Home gym in your budget

Setting it up isn't that expensive. It also provides the advantage of working out at your convenience

Setting up a home gym may appear expensive and space consuming but you can plan one within a budget of Rs 30,000 and in an area of 150 square feet. In the long run, it may work out to be cheaper than joining a fitness centre, if you consider the membership fee and cost of travel.

"If you have a gym at home, family members, such as parents, who would not go to a gym otherwise, can also get to exercise," says Supriya Date, owner of Soule Fitness, who has trained celebrities such as Raveena Tandon.

While a small home gym can be set up in a budget, those who don't have money constraints can spend upwards of Rs 3 lakh, say fitness trainers.

Equipment and cost

A home gym can be great for convenience, but it's for self-motivated individuals. Many people only find the motivatation when working out as part of a group at a fitness centre. Think through your preference before you spend on a home gym. "Working out with a friend at home can also help to break the monotony," says Leena Mogre, owner of Leena Mogre's Fitness. Trainers point out that people usually waste a lot of money on unnecessary cardio equipment, multi gyms units and overpriced specialist products while setting up a gym at home. Cheaper alternatives, they say, are equally effective.

Basic gym: Rather than opting for a treadmill, exercise bike and cross-trainers for cardio, one can run outdoors, which many trainers say is a better option. A skipping rope, whose cost begins at just Rs 100, can also offer fantastic cardio exercise. For strength and speed training, one can include a medicine ball that is available from Rs 700. You can add a gym ball (Rs 700 onwards) for core muscle work out. Some fitness trainers also prefer step platforms for cardio exercises that you can buy for Rs 1,500 onwards. For weight and strength training, it's better to go for dumbbells and bars on which you can mount plates. Depending on the weight you opt for, these can be bought starting at Rs 2,500. A bench for weight training is available from Rs 1,900. Resistance belts can add variation to your routine. Price starts from Rs 600.

"A lot of exercises can be done at home using your own body weight, which is better and tougher than using equipment," says Satish Narkar, who has trained celebs such as Sidharth Malhotra.

Advanced gym: Start with the very basics and keep an eye out for the upgrades you need. When the time and price are right, you can make those additions. You can also add a suspension belt. One of the well-known brands for this is TRX whose kit is available for Rs 12,000-14,000. If you have the money and space, you can also add an exercise bike and cross-trainer combo that is available for Rs 9,000 onwards, and a treadmill that costs upwards of Rs 22,000. If you want to step it up one notch, you can add gym units. You can do all weight training exercises in this one unit. While a basic one costs Rs 15,000, those from well-known brands can cost upwards of Rs 50,000. While purchasing gym equipment, do check with the seller on maintenance contract.

Expenses: "The gym should have proper ventilation and preferably bright colours," suggests Mogre. If the room is not properly ventilated, have an air conditioner installed. Putting big mirrors will help you check your posture. "Keep things that will help you get motivated, such as a music system or a television set," says Mogre. Also, ensure that the room is well lit and you have rubber mats.

Saving costs

  As more people opt for training at home, some gyms have started experimenting with a set up where the customer needs to own the bare minimum. Celebrity trainer Huzefa Lokhandwala, who is also managing director of the gym Muscle N Mind, says they are trying out one such programme. "The idea is that the client doesn't need to possess any equipment. A certified trainer will carry the necessary equipment and take it back after the work out," he says.

Hire a trainer

When you set up a home gym, it is advisable to hire a trainer for the first three to six months. "Though there's enough information available online, an individual will need a trainer in the initial period to show him how to use the equipment and adopt the correct posture. Otherwise, the person will end up injuring himself," says Narkar. A trainer typically charges around Rs 10,000 for 12 sessions.

"If hiring a trainer doesn't fit your budget, join a fitness centre for a few months before setting up a home gym. It will also help to understand how to bring about variations in your exercise routine to break the monotony," says Lokhandwala.

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Don't spend on expensive equipment

A home gym can be set up on a low budget with basic equipment such as a skipping rope, a medicine ball, dumbbells, barbells and resistance belts. These can be bought for less than Rs 20,000. One can add more equipment as one progresses depending on fitness goals - which can be losing weight, building muscles or strength training.

Avoid expensive machines such as treadmill, bike and cross-trainers. After a few months, most stop using these. Instead, look for a fitness trainer, who can show the right techniques, posture and form. But trainers come at a cost. If you don't have a budget for a trainer, take a gym membership.

Don't go for used equipment. You can get injured if they are not up to the mark. Buy the best quality goods sold by well-known brands even if it means shelling out a little extra. Opt for servicing contracts of machines that you buy.

Supriya Date
Owner, Soule fitness