In a world that increasingly feels hectic and dizzyingly busy, it can be difficult to find the time to head to the gym for an intensive workout, but turning your garden room into a fitness centre can be the best of both worlds.
Whether you enjoy the privacy of your own home or do not want the added expense, it can be worth it in the long run to set up a home gym, especially as the variety and versatility of gym equipment increase and a complete set of equipment gets cheaper to buy.
However, a home gym often feels like a compromise, shoved in the corner of a room used for something else or often pulling double duty with a home office, dining room or conservatory.
As many people found out when working and working out from home, bringing your exercise into your living space also introduces the potential for a lot of distractions.
The best option is a gym space on your property but not necessarily in your home, and this is where a garden room becomes the perfect choice. Here are just some of the biggest benefits.
A Workout Space Tailored To Your Needs
A successful workout regime does not merely rely on having the right equipment but also having a space that produces the right ambience, mood and energetic atmosphere to allow you to push yourself the most.
Some people find a public gym too distracting, intimidating or not catered enough to their needs, whilst a home gym means that a workout can often be shortened or put off to cater to take care of other chores. One space is not designed for you, whilst the other is not really designed for exercise.
A dedicated gym space at home, by contrast, is designed with your needs in mind. Not only does this include your choice of equipment, but also having the right type of floors and walls designed to create the right ambience, soundproofing and stability for your equipment.
Even just having the ability to play your own music on a speaker rather than relying on earphones can make a big difference to your performance on a treadmill or workout bike.
Fewer Distractions
Public gyms can be very distracting, especially at peak times when you have to share equipment and space with a lot of different people with varying levels of respect for gym etiquette.
By contrast, a home gym is filled with all of the distractions of home, from other people in the house to badly timed calls to your landline or pets adorably wanting to take part.
If you find it difficult to get in the zone and reach that zen-like level of focus that allows you to perform at your best, a gym in your garden room can be a perfect place to reach a flow state.
Ease Of Access
One of the barriers to going to the gym or having a workout is actually going. Many people live a surprising distance away from their nearest gym and that will often play a role in preparing for a workout.
Whilst a home gym is physically closer, there is often some wasted time and energy needed to set up the equipment, and by the time you have moved your stationary bike into place, you may already be too tired, worn out or sore to give it your best.
Both of these can be demotivating in different ways and it is far easier to lose motivation than get it back.
A dedicated gym room is perfect for avoiding this problem. All you need to do is walk down your garden and enter an exercise space that is ready and waiting for you.
More Guaranteed Privacy
It is possible to get some degree of privacy in a home gym and even in some public gyms, but you generally have to go out of your way to get it, which can itself be demotivating.
If you live on your own or only workout when everyone else is out of the house you can get privacy, in the same way that if you only workout in the early hours of the morning in a 24-hour public gym before even the early bird gym goers have arrived, you can have some privacy.
By contrast, a garden room can be securely locked, many have blinds, shutters or frosted glass to add privacy and many of them are soundproofed so the noise of gym equipment is unlikely to be heard by anyone else.