Your own home gym
Create a workout space just for you, on the cheap
By Lisa Snider 05/06/2010
I took back the guest bedroom in my house. We have guests stay over maybe twice a year, and otherwise this room has served absolutely no purpose. Doing Pilates in my bedroom with my dog licking my face and my husband wandering in and out, asking where his lucky hat was, had quickly lost its appeal. I needed my own space.
Working out at the gym is great, but it can be pricey, and if there’s a class I want to take and I’m running late at work, I’m out of luck. And if I forget something, like socks, it really messes me up. Working out in my own home means that I don’t have to worry about time constraints, or hauling around a gym bag and yoga mat. I also don’t have to share sweaty gym equipment, and the only one who knows that my gym clothes are torn, dirty or out of fashion is me (and now all of you).
I found a guy who builds wall beds (also known as Murphy beds), and once that queen-sized bed for the in-laws was tucked up and out of the way, I had all kinds of room. If a wall bed is out of your budget, consider looking for an air mattress on eBay and stashing it in the closet until you need it.
My treadmill is still in the garage, so this new space is where I come after warming up. I have a mat, a foam roller, resistance bands, dumbbell weights and a BOSU. I got most of this equipment on the cheap, online through Amazon, eBay and Craigslist. I have a nice collection of DVDs, but sometimes I mix it up by looking for new exercises on YouTube and About.com.
The mat is great for most of the at-home workouts I do, whether it’s yoga, Pilates, calisthenics (pushups, crunches, lunges) or basic stretches.
The foam roller is an inexpensive and brilliant way to get a deep tissue self-massage. I like to use it after my workouts and before I go to bed.
The resistance band — it’s just a long, stretchy, skinny tube with handles at each end — can really add a lot to your workout. For a demonstration of exercises using the band, complete with photos, go to About.com and enter “resistance band” in the search box.
Although I’m not a huge fan of dumbbells, I’ve found there are important strength training exercises that just can’t be duplicated with any other gear. They don’t take up much room and can usually be found on the cheap at a local yard sale or on Craigslist.com.
Right now, my favorite piece of equipment is the BOSU, which stands for Both Sides Up. It has a hard, flat bottom and a squishy, domed top with endless exercise options. I can use it as a step when I want to do cardio, or I can flip it over and do push ups without putting too much pressure on my wrists. I found mine on eBay.
If there is a space in your home that’s not getting much use, consider re-purposing it as an exercise room. Hey, you never know, the in-laws just might want to use it, too!
Lisa Snider is a local freelance writer. For more, go to www.LisaSnider.com.
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