Moving your body at home is a major trend at the moment because we’re all locked up inside due to the pandemic. People are engaging in so many different kinds of sports and exercise activities, to keep their bodies moving. It’s amazing what we can come up with when conventional gyms are taken away from us. Different countries have different restrictions and as a result, everybody is moving their bodies in such unique ways. Having said that, it’s tricky to move freely if you’re limited to space in a small apartment. That’s why building a mini home gym could do wonders for your health and happiness.

And yes, it is possible, even in your tiny home.

There are many advantages to owning your own home because you can do almost anything you want with your space. A common concern amongst people is that they can’t exercise because they don’t have enough space. The truth is that you can get in an effective workout in a space the size of a bath towel. In fact, with a little bit of creativity, you can transform even the most unused or underused spaces. Doing this will add to the value of your home because you’re using space that otherwise would have gone to waste. It is probably a good idea to start getting innovative with your home space to create your own gym. It will help you save money in the long run and keep you healthy.

On the other hand, there are a few obstacles you might be facing if you live in a small apartment. These can make moving physically seem like an impossible task. Fortunately, we have some simple solutions you can use to fix the situation.

Moving Your Body In A Home Gym

At the moment, you might be feeling a bit frustrated at the lack of choice and diversity you have got at home in terms of fitness. You are used to the variety of choices at a gym and now it’s down to hardly any choice at all. Luckily, with just some thought and planning, this doesn’t have to be the case.

There are some roadblocks to moving your body in a small apartment: 

• There is very little extra space
• You might have strict landlords that don’t allow heavy weights or other equipment
• There are neighbors below, next to, or above you which means no noise or jumping.
• You have a full house filled with roommates and/or spouses
• The gym ambiance isn’t exactly ideal in terms of flooring, lighting, and ventilation.
• The general lack of motivation to get yourself to exercise at home in a small space.

Whilst these are hurdles that you’ll have to face, the point is, you have to do something. And there are many people living in small spaces who have managed to make it work quite well. They’re moving every day and posting about it online. We have quite a few suggestions to help you get the most from moving your body in this environment. Honestly, it’s best to get a good combination of training at home, going outside for walks or runs, doing yoga, and taking rest days.

Humans are also really great at adapting and after enough time has passed. Moving daily in a cramped apartment starts to become second nature. Converting your space or garage into a home gym is a smart move for your wallet and your health.

Benefits of Building Your Own Home Gym

Moving daily is a vital part of keeping healthy and mobile. And we all know that regular workouts are a good habit and home fitness is a great way to stick to healthy habits. Home workouts are a massive trend and almost everyone is providing free online programs. There’s literally no excuse but to keep moving. Garmin says more people are moving. They’re finding new ways to do it from home, with and without their own equipment. This theory is supported by media reports of stores selling out of in-home workout equipment,

If you’re fortunate enough to have an open space like a garage then you’ll have plenty of space for home gym equipment and still be able to move. Moreover, if you’ve got the budget then you can also invest in lots of cardio and weight equipment. You add specialized equipment for a TRX home gym or a CrossFit home gym. You might even save some money by not having a gym membership.

However, we’re not all this lucky and many of us are confined to very small spaces. In this case, it’s best to stick to the basics. As long as you’re moving right? If you’re trying to create a great gym in an apartment, this rule holds especially true.

How To Get Started

To keep your body moving daily, first things first, you need to analyze your space. Building your own gym doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. But you do need to take several things into consideration before you get started.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself first:

• How can my space fit in it? Can I use the entire space or only part of it?
• What’s my budget? Depending on what you choose to do, the costs of creating a home gym can be as low as a few hundred dollars and go up from there.
• Is my space outside or inside? Will I need to regulate the temperature with heating or air conditioning?
• Do I engage in any specialized workouts? Can my space and layout accommodate these workouts and any of the necessary equipment?
• Think about how you enjoy moving around and design your space accordingly. What cardio equipment do you use and enjoy the most? If you hate lifting weights then you know you won’t use them. This means you don’t need to waste space and money on it for a home gym.

Focus On Essentials

Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to recreate your gym. Focus on creating the space you need for the workouts you love. However, if you’ve got enough space and budget then get the essentials like a weight bench, squat racks, dumbbells, and at least one piece of cardio equipment.

This could be a treadmill or exercise bike. To be honest, you can keep your body moving without most of this equipment, so don’t stress about it if you’re limited to space.

Fitness professionals state that the best home exercise equipment for beginners is what you’ll actually use. If you enjoy specialized workouts like TRX, CrossFit, pilates, spinning, or barre. So make sure you focus on those needs.

If you’re on a budget, try to stick to the basics. A few hand weights and a weight bench are a good starting point. To save even more money, think about everyday objects you can use instead of investing in new gym equipment. For example, you could use a chair, stairs, and heavy detergent bottles for some exercises. It’s important to remember that you can get a great cardio workout from something as simple and inexpensive as a jump rope. Installing some inexpensive mirrors can help create a gym-like atmosphere.

The Perfect Three Piece Apartment Gym

You really don’t need much to keep your body moving. Although fancy equipment is handy and convenient to have, it’s not essential to stay fit. Your home gym depends mostly on the size of your space and what types of workouts you want to do. Do you enjoy lifting weights or doing cardio? Or would you like a balance of both?

In that case, set aside areas for your weights, weight bench, and squat rack, if you have them. Leave as much room as possible in the middle of the room to do stretching exercises, weight-bearing exercises, or callisthenics. Smaller spaces can fit smaller miscellaneous equipment like a balance ball, heart rate monitor, and a yoga mat. If you’re lucky enough to have a bigger space then set aside another area for cardio equipment like a treadmill, exercise bike, rowing machine, or elliptical. To ensure there’s plenty of fresh air, try moving close to a door or window.

However,  looking at the price of big homes nowadays it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a small apartment. In this case, you only need to focus on buying four primary pieces of equipment. There might be other things you can accumulate over time, but these four core pieces are all you will need.

With the following four pieces, you can keep moving effectively for a lifetime. There is no movement you can’t do and almost no exercise you can’t perform. These four pieces will take up almost no room and are ideal for moving your body in a small apartment daily.

Four-Piece Equipment Essentials

• Collapsable FID bench

This is an adjustable bench that can be flat, have an incline or a decline. It’s one bench that can accommodate any position you require. They are easily adjustable. Having a single bench that does all 3 is perfect for the apartment setting. They don’t take up much space if you’re moving your body in a small apartment. Better yet, they can be stored under your bed. 

• Jump Rope

A jump rope is super affordable and takes up no space at all to keep moving. You can get a really intense cardio workout that burns a ton of calories in a short amount of time with one of these. Better yet, some jump ropes come in different weights and can even give you an effective strength-cardio workout.

• Adjustable dumbbells

Traditional barbells might be a bit much for small apartments. That’s why dumbbells are a fantastic alternative. You can buy fixed dumbbell racks or adjustable ones where you can change the weight of the plate.

• Pull up bar

A pull-up bar is one of the single most versatile pieces of equipment that you can own. It takes up no room and can keep you moving without being an eyesore. A pull-up bar allows you to perform movements under load that can’t really be done with dumbbells. Unfortunately, dumbbells don’t allow for pulling movements.

Adding pull-ups to your programming is one of the single best things you can do for both back and arm strength. It’s also a functional movement that is highly useful in real life.

Compiling All The Elements

To keep your body moving every day at home doesn’t have to be costly or complicated. Like any workout routine, the best thing you can do is simply get started. All you need to do is focus on the basics. Keep your body moving with the exercise you love, and make sure your new home gym is a space where you’ll enjoy working out on a regular basis.

Want to know more?

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References

How To Build Out A Garage Gym. Porch.Com. https://porch.com/advice/how-to-build-out-a-garage-gym

How To Fit A Gym You’ll Love In A Small Apartment. Gym Crafter. https://gymcrafter.com/home-apartment-gym/