty of distractions in a commercial gym, but training from your home can be very distracting. The key is creating a space that is separate from your ‘home life’. We suggest making that space and buying a few pieces of equipment to ‘test’ working out from home. If you are unable to avoid the distractions of your home, then the home gym may not be for you.
Reasons to Start a Home Gym
We often ask this question on our social media platforms, and there is never a shortage of reasons people started a home gym. Here are some of the most common reasons people have created a home gym.
- Always Open: If you belong to a gym that is not 24/7/365 then you understand the inconvenience of wanting to train, but having a closed gym. We also found out 2 years ago that even gyms that are “always open” still can close, leaving all of its members without an important aspect of their life. Building your own space means that it is always open for you, and that is almost reason enough to do it.
- Lift How You Want: We already mentioned that you can train WHEN you want, but training HOW you want is also a top perk to having your own space. Train barefoot, try out odd movements, lift really heavy or really light, it doesn’t matter how you want to train if it’s your own space. You can be as loud as you want, or you can play whatever type of music or media you want. When it’s your gym, you can follow your rules.
- Save Time: This is THE big one for most. Time is something that keeps a lot of people out of the gym. By having your own home gym you no longer have a commute. Depending on where you live, that can save you a ton of time. Waiting for equipment during the busy gym hours can also eat up your training time. Being able to walk into your garage or basement and start training right away can be a huge time saver. Listen to the selected portion of the episode to hear more thoughts from the community.
- Family Time: If you have kids, you may understand that finding time to run off to the gym can be difficult. Many people start their home gym when they start having kids or because of their kids. A home gym can be a great way to get workouts in quickly so that you can spend more time with your kids, or it can be a really cool space to invite your kids in to train with you. Kids model their behavior after what they see, and what better than to show them the importance of physical exercise as a part of daily life. Listen to Jason from Surplus Strength explain this in the podcast episode below.
- Save Money: This is a joke among many home gym enthusiasts who have put in such a large investment that it would take 2 lifetimes of gym memberships to equal the cost of their home gym. That being said, it is possible to save money. You can train with the staple pieces of equipment and save money in the long run. That being said, you have been warned. The home gym creation process starts as something you do and quickly spirals into a hobby (or addiction), and you soon realize that you are never done building out your home gym.
The Best of Both Worlds
Now, why would you invest in a home gym if you continue to pay a gym membership? Even if a home gym isn’t your primary option, it can be an excellent secondary option. Here are reasons why some people find it beneficial to have both.
- Not quite ready: Building out a home gym can take time. Whether you’re waiting for important pieces to come in, your space isn’t ready yet, or (the biggest reason) you don’t have the money to buy everything you need, doing what you can with what you have and filling in the gaps with a commercial gym is a good way to benefit from both situations. Experience the training freedoms and time saved while working out at home, while also using the plethora of commercial equipment at a fancy gym.
- Always open: This kind of piggybacks off of the reason listed above, but having a gym that never closes is huge. Especially if you love training. If you love your commercial gym, but hate when it’s closed and want something for those times, getting a small space and a little bit of equipment can go a long way.
- Better safe than sorry: Having a backup plan is always a good idea; even with your fitness. If you have kids or you have an inconsistent schedule, being able to get a quick workout if you can’t make it to the gym is important for your mental and physical well being. The best part about a backup gym is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money. Think about the situations when you need to get a quick workout; what do you need? A piece of cardio equipment? A pull-up bar? A set of dumbbells? These things can be small and not take up a lot of space.
Conclusion
There it is. The benefits of having a home gym. Did we mention them all? No. The list of benefits is long, but the ones mentioned are the big reasons why so many people have ditched their monthly memberships and joined the home gym community. The point of this was to inspire you to begin creating your home gym or strongly consider if a home gym is for you. It’s not for everyone, but some sort of home gym option will benefit almost everyone.
The Home Gym Guide will be your next step. If you have already started your home gym, this was hopefully a friendly reminder of why you did it. If you haven’t created a home gym yet, there is no better time to start than now.
