I recently built my own home gym, and maybe you're thinking of building your own too! So here are some tips on how to make that happen and whether or not you should. A home gym can be extremely viable for almost anyone, even if you're a beginner or an experienced gym goer.

So here's a list of pros and cons when owning a home gym:

Pros:

• Equipment rarely breaks (as long as you respect it)
• Never wait for equipment to be available
• Customized atmosphere
• Design the gym how you want
• Listen to the music you want
• Less social atmosphere
• Get dialed in and focused on your workout with ease (with fewer distractions)
• Great for training with a friend
• No membership fees

Cons:

• You have to clean it
• Not a social atmosphere (if you're a social person)
• Less accountability (unless your friend comes over)
• Less variety of equipment
• The initial investment can be expensive
• Dedicated room in-house for gym space

So if you're looking at this list and thinking, "These pros outweigh the cons," please keep reading. The first thing to know is what kind of training you see yourself doing the most. This will greatly impact how you decide your path forward. For an Olympic lifter, having sufficient overhead ceiling space is a must. For a powerlifter, a barbell, weights, and a rack will be your priority. For a cyclist, a bike and some weights might be your first choice. This would be a very long article if I were to approach each type of person. That being said, whoever you are and whatever you train, there are some essentials when it comes to resistance training. For simplicity's sake, here's a well-rounded, all-encompassing approach to the essentials of a home gym.

The following list of equipment can take you extremely far if used properly.

1. Resistance Bands
2. Adjustable Dumbbells
3. Workout Bench
4. Cable Machine
5. Barbell, Cage/Rack, and Plates

If you were to acquire all of these assets, it could cost you anywhere between $3000 - $4000, depending on where you get this equipment and how new it is. If the average gym membership is $60/month, then this would mean that five years of membership would equate to this sum. If you plan on living in your house longer than five years, you can bet this gym equipment will outlast that. In addition, with these essentials, I can guarantee you can get everything you need for resistance training done with this equipment (Note: This list is specifically for resistance training and does not include what cardio training would require). Not all of these items are completely necessary, so I've numbered the list. If you were only to get the first three items, you could get great results and still have many options! A bonus item that could be added to this list would be a TRX Trainer since they are very diverse and relatively inexpensive.

That's all I have on building a home gym (essentials). If you would like to learn more about this topic, please feel free to contact me via email, and I would be happy to create a more specific post, like low-cost alternatives or sport-specific equipment recommendations. For now, I hope you enjoyed this, and share it with your friends if you're thinking about building a gym!