Learn how to create your minimalist home gym. Going to the gym can be a hassle and you may not even have time for it if there is no gym nearby. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributes to the need for a minimalist home gym as going to the gym might not always be possible.
Luckily, creating your minimalist home gym is much easier than you may think. Gym essentials don’t cost much and you might not even need to buy anything as you can read below.
How to Create Your Minimalist Home Gym
Why You Should Create a Minimalist Home Gym
Having your own minimalist home gym has multiple advantages:
Firstly, having a gym at home means you might work out more. Having to travel to your gym is often a deterrent, and with a home gym, this excuse won’t work anymore.
Secondly, you will save time with a home gym. There is no travel involved other than to go from one room to the next, and no waiting time for equipment.
Thirdly, you won’t expose yourself to unnecessary risks. With a gym, you never know who has touched the equipment before you and whether it has been disinfected properly. In your home gym, you won’t have these issues.
Lastly, your home gym is always open. While working out at midnight might not make you popular with your neighbours, you could theoretically work out at any time of the day. This is ideal if you’re busy or don’t have large blocks of free time.
Plus, exercising is also a great alternative to just watching TV.
Drawbacks
Of course, a minimalist home gym doesn’t come without drawbacks compared to a regular gym. Most apparent is the lack of other people. While this may be a blessing for some, it also means you can’t find new friends, have workout partners, or attend classes other than virtually.
Importantly, there is also no one in a home gym to check on your posture or to give you first aid in emergencies.
The Minimum Requirements
There are two essentials to your minimalist home gym: yourself and some space. That’s all you need to do basic exercises that are fully efficient to keep yourself fit.
This makes a home gym perfect for a minimalist home on a budget.
Exercises you can do without equipment
There is a range of exercises that require no equipment:
- Starjumps
- Sit-ups
- Planks
- Plank jacks
- Lunges
- bicycle crunches
- Burpees
- Push-ups
- Mountain climbers
- Squat holds
- Squat jumps
- Many others
- Jogging on the spot
If you don’t know these exercises, or even if you do but haven’t worked out in a while, it might make sense to get a personal trainer for your first workout so you can be sure you’re having the correct postures. Incorrect posture can lead to serious damage so the expense is well worth it.
Your Gym Equipment
Because you want your home gym to be minimalistic and not take up lots of space, you need to carefully consider which pieces of equipment to add. You only want to buy what you are going to use and what benefits the muscles you want to train.
Another important factor to consider is the available space. If you only have a few metres, you will need to buy lighter equipment than someone who can dedicate an entire room to their minimalist home gym.
Light equipment
These items can be easily stored if you don’t have a lot of space. This is especially useful if you don’t have a room to dedicate to your minimalist home gym.
- Weights
- Skipping rope
- Kettlebells
- Yoga mats
- Resistance bands
- Foam rollers
Importantly, you don’t need all of these. Before you start buying equipment, consult a personal trainer or research online which exercises are good for you and then you can buy the required equipment.
As for weights, you can use water-filled dumbells. You’ll only need to buy one pair and can adjust the heaviness depending on your needs. Because you can remove the water after you have finished, they are also easy to store.
If you’d rather have weights that look nice, these adjustable dumbells may be for you. These are five different weight sizes in one and they are easily portable as well.
Before you start, sit down and become clear about your goals as they are the most important factor for buying equipment. You may want to lose weight, build muscles, either overall or at a specific body part, or build endurance. For every goal, the strategy will be different and therefore, you need different equipment.
Gym Machines
If you have a little bit more space, you can consider adding gym machines to your minimalist home gym. There are many different gym machines:
- Treadmill
- Stationary bicycles
- Rowing machine
- Leg press
- Shoulder press
- Chest press
- Pull-down machines
- Lots of other machines
Buying all of them would probably require you to have a football field! But picking out which ones you need can be difficult. I recommend getting a gym membership and trying them all out. And again, asking a personal trainer is useful as it will save you money from buying the wrong equipment.
The “Extras”
Other than the equipment that you need to work out, you might also want to add a few extras to make your minimalist home gym homely. Minimalism doesn’t mean that everything has to be bare; if you have a separate room for your gym, you can add plants, pictures, or selected ornaments to feel at home.
Many people also like to add a TV or speakers to their home gym so they can watch or listen to something while they’re exercising.
The important point is that you are mindful of what to add to your gym. You don’t want your gym to be cluttered with stuff you don’t need.
Making Your Minimalist Home Gym Safe
When you create your minimalist home gym, safety should be your absolute priority. After all, the best gym equipment is useless if you die or become disabled in an accident because your gym wasn’t safe. Accidents can always happen but it is important to minimise the risk where possible. There are several avoidable risks:
You don’t know how your equipment works
If you don’t know how something works, you could strain your muscles rather than train them when using the equipment. Incorrect usage can also hurt you, for example, you may trap or even crush your fingers.
Therefore, you should always read the manual before using your equipment. You can also look online for guides and watch tutorials.
You are doing an exercise incorrectly
If you are not doing an exercise correctly, at best you’re wasting time but you might also injure yourself. You might sprain or strain your muscles resulting in long-term pain and problems. Thus, if you are unsure, you should look up online tutorials or ask a personal trainer for help until you are more experienced.
Incorrectly stored equipment
Equipment laying around is a trip hazard. You should always keep your minimalist home gym tidy.
Not telling anyone you’re working out if you’re alone
It may sound stupid but if you’re on your own, you should let someone know that you’re working out. Just in case you’re having an accident, they can check on you and call help if needed.
In case of minor injuries, your minimalist home gym should also have a first aid kit so you can take care of yourself if needed.
Is It Cheaper to Have a Home Gym vs. Gym Membership?
If money is the main reason why you are creating a minimalist home gym, it is a good idea to check if you’re actually saving much money compared to going to a gym. Homeliftz has a return-on-investment calculator that tells you exactly that. Most people will break even after a few months (or a year at most).
Simply type in your gym cost, commute and value of time and contrast it with your home-gym investment. You will then find out if a minimalist home gym is a good financial decision for you. Though be aware that money is only part of the decision and there are other benefits and drawbacks that need to be considered.
How to Create Your Minimalist Home Gym Summary
There are many reasons why you may want to create a minimalist home gym. Luckily, the minimum requirements are low, all you need is yourself and some space to do basic exercises. If you want to do more, choose carefully what equipment to buy based on your needs.
For many people, it might be a good idea to consult a personal trainer to find out what kind of equipment they need. This can be costly but you will save money in the long run by not buying the wrong equipment.
Safety is important in your minimalist home gym and common hazards can be easily eliminated by ensuring you understand your equipment and exercises, keeping your home gym tidy, and letting someone know when you’re working out.
You may so be interested in creating a minimalist desk set-up for when you’re working.
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