Are you confused whether to join a Health Club or buy a Home Gym? Both these options come with their own shares of advantages and disadvantages. A Health Club provides its members access to a wide selection of exercise equipment that makes it easier to get a full-body workout using all the latest equipment. Moreover, you do your exercises without getting bored because you will be working out with other physical fitness enthusiasts.
There are personal trainers at these gyms who can guide you on the right way to use the equipment, which is quite helpful, especially for the newly joined enthusiasts. However, the cost of memberships at these Health Clubs could be a deterring factor, given the continued rise in membership fees. Many gyms require its members to get their membership for a minimum of one year that becomes a financial burden in itself. For some people, paying the high cost of membership is simply an impossibility to afford.
Another reason for people not joining a Health Club is the fact that in spite of the high motivation existing in the beginning, the interest may keep on going down and going to the gym itself becomes a difficult proposition. People start coming up with excuses for not going to the gym like the faraway location of the Health Club or time constraint that is stopping them from attending the gym regularly. These Health Clubs also tend to be frequented by people at around the same time daily, mostly in the morning or evening hours. This could lead to crowding of the gym with difficulty in getting access to equipment or finding parking space for your car.
Advantages of Home Gyms
One of the best reasons for having a home gym is the possibility of exercising whenever you feel like doing it and not according to the working hours of Health Clubs. You can also play your choice of music and listen to it as loudly as you prefer. However, the downside of exercising at your own place is loneliness that you may feel at times because the camaraderie that a health club offers is missing at your own gym. But for some, the mere thought of showing their bodies while exercising is simply a no-no and instead, they would love the privacy of the home gym. Moreover, many people find it a squeamish experience of getting a whiff of a stranger’s body odor.
Although the initial cost of investment for having a home gym is quite a huge sum, it will be far less when compared to the total money that is spent in gym membership over time. Another benefit of having your home gym is that they exist at your home and that makes it easier to fit your workouts into your daily schedule. In addition, when the weather is bad, you can keep doing your exercise at your home gym. For people in rural areas, home gyms are the best choice because of the non-availability of health clubs nearby.
Disadvantages of Home Gyms
There are certain disadvantages to having your home gym. Many people, while exercising at their own gym find their everyday life coming in the way while working out. This distraction is not there when exercising at a health club as you do your physical exercises along with others. Working out at a health club is quite motivating as well, as the area is filled with people who are also there to get good body workouts.
Another reason that makes the home gym a prohibitive idea is that a lot of space is taken up by the equipment. For those having tight living space would find it difficult to have all the required equipment in place.
Choosing Between a Home Gym and a Health Club
It is seen that those having home gyms stick to their fitness regime longer and are more likely to achieve their fitness goals earlier than those having gym memberships. However, there are people who prefer to own a gym and also keep a gym membership, so that they can get the best experience of both the worlds by mixing things.
Note From Brigadoon Fitness:
This article makes some good points about choosing a commercial health club or having your own home gym. The one thing we’d like to point out is that your home gym can be as big or small as your space allows. If you don’t have a lot of space then you can start with some kettlebells or free weights, or even a yoga mat and an internet connection. Got a little more space then maybe you want an exercise bike, a smaller treadmill, or elliptical. Got a whole room to fill? Then think about a multi-functional gym where you can tone your whole body on one machine.
Let us know which you prefer – a home gym or a local health club? Whatever you are looking for Brigadoon Fitness has the perfect exercise equipment for you.
