We sat down to chat with Robbie Weir about everything ‘home gyms’! With many people moving away from group classes & training at big commercial gyms, we felt it was most appropriate to do the heavy lifting and share our top tips for setting up your home gym.
Robbie, a local sports nutritionist & transformation coach began his journey into the personal training industry after he left the army and has never looked back. He does group classes and online training packages & believes that having the right space to create your home gym comes with many long-term benefits. Read here if you are looking to create your own gym space.
So what are the benefits of home gym training vs commercial gyms?
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Convenience. No need to drive or commute to the gym, it's right there in the comfort of your own home.
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Train on your own schedule. Squeeze in a workout any time of day when it suits you best.
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Individual needs are catered for. You can design the layout of your gym and equip it with the gear you are interested in, only have what you need and nothing more.
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Involve the whole family. Training at home allows you to get the kids and family involved, or just be available when needed.
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And lastly, save on costs & membership fees. No monthly costs & lock-in contracts, invest in equipment and own your gear.
Now that you are convinced of getting your own home gym, let's talk about how you would set up a home gym. But let's have a look at Robbie's own VERVE home gym.
It's finding the perfect harmony of a neat space with maximum use to make it spacious enough to move around freely.
Most people don't have a big space to create a gym, and more than likely will allocate the garage to the new gym space. Make sure your space is calming and comfortable, by keeping the space clutter-free and setting up ample space for storing those smaller pieces of equipment.
Now that you have a space, what are the best pieces of gym equipment you should get?
You don't need to go overboard to have the most effective set of equipment for your home gym. Staples would include a power rack, barbell, bumper plates (various weights chosen according to your fitness level & goals), adjustable bench, dumbbells, and resistance bands. That right there will set you up for an intense home gym routine, and the best part of it all, you won’t need to queue to use the equipment.
Depending on your available space, and budget you could look to include rings, cable machine, assault bike, leg curl & extension machine and even some additional functional gear like plyo foam box, kettlebells, deadballs etc.
So, if you are looking to invest in your health & your home gym, these are Robbie’s top tips for your ultimate gym fit out:
Purpose & objective of the space? Is it to keep healthy & exercise daily, train to compete, or just to get fit & have your own space to move daily? Whatever your goal & knowing what the space will be used for, will help you determine the amount & type of equipment you will need.
Size & measurement of the space. This will determine the layout of the space and the functionality of the equipment. Making sure there is enough space to move around the equipment, perform movements on machines (pull-ups in relation to the height of the ceiling) & load up weights & move around with ease, is key to a great gym layout design.
Allow for storage space. There are many smaller pieces of equipment like microbands, resistance bands, jump ropes etc- make sure these have a storage place and are also easily accessible when required.
Adequate lighting, music & ventilation. Fans are a must, especially in the hotter months, and will be the determining factor if a workout happens or not.
Keeping it light will also help keep the space naturally cool, especially if your home gym is based in your garage.
And lastly, if your gym space is exposed to open doors- try not to keep equipment close to the door as the rain and the elements may damage your gear!
Now that you are equipped with all the right info to set up your own gym, why not get in touch with our team to help you get the right gear for your space.
We also recommend going through the Ultimate Guide to Building Your Home Gym to consider all details and products needed.
