You may have a ton of reasons for not going to the gym – maybe it's too much effort, maybe you don't get enough time for a proper workout, maybe the music is bad, maybe you are apprehensive about touching sweaty equipment, maybe you have your own inhibitions, or maybe you fear too much of social closeness.

Whatever your reason for not going to the gym may be, setting up a home gym can be the solution.

Creating your own private gym at home allows you to focus on your fitness goals — rather than being held back by your fears and inhibitions. In this cover-all article, we'll talk about why you should invest in a home gym, how you should plan for it, what equipment you need, how to design the gym, how to put it all together and more.

Let's get started.

1. Reasons Why Home Gym is Right for You

• Workout at any time

  You can choose to workout at your own time and pace instead of setting time aside time to make a trip to the gym.

• Have your own space

  When you are in your home gym, you are in a judgment-free zone. You can wear anything and work out the way you want without anyone watching you.

• Customise the gym as you want

  Gyms cater to a wide variety of customers – beginners to athletes – each with different fitness goals. You may not find the right range of equipment needed to meet your fitness goals. One of the best things about the home gym is that you can customise it perfectly according to your needs and goals.

• Never have to wait for your turn

  Waiting for someone to finish using the equipment is a mood killer. In your own home gym, you are the only customer. You can use any equipment at any time.

• Save time and workout for long

  Going to the gym requires you to keep aside time for getting ready – and the commute too. This time can be saved when you set a home gym. You can use this saved time to work extra in your home gym.

• Save on expensive gym memberships

  Certainly, there are some upfront costs involved in setting up a home gym, especially in terms of equipment. But these are one-off purchases. Whatever you would have spent on gym memberships can be put towards buying equipment for a home gym.

2. How to Plan For Your Home Gym: Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up Home Gym

• Step 1: Determine Your Goals

  Your goals will determine what equipment you need for your home gym. With this knowledge in mind, you can budget your money and space better.

  For example, if you prefer cardio, then you might want to invest in a cardio machine and use most of the space for carrying out cardio workout routines.

  If you prefer weight lifting and building muscle, you might allow most of the space for weightlifting gear.

  To figure out your goals, ask yourself some key questions:

  • What sort of workout (exercise and activities) do you prefer?
  • How do you want to look and feel?
  • What do you want out of your workouts? Weight loss, cardio fitness, improved strength, muscle increase, or improved performance?

  Most people start with the fitness journey with two fitness goals in mind:

  • To look good: Improve the way their body looks – losing fat, building muscles, getting toned or building abs.
  • To become fit: Improve the way their body performs – get better and faster in activities or sports.

  Which category do you belong to? This, and your other health and fitness goals, will help decide what sort of exercise and what sort of equipment you will need to achieve the results you want.

• Step 2: Determine How Much Space You Have

  Figure out where you're going to set up the gym.

  Do you have a whole spare room? Or just a corner?

  Do you want the gym to be in the basement or a garage?

  Once you know where you are going to set up your gym, the next step is to figure out how to use the space optimally. Don't worry if you have very little space for your gym. Just as there's equipment for every budget, there's equipment for any sized space as well.

  The new-age fitness equipment is designed to be compact and multipurpose. A multi-gym equipment two top benefits:

  • It's compact – it doesn't eat up a lot of space at home (saves space)
  • It's versatile – it does the job of 4 to 5 machines (saves money).

• Step 3: Figure Out Your Budget

  It's a myth that only the rich can afford a home gym. Home gyms can start cheap; you just have to start and allow it to evolve over time.

  So, what should be the budget for your home gym? The budget will greatly depend on what kind of equipment you need. And the equipment you need in your gym greatly depends on what your fitness goals are.

  If your workout demands heavyweights and a rack, it's going to be more expensive than a workout that relies more on floor exercises involving medicine balls, yet less expensive if you are more interested in complicated cardio machines.

  ProTip: Do some quick online research to get an idea of the costs associated with different types of gym equipment. If you are on a tight budget, consider buying second-hand equipment.

• Step 4: Stock Your Home Gym

  This is the fun part – choosing what equipment you want in your personal gym! Remember, your choice of equipment should help you reach your fitness goals, above all else. Choosing a skipping rope if you're not remotely interested in cardio doesn't serve the purpose.

  Also, you don't need different pieces of equipment to meet your goals. And you certainly don't have to buy them all at once. Remember, the best home gyms evolve over time; so, start with just the most important ones and then build on it.

  You may find these tips useful while buying equipment for your home gym:

  • Choose a versatile piece of equipment that can be used for multiple exercises.
  • Look for durable equipment with long warranties that will stand the test of time.
  • If you are not on a tight budget and if the aesthetic of the gym is a priority to you, you might want to consider the look and feel of your equipment – the colour scheme, and the general vibe.

  The basic equipment to start off your gym can be a bench and barbell for strength training, a yoga mat and medicine ball for functional fitness or just a jump/skipping rope to improve your cardio fitness. As your workout routine evolves, so will your gym. You might find yourself adding more weights or different machines to meet your evolved fitness goals.

  Having said that, take a look at some of the essential pieces of equipment you'll need in your home gym.

  Note: Remember, you don't have to buy everything for your home gym all at once. Start with a few key pieces and then gradually build it up from there.

  Cardio Training Equipment

  Cardio training equipment is any equipment that can help you sustain smooth and continuous movement at an elevated heart rate for at least 20 minutes.

  Treadmills can give you that serious burn. If you have the budget and space, don't overlook it. If you are tight on cash and space, a jump rope is good enough. Use a weighted jump rope to crank up the intensity.

  Other considerations:

  • Cycle: Cycling is an excellent way to get your heart pumping. It provides a low-impact workout, burns body fat and helps in weight loss.

  • squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer: It offers low-impact cardio benefits. It is easier on the joints and helps improve your mobility and balance.