How to set up a home gym

Home gyms are all the rage at the moment.

When COVID-19 shut down gyms earlier in the year it sparked a trend Australia wide.

Whether you lift a few weights, run on a treadmill or hit a boxing bag, having a space to call your own “gym” is hugely popular.

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So here’s a quick guide on how to turn your shed, garage or spare room into a gym.

1. Pick the right space

Before you go buying up equipment, you first have to decide where in your home you are going to set up your home gym.

For some, it will largely depend on what space is available but for others, the gym might dictate what space it relinquished.

So first, work out what type of exercise you will be doing as this will be an indicator of the space needed.

If it is just yoga and pilates then you only need room for a mat. For HIIT workouts, you’ll need a little more space and flooring that isn’t too hard (for all that jumping around). And for heavy weight lifting requiring a squat rack, bars and weights, you’ll need a whole room.

2. Pick your equipment

There is a shortage of exercise equipment, currently.

Due to COVID, many stocked up on their gym equipment earlier in the year, buying out many of the small and big retailers.

Now, a backlog of production overseas is seeing a dwindling supply of exercise equipment restocking Aussie stores.

While stock is slowly coming back in, in many cases it is sold out not long after hitting the shelves.

Many online retailers have pre-order options on their stock where you can order now and receive it when it comes in.

But for those who can’t wait the couple of months it could take, there is Facebook and Gumtree for second hand equipment.

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3. Plan your storage

Whether you’ve racks of weights or a boxing bag and gloves, whatever your equipment, you want to ensure you’ve a plan to store it, safely.

Weight plates, bars and dumbbells should be stored securely on racks. If you have children in your home, make sure they can’t pull the weights down on themselves.

If you’re doing different workouts, large, clear rollable storage boxes are great for storing yoga mats, boxing gloves and pads, bands and other light equipment.

4. Plan your space

Think about the workouts you’ll be doing and plan accordingly to make it safe.

If you’re lifting weights you’ll want your squat rack in a position where you can safely bail out if need be.

If you’re boxing, you’ll want your bag in the middle of the room so you can move around it without tripping over anything.

And for HIIT, you’ll need different “stations” with the required equipment.

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5. Make it yours

Lastly, this is your workout space. Make it yours.

Have a portable speaker playing your favourite music, a hook for your towel, a table for your water. Some indoor plants, mirrors and lick of paint.

Work out and enjoy your home gym.