Keeping fit at home
The schools of thought on exercise –what kind and how much –are probably as numerous as the pieces of the equipment in a gym. Some people pedal furiously on stationary bicycles. Others prefer running jogging, judo or working out with weight. Still others advocate a well rounded activity program combining a number exercises. If indoor exercise is your preference, there are ways to make room for it at home.
You can add gym equipment to an existing recreation room or create a special room for exercise. The type of equipment you include will depend on the kind of fitness program you follow. Exercise mats may be all you need. On the other hand, you may want all the gear found in a professional gymnasium: barbells, pressing station, wall pulley, slant board, punching bag, rowing machine, stationary bicycle, parallel bars, balance beam, and so fort. And if you like a home spa or sauna I your exercise area you’ll find the Sunset book Hot Tubs, Spas & Home Saunas full of useful ideas.
Exercise equipment comes in a wide range of prices. In general, the studier, professional quality equipment has the higher price tag. Do some comparison shopping before buying: look up “Gymnasium Equipment” in the Yellow Pages, pay several companies a visit, and try out their lines of equipment. Fitness centers, health clubs, and professional gymnasiums are good sources of equipment information, too.
“I can do everything you can do in a gym without moving more than three feet in any direction.”
That’s the claim of the owner of this mini-gym. Located at the rear of a double garage (you can see the open garage door and storage wall reflected in the mirror), the mini gym is a 7 by 11 –foot raised concrete platform with heavy duty carpet glued on it. A bolted in place isometric rack lets the owner place weights at different heights for various exercise.