Page 15 - JANUARY
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Step #3: Only buy what you’ll use




                          While the temptation might be there to design your home gym
 Step #2: Provide a solid foundation  to look like a commercial gym, complete with a wide array of

                          machines you’re not sure how to operate, this is the wrong step

 Often overlooked by home gym builders yet crucial to the success and   to take.

 usability of the space is the floor. It needs to be reinforced to take the
 weight of well, weights, amongst other heavy gym equipment.  Instead, focus on what you do use. Love the rowing machine
                          and never set foot on a treadmill? Buy the former, and forget

 Floor reinforcement is fairly cheap and can come in the form of inter-  about the latter, as the only customer you’re trying to impress is
 locking tiles, so this step can be easily completed, avoiding nasty   yourself. Sure, there’s no harm in investing in some equipment

 structural damage that can occur - especially on upper floors.  you’re curious about but have never tried, but try to keep these
                          purchases small-scale - think a new set of weights rather than a

                          complex cross-trainer.


                          If you tend to combine gym workouts with outdoor pursuits,

                          then you should create a place in your home gym to store your
                          cycle equipment amongst other things - instead of investing in

                          a exercise bike you won’t use.










                          Step #4: Curate a relaxation area




                          Once your workout is over, you’ll want a place where you can
                          relax and recuperate afterwards. If money is no object, then a

                          tempting option is a hot tub on an adjacent patio or roof ter-
                          race. A relaxation area can be of any size and incorporate any-

                          thing you want, so you don’t need to go for the most opulent
                          option - and besides, you might end up using the hot tub a lot
                          more than the gym itself.



                          Utilising the rest of your home gym’s space to create a reading

                          snug is a more budget-conscious idea - think of a room laid out
                          in this way as a place where you can train body and mind in
                          total peace and tranquillity.
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