Setting Up a Great Home Gym

Pro Tip! Creating a home gym doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming.

Training in the comfort – and safety – of your own home has never been so popular. With many gyms closing down during Covid-19, it may actually be your only option now.

Gym memberships are expensive, and like my own clients, people are choosing online personal trainers over local options. Following along to video exercise tutorials created by your favourite fitness pro is motivating and fun!

So I support your choice to toss your gym pass and jump 100% to an at-home fitness routine! Listed below are my coaching programs to help you achieve your fitness goals when working out at home – and read on to learn what equipment is essential for optimal fitness results.

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Step 1: Create Your Space

The first thing to do is decide where you are going to exercise and make that space comfortable and desirable to spend time in.

If you have a dedicated room – lucky you! This enables you to set up benches and even cable machines to use. But if you’re like most people, you’ll likely be using a spot in the basement or sharing the living room to get your sweat on. Move around the furniture so you can at least place a yoga mat down and leave it arranged this way. You don’t want to have to redecorate before and after every workout.

Step 2: Gather Your Tools

While your budget and room ultimately decide where you start when it comes to buying fitness equipment for your home gym, there are basics everyone needs that are a good investment.

Essential Home Exercise Equipment (visit my Store to order!):

• mat
• workout gloves (Available soon on my website)
• exercise bands (Order now! –> Julie Germaine 5-Piece Resistance Band set)
• thigh/glute bands (Available soon on my website)

Additional Optimal Home Exercise Equipment:

• stability ball
• Bosu ball or balance board
• dumbbells (adjustable are great!)

Bonus Home Exercise Equipment:

• workout bench
• cardio equipment (ie: treadmill, stationary bike, or eliptical)

Your endurance, strength, and muscle tone will improve if you can commit to using your home gym at least three times per week with the essential pieces I mention. As your health develops, you may find yourself adding to your fitness accessories to match your building confidence and ability.

Step 3: Self Care for Muscle Recovery

Spoiler: Your body is going to be sore!

Yes, exercise is uncomfortable at first – and beginners truly experience worse DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) than athletes, so it is important to have a few tricks to ease pain and promote healing.

• foam roller
• massage gun
• ice/heat packs
• epsum salt

Of course, you don’t have to break the bank and order everything all at once. Items to support your gym-addiction make for great gift ideas ;)

Step 4: Keep it Tidy

If you’re a parent, you know that anything new is a magnet for children! Think ahead and have a plan to keep your home gym safe & neat for you and your family. A plastic tote may be enough to secure your home fitness equipment, or reserve a spot in a nearby closet or bureau for everything. Please, ensure it is close-by and convenient.

Step 5: Reflection for Motivation

Now you’re almost ready to train in the comfort of your home – but wait, what’s missing? Gyms are loaded with mirrors – not only for the vanity of it’s members, either! Good lighting and the ability to check your form are helpful to exercise free of injury, and will work to motivate you.

Open your blinds to let the natural light stream in or buy a good lamp to brighten up your workout space. (PS – If your neighbours watch your work out – good! You can feel happy to possibly inspire them to exercise, too!)

Mirrors are great for meditating on movement and watching for cues I provide as your remote (therefore safely socially-distanced) coach on perfect form.

Step 6: Get to Work!

Use it! The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do, so set your mind to spending time in your new home gym on a weekly basis – even if you just end up stretching. Developing a good habit is never easy, but I promise it will be worth it.