Create Your Own Home Gym

Getting to the gym day after day can be a tough job. You have to pack a special bag, choose appropriate workout clothes, make sure your mp3 player is charged--and, of course, find the spare time. Many people probably wish they could just transfer their favorite parts of the gym to their own home. Even if you don't have the spare space in your home to set up a full home gym, it doesn't mean you can't set up a useful workout area. If you have a spare bedroom that goes generally unused, you can turn it into a personal fitness center with a few renovations.

First of all, for maximum safety, you will want to replace your current flooring--carpet, laminate, vinyl, or tile--with rubber flooring. This is not as expensive as you might think, and it reduces the risk of slipping and cushions your fall in case you do. Plus, it won't get scuffed or utterly destroyed by dropping weights or other equipment. If you are unable to entirely redo the floor, then simply replace the section where you will rack the weights. Make sure to have precise measurements of the room. You will probably have already obtained these in order to have the rubber flooring installed, but you will also need to know what size equipment you will be able to store there.

If you want cardio machines, then you will need to choose more compact designs if at all possible. It will also be valuable to find equipment that operates as an "all-in-one," or at least allows you to have multiple workout options.

Some people like to have large wall-covering mirrors so that they can check their form and see their muscles working at they lift weights or perform certain other exercises. If this is helpful to you, don't hesitate to have one installed. Check with companies that supply these mirrors to dance studios and other gyms in your area.

Make provisions for all kinds of workouts. Having a television and DVD player in the room will allow you to do Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, and more--all in the comfort of your own home gym. Don't forget the radio and/or the mp3 player with compatible speakers--anything you need to get you really pumped up!