Get buff and not leave the house? Oh, yes, what was once every gym rat’s wet dream is now more attainable than ever before, with professional gym equipment becoming more affordable with each passing year and the gyms becoming incessantly crowded and stuffy.
After all, why wait for the squat rack to become available at the gym, when you can just skip leg day altogether in the comfort of your own home? Yes, having a home gym is not only convenient, it’s a long-term investment in your health and happiness, so let’s take a look at how you can build your very own iron jungle to get ripped fast.
Choosing the right space
Location, location, location. The first consideration that will influence the entire gym-building project is actually finding the space in and around your home that’s perfect for your training style. Yes, garage gyms are all the rage right now, but you can bet your ass that the wife is going to have something against leaving the sedan out in the driveway for good.
But if not the garage, where else? Well, the basement is another excellent choice, provided that you install proper lighting and ventilation. You can also use a regular room in your home for this purpose, but in that case, it’s imperative that you think about flooring.
Don’t bust the floors
All those heavy deadlifts and snatches tend to give the old floor a proper beating, especially when you’re training hard every single workout. Now, regardless if you’re working out in your garage, the basement, or what was supposed to be your kid’s playroom, you need to provide ample protection for the surface in order to avoid costly repairs in the long run.
If you’re working with concrete floors, excellent, you’re already one step ahead of the game, now simply layer some rubber gym flooring to provide an extra cushion for the weights and you’re all set. The same goes for any other type of floor, especially hardwood that requires ample protection.
Get the right equipment
Now for the most important piece of the home gym puzzle – the equipment. It should go without saying that choosing the ideal exercise equipment will depend on your preferred style of training, years of experience, as well as your long-term fitness goals. For instance, a CrossFitter will need plenty of space to move around, while a bodybuilder might just need a set of machines to hit every muscle group.
That said, what you definitely need is a power rack to serve many a lifting purpose – from squatting to pressing and rowing – a dumbbell rack for unilateral work, some form of cardio equipment (air bikes and rowing machines are very popular these days), and ample space to stretch and work on your mobility.
Design the perfect layout
Needless to say, the space needs to be meticulously organized and tailored to fit your fitness needs, so coming up with the perfect layout will be vital. While there are numerous ways to position your equipment, you can’t go wrong with the open-space approach.
This means that all of the equipment is positioned against the walls, leaving a big chunk of the room free to do all kinds of movements. Leaving the center of the gym bare will also allow you to practice sparring safely, execute plyometric and other dynamic movements, and much more.
Se the vibe just right
Last but not least, you want your home gym to emanate a certain vibe that will inspire you to give it your maximum every day and keep pushing towards your goals no matter how tired or unmotivated you may feel. To achieve this level of badassery in your gym, you’ll need an amazing workout playlist, and a sizable surround sound system to boot.
Music is extremely important and it can have a profound effect on your every workout, so don’t just exercise to whatever your local radio station is playing. After all, nobody ever achieved a PR with Adele setting fire to the rain next to them. Along with music, consider decorating the walls with inspiring quotes and pictures of your favorite athletes.
There’s nothing wrong with being a member of a commercial gym, but there is just something unbelievably liberating about working out in your very own, manly gym. Follow these five steps and you will have no problem building an amazing home gym that will take your fitness game to the next level.
