Unquestionably, the majority of people use the gym to exercise. However, on the days that they skip the gym because of work or other commitments, they do not workout. For most people it is an exercise or not exercise scenario. Either I go to the gym and workout or I go straight home and do nothing. The question is why can’t you workout at home if the desire strikes you? Giving yourself the option to exercise at the gym and at home can be a powerful tool for your fitness program.
The ultimate question to be answered, is do we really need a gym to workout or can we find another place where we can forget about other challenges and focus on our fitness? I have visited a lot of gyms in New York City. I have seen the big box gyms, as well as several independent personal training gyms and studios around New York City. What is interesting about going into some of New York City’s independent personal training gyms, is seeing the lack of standard gym equipment on the gym floor. Comparably, the gym floor looks almost barren compared to the standard membership gym most of us are used to attending. These gyms are littered with dumb bells, kettle bells, physio balls, medicine balls, bars, bands, mats, and TRX straps. Simple, small versatile equipment that doesn’t take up a lot of space, yet can be used in a variety of ways on various muscle groups. For starters, you can use the TRX straps for a chest, shoulder, or back workout. That is just one example.
What is also interesting about the personal training gyms is the intensity. There is very little socializing on the gym floor, no milling around, and the absence of reading materials and Blackberries can be refreshing. Primarily, everyone who exercises at these facilities is with their personal trainer. Plus, even the personal trainers train their personal training colleagues. It is a kinetic, results driven atmosphere that may be short on standard gym equipment, but long on experience on how to use the equipment provided.
All of this leads me to believe that we don’t necessarily need to belong to the gym like so many of is do these days. What I think people really need the gym for, is that it is their fitness “fortress of solitude”. For similar reasons that Superman heads off to his fortress of solitude, many head to the gym to find their inner strength and knowledge. We all want at least one place where we can put away everything else, lace up our sneakers , turn on our ipods, and not be interrupted during a workout. So, the question becomes, is it possible that we could build our own fitness fortress of solitude at home.
It is absolute, that this can be realized from an equipment standpoint. Many items found at a typical personal training facility could be bought at a local sporting goods store or online and used in the home. Very easily, you could purchase a jump rope, some stretch bands, a physio ball, a step, and more. All those items could slide right under your bed. The second part of takes much more of a sustained effort. You’ve got to try to create the right environment for exercise. First, you have to carve out the time. Make an appointment on your daily calendar. Second, learn how to use the equipment in many effective and varied ways, so as not to become complacent. Finally, and most importantly, you need to eliminate all possible distractions. Too be successful in your program, you need to follow the second step closely. Using non-traditional gym equipment means learning non-traditional exercises. Schedule a Queens personal trainer for some in-home sessions. A package of five to ten sessions should be sufficient enough for you to learn several exercises and routines. A personal trainer Queens should also be able to help you look throughout the house for possible distractions and facilitate ways to keep them from disturbing you. Creating your fitness fortress of solitude with the right equipment, focus, and safeguards can be done. Enjoy your workout!
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