For over a decade, I have run an in-home personal training company and simultaneously taught group exercise classes in commercial and corporate gyms. Extensive experience working in both scenarios has taught me there are benefits and drawbacks to working out in either location. I decided to ask some additional trainers to weigh in on gym versus home workouts, and here’s what they had to say.
Pros to Working Out at Home
It Doesn’t Cost You Much. Peter O’Shanick, NASM-CPT, agrees: “Exercising at home can save you time and money, and the variety of bodyweight/yoga/band-and-dumbbell workouts out there will keep you occupied and sweating as much as any group exercise class could.” You can find videos for in-home workouts and equipment-free workouts, and you can invest in inexpensive equipment to set up a home gym for the cost of a couple months’ membership at your local health club!
At-Home Workouts Don’t Require Too Much Planning. Peter also notes, “Being able to stay flexible with scheduling and the option to drop into or out of a workout as necessary can help on days where things pop up that would otherwise torpedo a trip to the gym.” Jeff Deal, CSCS, owner and operator of Ideal Fitness, agrees. “The biggest advantage of working out at home is convenience. There is no drive time, the music can be exactly what you want, and you can even work out in your pajamas if you want.”
Childcare Isn’t a Requirement. I’ve had a lot of clients with young kids who were still asleep while we worked out in the basement, something that would have been difficult to accomplish if we were attempting to meet in a gym early in the morning. Alexandra Price, a certified pre- and postnatal fitness instructor and owner of FIT4MOM in Waco, TX, points out that “for nursing moms, breastfeeding throws another kink in there as we are learning our routine, and then baby might decide to change up the feeding schedule. So, for me, keeping her with me was the best option. And I get to play with her and see her sweet smile while I sweat.”
Pros to Working Out in a Gym
The Gym Mindset Sets the Tone For a Better Workout. “A gym is a highly specific space with a very clear purpose, and the resulting focus can help keep you driven and motivated during your workout in a way that the…
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