As a trainer I’ve heard it dozens of time, “I don’t have room to exercise at home.” Truth is, you don’t need much room to get a great workout (enough room to lie down, and take a step to the side and/or a step forward) and chances are good your excuse is holding you back from a powerful experience. Exercising from home can not only save you from spending money on expensive gym memberships it can be one of the most empowering experiences you have in your fitness journey - to know that you have the ability and fortitude to take care of business all by yo’self. Here are some tips for getting it done…
Tip 1: What type of exercise will you be doing?
Before you can consider the where, you’ll need to consider the what. The type of exercise you’ll be doing will determine how much space you need and what type of equipment and storage you’ll want.
If for example, you know you’ll be doing mainly yoga your space could be quite small with room for a mat and some small props such as a yoga block, blanket, and a bolster. But if you think you may also want to do some HIIT (High intensity interval training) and will need room for traveling leaps you’ll want a slightly larger space. And if you’re planning for larger pieces of equipment you will need to consider if you want to share a room such as your living room or home office or dedicate an entire room, such as your basement to be your exercise space.
Tip 2: Dedicate your space
I’ve exercised more outside of a gym than in one and in a lot of different spaces...my bedroom...the kitchen...my bathroom...my patio...the beach...a tent...Gay Island off the coast of Maine with nothing but my TRX suspension training straps strung up on a tree...and with a set of dumbbells out of the back of my Wrangler on the lawn at the community center while my kiddo was inside taking a karate lesson - and nothing beats having a dedicated space!
We live in a moderately sized 3 bedroom apartment and I use EVERY room in my circuits, haha! But when I need my uninterrupted exercise time I go to my sanctuary, which I’ve chosen to double as my bedroom. I have dedicated this space to mirrors and the larger pieces of equipment such as a weight bench, dumbbells, a Bosu, TRX straps, etc. To get busy all I have to do is roll a portion of the carpet, swing my bench out, and get my tunes blasting . 🤘
Tip 3: Equipment
When it comes to equipment I say KEEP IT SIMPLE. This coming from the gal with all that equipment listed above ;) But I didn’t always have those things. I’ve gotten pieces of equipment to integrate slowly along the way to keep things interesting and dynamic. Starting small gives you the gift of learning the basics - those tried and true methods of building your fitness regime without relying on all the fancy bits that cost $$$. Try starting out with exercises that only require your body weight and then later adding in some dumbbells and some resistance bands.
Tip 4: Storage
Keep your space tidy and clean. This tip is important! How many times have you felt challenged to motivate yourself to do a task because your kitchen was cluttered or your desk was a mess. You told yourself you first needed to clean up but then by the time you’d finished cleaning your motivation to workout was dead and gone. Perhaps you even told yourself your workout WAS doing the cleaning - ha!
I recommend creating a space that is free of clutter with storage for all of your equipment. If you’re dedicated space is for yoga consider storing your props in an ottoman or basket that can go on a shelf or under the bed. If you’re doing some strength training installing a hook on the backside of a closet door to hang your resistance bands keeps them tangle free and out of sight. Get creative! Line your dumbbells up by size just under your bed within reach.
Tip 5: Flooring
Yoga and mat Pilates are probably the easiest exercise formats to consider as they require very little space and equipment overall, however with strength training and HIIT you will need to think about what lies beneath your feet. Carpeting and area rugs can be to squishy and tile and hardwood floors can become slippery. Be nice to your joints and check out some rubberized flooring. I recommend looking at making the investment on a nice Gorilla mat or saving some money and opting for a large piece of rolled recycled rubber. Another option is puzzle flooring that can be easily taken apart and comes in a variety of finishes including that wood floor look and even turf.
Tip 6: Mirror, Mirror on your wall
Even a full length mirror at around $20 is a solid investment to work on your form. If you can’t see your knee stability and alignment during squats and lunges, or get a peak at your low back in a deadlift or plank position to be sure you’re not adding unnecessary stress to your spine, then you’re doing your body a disservice. Before buying any equipment to pimp out your exercise pad hang a mirror!
Tip 7: Laptops, TVs, & devices
Be sure you have a good viewing spot to place your device or television if you will be using one for exercise. If you are working with a personal trainer send them photos of your space and get their feedback for the best viewing angles during different types of exercise so they can see your form clearly. For virtual fitness classes choose a surface at eye level when standing to ensure your neck is in alignment when lifting weights and be ready to move your device down lower for doing floor work such as core exercises.
Tip 8: Decorate to motivate
Now for the fun part! Get creative and decorate to inspire you to perform at your best. Apply a wall decal of a motivational word or quote, add a touch of zen with a salt lamp or diffuser, or frame a photo of someone strong who inspires you. It’s your space - own it.
Creating a dedicated space for working out from home is part of the journey of becoming independently fit. It’s an empowering process that sets you apart from those who make excuses and those who move the furniture aside to make it work. #GoalsWorkRepeat
