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Home gyms have been a popular amenity among those with the requisite money and space since at least the early 1990s, but for the average consumer, a home gym was little more than some hand weights and a stationary bike that had long been repurposed as a clothes rack. That’s because, for serious fitness buffs, it was practically and financially more reasonable to just join a local gym – at least until COVID-19 struck and all the gyms shut down. Then, all of a sudden, gym rats found themselves in a pinch, with only one solution: install a home gym.
Home gym installations have seen a spike since the start of the pandemic, according to equipment dealers, contractors, and others affiliated with the field, but not all trends are created equal. These 3 trends are among the most popular, and the most useful, for those hoping to craft a home gym that will get them moving every day.
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Tech-Forward Fitness
There are countless stationary bikes, treadmills, and other pieces of gym equipment on the market today, but for those interested in a top of the line model, there’s a growing market for technology-driven gear. These include everything from the hugely popular Peloton to the Technogym line of treadmills, ellipticals, and rowers. In addition to their quality construction, many of these pieces are designed to synchronize with heart monitors, training apps, and other programs for an optimal fitness experience.
Envision the Space
One element that just about every fitness space has in common, whether it’s an OrangeTheory class or a yoga studio, is the presence of mirrors. That’s because mirrors help us navigate workouts by making it easier to check our alignment and form, follow along with instructors, and even prevent injury by helping us assess our surrounding. Unfortunately, most homes aren’t equipped with the large mirrors we rely on in gyms – though they certainly can be, and plenty of glass and mirror specialists have seen an increase in demand for custom mirrors meant for home gyms. Adding mirrors can also upgrade your home gym space, making it feel more luxurious and professional.
The Local Studio Comes Home
The main reason that people don’t use their home gyms is that they have trouble getting motivated to workout – a common problem, and a core reason why people sign up to go to classes. As it turns out, those classes can still be a great motivator, even when students can’t get to them in person because, to the delight of many instructors, when they moved their classes online, their students followed. It didn’t matter that students could take classes with instructors anywhere in the country – many remained loyal to their home studios. With a home gym, students can experience the full scope of their usual routine, but in a safe environment while studios remain closed.
Even with significant reorganizing, many people won’t be able to find space for a home gym, though you can always get an Airtrack mat and bring your exercise outdoors. What’s important is for people to examine their priorities and their long-term plans. There’s a good chance that gyms will be shuttered, even if intermittently, for the foreseeable future. If you have a passion for working out, you need to carve out some space to move, at home, outside, or wherever you can find it. A home gym is a luxury, but it’s an increasingly necessary one.
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