The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced many gyms across the world to close their doors yet again, leaving lots of people with no choice but to work out at home. There are of course several advantages to exercising at home, from the convenience of not having to go anywhere to the lack of a monthly membership fee. However, at the same time, there are certain benefits that working out at home simply cannot offer in the way that a gym can. Here are four reasons why you should consider joining a gym near you once they reopen to members.
1. You have access to a wider variety of equipment
One of the great advantages of joining a gym is the huge range of exercise equipment and machines you gain access to. From treadmills, rowing machines, and exercise bikes to free weights, cable machines, and kettlebells, there is enough variety to ensure that you never get bored during your workout. Plus you can make sure that you include a diverse range of exercises to get your whole body fit. However, to be able to do that at home would take some serious space and financial investment, so is simply not a viable option for most of us.
2. You can attend a number of different fitness classes
Almost all gyms offer a wide variety of fitness classes, and they are often included for free as part of your membership or available at a discounted rate. Depending on what gym you go to, you could try anything from yoga, pilates, or dance to circuits, spin, and boxercise. Of course, these days it is possible to attend many of these types of classes online, but it does not have quite the same atmosphere. With such a vast range you are sure to find something you like – and once you do, working out will seem much more fun than running on a treadmill alone at home!
3. You do not need to worry about annoying your neighbors
If you live in an apartment or terraced house with lots of neighbors in close proximity, having a home gym might not be feasible for you. Or if it is, you may be limited in the equipment you can use, the types of exercises you can do, and how loud you can play your music in order to not make too much noise and disturb those around you. At the gym, however, you do not have to worry about that. Of course, you need to be considerate of other gym users, but there are no restrictions on using noisy equipment.
4. You have fewer distractions and more motivation
For many of us, the difficulty with exercising is simply getting around to doing it. When you are trying to exercise at home, there is so much to distract you. Whether it is your kids, your spouse, work, or just Netflix, there are lots of different things vying for your attention – making it easy to put off your workout. If you join a gym, however, as soon as you arrive you have nothing else to focus on but getting fit. In fact, working out alongside other people might even motivate you to work harder!