Let\u2019s face it. You\u2019re busy. It\u2019s not always possible to fit in the time to work out at the gym.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s say you have a free half hour between dinner and your daughter\u2019s volleyball game. No, you don\u2019t have time to go to the gym. But you do have time to head to your garage and lift weights for 20 minutes. Or you could hop on the treadmill for 15 minutes and then stretch.<\/p>\n
Even if it only takes you 10 minutes to drive to and from your gym, you could save yourself an hour a week if you work out just three times. Not to mention the time walking through the parking lot, putting your coat in a locker, and possibly waiting for machines to free up.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, your home gym never closes. It\u2019s free. And you can put the TV on whatever channel you want.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to make it happen.<\/p>\n
The beautiful thing about a home gym is that you can have one\u2014and still park your car in your garage. Pretty much everything else, however, must either go or be put into storage along the walls.<\/p>\n
That means you can\u2019t store patio furniture in your garage in the winter\u2014and there\u2019s certainly no room for things like a snowmobile or Jet ski. Old bikes and no-longer-used kids gear also must go.<\/p>\n
Think about the bare essentials you need\u2014and dedicate one wall of your garage to storing them, either on hooks or in wall cabinets.<\/p>\n
Is your garage heated? If not, is your garage door insulated? How about your walls? Depending on where you live, this may be the place to start.<\/p>\n
Next, think about the kind of equipment you\u2019d like to have, if it requires power, and how many outlets you have.<\/p>\n
Finally, how fancy do you want to get with your floors and walls? At a minimum, you\u2019ll want to put in some rubber flooring tiles to protect both your equipment and your joints.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re determined to go all out, you could drywall your walls and even install a wall of mirrors.<\/p>\n
First, you have to determine your goals. Are you looking to create an environment like CrossFit, just lift weights, get some cardio, or even do some yoga?<\/p>\n
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Hang a punching bag from the ceiling.
\n\u2022 Monkey and a pull-up bars don\u2019t take up much space, but provide a great workout.
\n\u2022 Invest in equipment that doesn\u2019t take up a lot of space like kettlebells, plyometric boxes, a jump rope, exercise balls, free weights, etc.
\n\u2022 Consider a rowing machine versus a treadmill. Not only does it work more muscles, but it takes up less space. Plus, you can always jog outside when the weather is nice.
\n\u2022 Make your home gym a place you love to be with extras like a TV or mini fridge for cool drinks.<\/p>\n
Self storage could be just what you need to free up the room for a home gym. Things like camping gear, seasonal decorations, or even a snowmobile can go in your storage unit, leaving your garage free for exercise equipment.<\/p>\n
At StorageMart, you\u2019ll find self storage units<\/a>\u00a0that can be rented on a month-by-month basis, so you\u2019re not locked into a long-term commitment. Not sure how much space you need? Check out our storage unit guide<\/a>\u00a0to find the ideal set-up for you. Contact us to rent a unit online<\/a>\u00a0today or for more information.<\/p>\n