If you have found yourself enjoying your time at home during the initial lockdown and have decided to cancel your gym membership, you might be looking at ways in which you can still get your exercise induced adrenaline rush and stay fit and healthy.
Setting up a home gym in your garage is one of the best ways to achieve this and it doesn’t have to be expensive. One of the first things that you should do is ensure that you have a working garage door so that you can easily access the space, the flooring might also need to be looked at. If your garage door needs fixing a Garage door installation Dunstable company can help you. Some people like to have some vinyl put down or perhaps some carefully chosen rugs. If you plan on using your garage gym all year round you might want to have some plasterboard installed on the walls to make it warmer in the cold months.
Once you have the space looking how you like you can then start thinking about the sort of equipment that you would like to put in your home gym. You don’t need to purchase this all at once. Simply start with the equipment pieces that you enjoyed the most at the gym.
For example you may want to get yourself a small set of weights and perhaps an exercise bike if you were a fan of spin classes. You can then think about adding in a treadmill or crosstrainer and perhaps a selection of kettlebells.
To truly give yourself that gym feel you might want to consider having a stereo system put in place so you can exercise to your favourite tunes whenever you want.
Turning the garage into a workout space
Many garages are used for storage rather than the car, which makes them a natural home for a gym. With rising living costs, a monthly membership can be one of the first things to go, but your fitness routine does not have to go with it.
The equipment you can buy for home use is as good as what you would find in a commercial gym, and the money saved on membership soon covers the cost. A garage also gives you a space you can shut the door on, keeping noise and equipment out of the main house.
A good, working garage door makes a real difference. It makes it easier to get bulky equipment in and out, and on a hot day you can open it up for fresh air when the space becomes stuffy. To finish the room, a coat of white masonry paint brightens the walls, a few motivational pictures help on harder days, and a speaker for your workout music completes the setting.
Clearing, kitting out and storing equipment
Start by emptying the garage completely and giving it a thorough clean, because cobwebs and years of dust do not make for a pleasant workout. Open any window for a while to air the space. A single coat of white paint can brighten the room enormously, and a large mirror or two helps with checking your form.
Gather any equipment you already own, such as weights, a skipping rope, a step machine or an exercise bike, and dust it down and check it over before moving it in. A squat stand with barbell and plates allows a thorough full-body workout, and kettlebells, an exercise ball and a sturdy yoga mat are inexpensive additions. The NHS is a good source of ideas for planning your own routines.
Bigger machines can have permanent spots, but smaller kit needs sensible storage so you are not tripping over it, while still keeping it within easy reach. Garage shelving solves this, and a confident DIYer can fit it from hardware shop parts. Finish with a fridge or water dispenser and a speaker for music to keep you motivated.