Shaping Up At Home

serenemaklong.blogspot.com

In today’s world, most people lead hectic lives with overburdened schedules and a shrinking amount of recreational time. As stress levels skyrocket, fitness has become an important component for health and well-being.  

As a result, people have come to expect more from their workouts than a mere fast-paced drill for their hearts. Researchers have discovered that if you approach your exercise session with a frenzied pace or a “do or die” attitude, then the high stress knots are never untied and the health benefits stay out of reach.  

But starting an exercise regime is never easy, especially when you’ve been a couch potato for decades. With the mushrooming of fitness and yoga centres around town offering unbelievable perks, your options are aplenty. However, if you’re cash strapped or gym-shy, then consider starting a home gym.  

More consumers are getting treadmills and recumbent bikes for their homes but the trend is towards functional training. People want to build up certain muscle groups based on functions they are performing, for example, playing golf or tennis.  

Equipment at the public gyms are different yet similar to the ones sold for home use. Due to space constraints, home equipment can include up to 10 stations. However, it’s little less durable than the ones used in public gyms, which are meant for mass use. 

Home equipment can cost from RM400 for a basic stationary bike to RM5,000 for a high-end treadmill. Cross trainers are another favourite. Of course, there are customers buying barbells and dumbbells but the majority prefer cardio machines as chances of getting injured are less.   

The convenience of working out at home offers people a time-efficient solution and easy access to home activities. Besides ensuring privacy often lacking in public gyms, it is great for general fitness, considering almost 30% of Malaysia’s population falls into the borderline obese category.  

However, if you’re a serious muscle builder, then home gyms are not for you. When it comes to muscle gain, band resistance equipment and the common treadmill are inferior to weight machines and even free weights. 

Always look for equipment that works your whole body or can at least keep the major body parts in shape.  

While the affluent can afford higher-end exercise equipment, home gyms may not be for everyone, especially if you need stimulus to work out and are inspired by toned bodies and rippling muscles. We’re all familiar with the sight of rowing machines and stationary bikes collecting dust and stair climbers doubling up as clothing racks.