Your Personal Fitness Oasis | Fitness Freedom Without Leaving the House

As you recover from a season of dinner parties and sweet treats, health and fitness take center stage. If you have a habit of signing up for gym memberships but only using them a handful of times, consider carving out a place for exercise at home. Whether you need space to use a treadmill, lift weights, or strike a yoga pose, you can do it all in a home gym.

Determine how much square footage you need and can afford and designate that as your new home fitness studio. If the studio is incorporated into a living space, it should blend in with the rest of the home; select equipment such as mats and stability balls that complement the room’s existing color scheme.

Commercial gyms can feel generic. At home, you can add a few subtle decor pieces such as greenery and artwork or memorabilia. Or, guide your workouts with a theme. Reflect an urban boxing gym (à la Rocky) with a punching bag, faux-brick accent wall, and industrial elements such as steel-framed mirrors. If you prefer a calming space for yoga and meditation, turn to your favorite spa for inspiration. Add live orchids, a small water feature, and an assortment of flameless candles along with a diffuser and your favorite scent.

Whatever style you go with, incorporate some essentials. Set up a stereo or Bluetooth speaker so you’ll have music at your fingertips. If you follow along with exercise videos, position your television so it’s at eye level; if you have to crane your neck to see the video, there is the potential for injury.

Ensure proper form and technique with mirrors. If it’s not feasible to install them from floor to ceiling, hang several large, decorative, full-length mirrors. An arrangement of three to five mirrors hung side by side works well for stationary mat exercises.

Use baskets to corral accessories and shelving to store towels or hand weights. While it’s important to create a home gym that will keep you motivated and enthused about your health, it’s most important to make it functional. With the right equipment, your home gym will be a sound investment in the New Year and beyond.

Flooring + Weights

The foundation of a successful workout starts underfoot. If you are converting a garage or spare bedroom into a home gym, consider functional flooring. Locking tiles are a no-commitment option to customize your space. Rubber, vinyl, foam, carpet, cork, and turf—depending on your needs—can make your space feel safer and look finished. If you’re starting with a concrete floor and want to elevate the style (and invest for resale) finish it with epoxy. Then, you can add sections of tiles where needed for specific exercises.

Strength training has surpassed cardio as a touted boon for overall fitness—especially as you get older and naturally lose muscle mass. Although there are plenty of ways to maintain and increase muscle with bands or household items, free weights are a great addition to a home gym. Because storage space is often an issue, look for a set that can be kept on a shelf or vertical rack. We love adjustable options, such as the BowFlex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells, which are compact and flexible

Your Personal Fitness Oasis | Fitness Freedom Without Leaving the House