Proximity and convenience are obvious benefits. You can roll out of bed for a cup of coffee, straight into your gym. “Some people simply don’t have the time to get away from their homes for workouts,” says Ed Brandt, a certified personal trainer who has been working with clients for nine years in their Anchorage-area homes. “In particular, busy parents can really benefit from the cost savings and convenience of a home gym.”
Indeed, investing in your health is a time commitment as well as a financial one. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends exercising 10-60 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week including strength training on 2-3 non-consecutive days. The second homes is the perfect solution when time is at a premium, and Brandt points out another problem it helps to solve: “Having a home gym can be a real advantage in the cold, dark winter months. Exercise can help increase your energy and improve your mood, but getting all bundled up, warming up your car and navigating in the dark can be a real detriment to going to the gym. Some homeowners may be reluctant to incorporate large, bulky metal machines into their home décor, but Hollowell encourages them to take another look at the modern equipment being manufactured specifically for in-home use. “There really have been some advances where some pieces of equipment look more like furniture than a big heavy piece of institutional equipment.
