7 Reasons Why a Home Gym is Worth It
Exercise is a vital part of a happy, healthy life—but between family, personal projects, and work, it can often be difficult to juggle a consistent fitness routine as well.
After all, twenty minutes of exercise takes much more than twenty minutes when going to the gym involves packing a bag, commuting, waiting for an open cardio machine or weight stack, and then preparing for the rest of your day.
The solution? A home gym system.
While there’s an initial startup cost to a home gym, your personal exercise space can offer exactly what you need to stay fit and disciplined.
Discover the top seven benefits of a home gym:
It's no wonder that 67% of people never use their gym memberships. Going to the gym can easily become a three-hour ordeal consisting of:
- Finding a babysitter or dog walker
- Packing a gym bag with water, snacks, and a change of clothes
- Navigating traffic
- Finding a parking space
- Searching for a locker
- Waiting for your favorite machine to open up
- Working out for as long as you can before you need to head back
- Encountering traffic all over again on the way home
How well do the other 33% of gym members manage these obstacles? The diligent third of people who make the most of their monthly payments go to the gym twice a week on average.
Even if you do manage to get to your closest gym, you might not get in the workout you were dreaming of. By the time you've adequately prepared, you're not exactly full of energy.
Owning a home gym means that all the small, energy-sapping tasks are already taken care of. You can work out worry-free with nothing else chiseling away at your well-being.
When you're done, you can shower and relax in the comfort of your own home knowing you were able to make time for everything you set out to complete that day.
Ever missed your yoga class because of a last-minute meeting? Or perhaps you had to pick your kids up from a late band practice only to find your gym was closed when you finally arrived?
Traditional commercial gyms and fitness studios make you work out on their schedule. In contrast, home gyms offer unparalleled flexibility and convenience. When comparing a home gym vs. gym membership, a home gym provides the following advantages:
- Your home gym is always open. Work out for an hour at 3 a.m. when every gym in your city is closed.
- You can exercise multiple times a day. Short, 15-minute workout routines can be incredibly effective. Fit in a few minutes of exercise whenever you have a gap in your schedule without taking the time to commute.
- Go at your own pace. With a home gym, you won’t feel rushed or pressured by others to workout at a certain pace. You get to set the pace and work out in a way that is best for you.
Want to get a quick workout in during the wee hours of the morning or late at night when in-person gyms are usually closed? With lululemon Studio’s home gym system, it’s a breeze. Just turn on lululemon Studio and choose from thousands of live and on-demand workouts. At your home gym, there are no parameters on when or how you exercise—as long as you’re quiet enough to let other household members enjoy their days and nights
lululemon Studio is more than a workout…it’s a community. Get access to our top trainer tips and other lululemon Studio members when you sign up.
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Gym memberships add up. According to the International Health, Racquet, & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the average cost for a gym membership in the U.S. is $58 a month, but that gym membership cost can go up to $134.50 a month in expensive areas like New York City or boutique fitness studios.
In addition, the other hidden costs add up. These include:
- Initiation Fees – When first joining a gym membership, there’s often a startup fee of $100 or more.
- Surplus Charges – Want to enjoy fitness classes, lockers, a personal trainer, tanning, steaming, or massage chairs in addition to exercise machines? You may have to pay even more.
- Contracts – Many gyms operate under contract. If a gym member needs to terminate their contract due to an injury or a move, it may result in paying a termination fee that rivals the cost of the remaining membership.
- Freeze and Suspension Fees – Besides termination, you might want to pause your membership during travel (so that you can avoid a new initiation fee). But this, too, comes at a cost.
- Annual Fee - Most gyms ask for a fee paid annually which is often over $40.
And that’s without factoring in money spent on potential childcare fees, gas money, and the temptation of the smoothie bar you have to pass on the way out.
So, how much does a home gym cost?
Home gym costs range from $300 to $15,000, on average. For example, a stationary bike ranges between $500 and $2000 or more, a rowing machine ranges between $200 and $900 and a power rack ranges between $200 and $10,000.
In comparison, investing in home gym equipment and other home gym essentials tends to be less expensive than the ongoing cost of a commercial gym membership. And if you’re looking to minimize the amount of workout equipment in your home gym, there are many ways to do strength training at home without equipment. All you'll need for your home workout is motivation and lululemon Studio. You’ll have plenty of resistance training exercises at your fingertips. All the equipment you’ll need for certain workouts is an exercise mat, some free weights, a kettlebell, resistance bands, a yoga block, and a foam roller. Other workouts simply use your body weight as the resistance.
Make your workout sanctuary work for you with lululemon Studio’s premium fitness accessories.
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Whether you're exercising for physical maintenance, mental health benefits, strength training, or training for a marathon, a home gym allows you to have the specific gym equipment you need to meet your S.M.A.R.T. fitness goal.
- Sick of sharing the sweaty resistance bands or free weights at the gym? Invest in your own set, focusing only on the weights and tension that you need.
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- Ever done yoga at a studio lacking in props? Stock your home gym with blocks, a yoga mat, foam roller, straps, a yoga wheel, and anything else that catches your fancy.
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With your own gym at home, you have the freedom to pursue your goals without inhibition and restriction. And if you don’t want to invest in lots of equipment, dumbbells (or better yet, smart weights) and ankle weights can get you far. lululemon Studio provides a wide array of exercises using minimal equipment, without taking up precious floor space.
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If you currently have a gym membership, you’ve probably had a less-than-stellar workout thanks to one of the following interruptions:
- Noise – It’s hard to get in the zone with your track of choice when surrounded by televisions all tuned to different newscasts meshed with blaring music.
- Other gym members – Do you ever feel self-conscious at the gym? You’re not alone. And beyond the lack of privacy, some of your fellow exercisers might loudly drop weights, hog equipment, or engage in other attention-stealing antics.
Disaster strikes if you forget your earphones or a particularly intense cardio workout causes them to keep falling out of your ears.
One of the benefits of creating your own home gym is that your environment is designed and specified by you. That means you can get the most out of your exercise time.
Sure, your pet might try to join you during your Pilates workout, but for the most part, you’ll be free from unwelcome distractions that eat away at your confidence and energy.
Commercial gym-goers are instructed to wipe down mats and exercise equipment handles. Hopefully, the members at your local gym actually comply.
Still, places like benches and shower floors can pose potential health risks. The IHRSA found that quality of cleanliness can be overlooked by operators who instead direct their attention to paying for fitness equipment maintenance, marketing, paychecks, and running fitness programs.
With your own home or garage gym, you know exactly what you're getting. Whether your preferred cleaning agent is tea tree oil or Lysol, the level of cleanliness is totally up to you.
And you can confidently invite your family or friends to your home gym knowing it will only add to their mental and physical health, not detract from it.
From improving mood and mental sharpness to managing blood sugar and weight, exercise carries a myriad of benefits.
Sharing these perks with your friends and family can increase the enjoyment of exercising, make your workout more effective, help motivate you, and give you the experience of passing on your good habits to those you love.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay more to take your friends and family with you to the gym. With a lululemon Studio membership, you can create up to 6 individual profiles on your smart home gym system. This way, everyone can get in on the fitness fun. lululemon Studio sensors also pick up on multiple people in the same room so you can work out together. Try Family Fun fitness classes to get the whole family in on the joys of working out.
Is A Home Gym A Good Idea?
The answer is a resounding yes. Now, the only question is finding the right equipment for your needs so you can create your dream gym and learn how to get fit at home.
If you’re wondering how to build a home gym, we give you the convenience and customizability of a home gym in a sleek, immersive package at lululemon Studio.
Let your whole household get in on the fun without the constraints of a traditional gym space or membership. Then, capitalize on your potential with lululemon Studio.
Download the lululemon Studio App today and gain FREE access to over 10,000 classes and over 60 workout categories for 30 days.