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‘The only thing constant in life is change’. Indeed, if this past year has taught us anything, it’s that we are a most adaptable species. So many of our daily rituals and lifestyle habits have required modification, including shopping, dining and, of course, how and where we exercise.
Maintaining your physical and mental health may lead you to think about creating or expanding a home gym. Finding the right space in your home is key, and very much dependent upon how you are going to use it. So, before you start swinging those kettle bells and purchasing large and expensive pieces of equipment, find a space in your home that will accommodate your new exercise routines.
While the loss of physical communality and social contacts has definitely been felt amongst regular gym goers, the online fitness community has tailored its experience to mimic our previous interactions – from home! Glow Fit’s Founder and Group Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer Lara Brodkin tells her clients to join five minutes prior to class. “Creating a sense of community is part of Glow Fit’s mandate,” she says. “I compare it to the usual banter in a locker room prior to a big game. The sense of empowerment from coming together in a group scenario is vital.” In addition, Lara always adds a five-minute meditation to the end of each class. “If you are already at home, it makes it much easier to integrate this extra time into your workout.”
Whether joining an online class via Zoom or selecting your own exercise regime, you will need a quiet and separate space for this purpose. Lara suggests finding a place in your home for your mat and dumbbells that motivates you and perhaps lifts your spirits. This may include an area with natural light, plants, favourite pictures or a lovely scented diffuser. “You don’t need an elaborate space to lay down your mat and minor equipment to feel like you had a great workout. Simple, but effective space is all that is needed,” she adds.
Now that the warmer weather is here, you may be inclined to spend more time outdoors after a long winter inside. Backyards have also become home to the home gym. Avid fitness enthusiast Sandi Mandel has done just that. At their 4-bedroom cottage in Port Carling, the Mandels created a ‘Gazebo’ overlooking the lake, complete with multiple screens and workout gear. “I get so much more out of a workout if I can enjoy nature at the same time,” says Sandi. When the Mandels purchased their property last year on Lake Muskoka, an outdoor area to build their “gym sanctuary” was a ‘must have’. Like other coveted home amenities, space for a home gym has come to be on a buyers’ wish list — in turn, increasing the resale value of the property.
Garages and Sheds are other ideal spots to set up a home gym. Like never before, we are utilizing these spaces for more than just their original purpose. Already an enclosed space with electrical outlets and organized storage space, the garage or shed can double as both indoor and outdoor exercise rooms, thus usable year round. Incorporating shelving units, wall mounts and mirrors helps maximize the space, allowing it to be multi-purpose.
And just because you are using your garage or shed doesn’t mean you can’t decorate! Bright colour paint or funky wallpaper can add flair and comfort to your workout. The Mandel ‘Health Hut’ is chock-full of trinkets from various vacations over the years. “When I’m in my Gazebo, I get that vacation feeling,” says Sandi. “It’s like I’ve brought the vacation to my home.”
For most people, music is a key motivator when exercising. You don’t have to invest in an elaborate sound system to surround yourself with the music you love. Create your own playlists with easy and portable sound units like Echo and Google home to complete your personal gym environment.
One of the silver linings we have gleaned from this period is more time for self-care. Using our home for things that bring joy and contribute to our physical and mental well being, helps get us through this era of uncertainty. As we all have come to appreciate, ‘there’s no place like home.’