Written by Megan Smith, PT
Everyone knows that going to the gym and making exercise a priority can be tough, but with the right equipment, it's easy to assemble your very own miniature exercise oasis right in your home!
Regardless of your needs, with the wide expanse of gym equipment available on the market today it’s easy to assemble an exercise space that's perfectly tailored to your individual needs. This puts you in total control of your workout with no irritating wait times or hours of operation to work around.
With a home gym, you can workout whenever best fits your schedule with no downtime between machines, and ensure that all of your favorite exercises and equipment is easily accessible when you need it. This includes making sure that any particular pain or body limitation is easily accommodated by your exercise space.
Due to the variety of equipment available, you have a lot of options as a customer to craft a home gym tailored to your exact specifications. Whether you choose a complete system or a selection of smaller pieces, the possibilities are endless, but that can seem somewhat overwhelming for someone new to the fitness world or who has never shopped for this equipment before.
Luckily for you, Rehabmart is here to help. To simplify your shopping, we’ll explain the various features and components you should take into consideration when making your final purchase, and then lay out several of our most popular gym systems to make your selection totally effortless.
For most people, budget will probably top the charts as your biggest consideration when choosing equipment. Because of this, it’s important to weigh budget against your other needs and preferences. The thought of having a complete home gym station might seem amazing, but if you don’t have the budget or space for that kind of machine, then ultimately, you’ll have a better workout experience if you simplify your selection to something a little more compact and traditional like a set of dumbbells or a multi-function bench.
After budget, your next highest concern is the space available to you. Whether you’re choosing equipment for a complete home gym or just looking for a simple solution so that you can work out at home, equipment should be selected with the space in mind.
Everybody has that one friend or relative who decided to splurge on a treadmill or stationary bike that they never use and now it just takes up space as a makeshift coat hanger in their home. Don’t be that person. If you choose equipment, make sure it’s something that fits within your space and is something you can actually, honestly see working into your daily and weekly schedule in the long-term.
Depending on how often and how heavy you plan to use your exercise equipment, you may need to choose different options. If you’re a relatively small, lightweight person mostly looking to improve your cardio endurance, you’re going to have totally different needs than someone about to embark on a plan to train for a bodybuilding competition, and you’re going to work different muscle groups at different frequencies.
For a more weight-centric workout, it’s important to select equipment that can accommodate the weights that you’re planning on lifting, as well as equipment that can safely support your own body weight in addition to those added weights. Cardio-goers should also consider weight capacity in their choices, making sure that machines accommodate the size and weight of their bodies as well as include a good range of speeds that encompass the rate of both their usual workout and their intended goal.
Outside of considerations for your space and budget, it’s important to think about your own needs and preferences when choosing your equipment. If you suffer from joint pain or no longer find cardio enjoyable, Rehabmart offers a huge line of low-impact cardio equipment that is not only easy on your joints but FUN to use as well! Try out our line of recumbent bikes, our selection of low-impact elliptical machines, or focus on weights and isometric exercises.
If you have pain in a certain area of your body or have certain mobility challenges or limitations, choose equipment that takes those needs into consideration or focuses on those areas in a safe, gentle way.
Select equipment that tailors itself well to how you like to workout. You’re choosing a home gym so that you can have total control over the choices available, so make sure you pick something that fits your needs.
No matter your age, needs, or level of fitness and mobility, there is the perfect piece or set of equipment out there for you, saving you the time and money associated with a gym membership and allowing to get perfectly customized workouts in on your terms.
Megan has been a part of Rehabmart since its inception nearly 20 years ago. For the past several years she has been enjoying her role as HR Director while maintaining her Physical Therapy license. When she isn't working on her next in-service or working to find a new team member, she enjoys her five children, helping those who have PT type ailments, baking, practicing yoga, and working out.
