JULY 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 35
HOME GYMS
DIY FITNESS ROOMS
People exercise for many different reasons. Exercise
can improve one’s appearance, reduce the risk
of illness, alleviate stress or anxiety, and even help
pass some time. Exercise is often a social activity, but
in the wake of social distancing guidelines issued
in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people
have found themselves looking for ways to exercise
at home.
Building a home fitness room has never been a more
timely project, and such a project can continue to
provide rewards even when life returns to some
semblance of normalcy. Here’s how to successfully
stock a home gym.
FIND THE SPACE
A home gym will be limited by the amount of space
that can be devoted to workouts. Possible fitness
room locations include a spare bedroom, a garage, a
basement, or an enclosed patio. Measure the space so
you can pick and choose equipment that will fit. Leave
some floor space empty for movement exercises or
mat activities.
KEEP IT BRIGHT
Darkness can sap energy levels, so invest in mirrors
and adequate overhead lighting to make the space
inviting. Natural light can make the exercise area
more enjoyable.
CONSIDER THE FLOORING
New flooring can protect against damage and make
an area more conducive to working out. Rubber mats
can offset echoes and reduce the noise of running on
a treadmill or setting down heavy weights.
USE SPACE SAVERS
A home gym space will likely not be as expansive as
the space inside a traditional fitness center. Thankfully,
many activities do not require a lot of space or
equipment. Classic exercises like squats, lunges, pushups,
and sit-ups require little gear but still produce
results. Figure out which equipment you like the most
and invest in two or three key pieces. Dumbbells of
various weights, a medicine ball and a yoga mat can be
all you need to create a versatile, effective workout. A
TRX system and a door-mounted pull-up bar also are
great space-saving options.
INCLUDE A TV
A home gym may benefit from a smart TV that you
can use to stream workout videos or catch up on the
latest news while running the treadmill or using the
stationary bike.
A home gym is beneficial year-round, and can be especially
valuable when social distancing guidelines
are put in place.
-Metro Creative Connection
FIT & FABULOUS
Home gyms have become more popular during the coronavirus pandemic. (Getty Images)
EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
SALES SPIKE
Once the coronavirus pandemic forced her
Orangetheory gym to close, Chiaki Osaka was
eager to stay in shape while staying inside her
home in California.
She had her heart set on an exercise bike from
Peloton, known for its high-tech equipment and
virtual classes, but they were temporarily sold
out. However, she was able to find a Schwinn
equivalent from Amazon.
"I was afraid to, one, get out of shape, and, two,
I'm staying inside and working on my computer
all day," Osaka said. "I needed a change, and I
needed structure to my life."
With millions of Americans staying home,
demand has soared for fitness equipment to
create home gyms — both as a way to stay fit and
to relieve stress.
The NPD Group reported fitness equipment
sales rose 130 percent in March compared
to a year ago. Sales of exercise bikes were up
170 percent, free weights up 181 percent, and
benches up 259 percent, according to the market
research company.
Freelance journalist Hoda Emam in San Francisco
bought a trampoline to keep her three
kids under the age of 5 occupied.
"The kids were waking up in the morning with
a ton of energy," Emam said. "Under normal
circumstances, they would go to school or preschool,
and we did not have a way to get out all
this pent-up energy."
Now, she and her husband can focus on work.
In the coronavirus era, companies are shifting
gears, said Ryan McGrotty, co-founder of Rep
Fitness, a fitness equipment supplier in Denver.
"A lot of the companies that had previously
specialized in commercial equipment are now
starting to market things towards the home
gym market," McGrotty said. "I think a lot of
companies, if they want to survive, that's honestly
going to be the way that they have to go,
at least for the next year or so."
McGrotty declined to give numbers, but said
his company was seeing demand that "exceeds
Black Friday levels, every day since March 13."
-Reuters
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