Creating your own gym is the most obvious way to get fit at home. In an ideal world, you’d simply convert your garage, stock up on a load of high-tech workout gear, and say goodbye to unhealthy habits. But is that really what happens for the majority of home gym owners?
Possibly not. As well as costing a rather unhealthy average of between $800-$5,000 for equipment alone, home gyms often pile on a whole lot of pressure to always work out which, as well as forcing potentially unhealthy exercise habits, could damage mental health in the long run.
So does that mean your efforts to get fit at home are doomed? Not necessarily when you consider the following alternative home fitness enhancements that have nothing to do with the gym.
Swimming Pool
Investing in a swimming pool is a great health-based alternative to a home gym, as it encourages full-body workouts in a far more relaxed setting. Outdoor pools are especially great for this purpose, as they keep you outside in nature rather than staring at the blank walls of a gym. This, alone, can ensure you maintain a better headspace whenever you choose to work out. While all exercise is technically good for mental well-being due to the release of endorphins, swimming also brings unique benefits including notable reductions in anxiety. Some studies also link cold water swimming to a decrease in depression. These are all benefits you won’t necessarily get from a home gym that can often increase feelings of anxiety surrounding your health, and could be significantly better for you in the long run.
Sauna
While swimming is a pretty obvious alternative to a home gym, a sauna is not. How could sauna relaxation possibly help your health overall? In reality, though, outdoor saunas can provide a wide range of unexpected at-home health benefits, including increased metabolism, detoxification and, most well-reported, notable improvements to cardiovascular health. Experts believe this happens when an increased whole-body temperature activates the autonomic nervous system to increase things like heart rate, skin blood flow, and cardiac output. In many ways, these are the same benefits you’ll enjoy with a gym workout. A sauna simply allows you to enjoy them in comfort, and during a relaxing guilt-free activity that you’re unlikely to ever want to skip.
Home Spa
Fitness is as much about recovery and healing as it is about working out in the first place, and a home spa which could include a hot tub or simply a spa-style bathroom, can transform these elements of your health journey. For one thing, soaking in warm water can ease muscle aches, improve circulation, and even increase digestion. Unlike the often negative mental associations we form with an unused home gym, home spas also provide notable mental health benefits, including increased blood flow to the brain for physical mood improvements. Then, of course, there are benefits like increased relaxation, reduced anxiety, and potentially reduced depression thanks to endorphin release.
Home Renovations
When you think of ways to improve your fitness journey at home, renovations probably aren’t at the top of your list. If anything, projects like these likely take you away from your regular workout routine. But, did you know that, as well as improving your home (and thus increasing feelings of comfort, satisfaction, and relaxation), home renovations in themselves can be invaluable from a health standpoint? Studies have found that a person weighing roughly 155 pounds could burn 176 calories simply from painting! Of course, like gym exercise, renovations do pose certain risks, such as injury from incorrect lifting or exposure to dust and other debris. But, if you take care, wear protective equipment, and research things like proper lifting techniques in advance, your home renovation could see you fitter and happier than a gym running machine ever would.
For some people, a home gym is the perfect thing to get fitness in check at last. For others, an unused workout room in the home can feel like a constant reminder of health-based failures. If you’re in the latter category, opting for alternative home fitness enhancements might be a better option for you. And, this list provides you with the best options. From outdoor swimming to spa-style relaxation, your physical and mental health will surely thank you for considering these alternatives. Simply think about which choice would best suit your style and property, and don’t hesitate to get started!
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