Many families build playgrounds and swing sets in their backyards for small children, as a way to encourage children to play outside more frequently. However it isn’t as often that adults are able to incorporate fitness for themselves into an outdoor space. By incorporating fitness into your outdoor space, you can get in a workout while your children also play outside and enjoy your backyard as a family. Further, working out at home will help you save money by not having those pricey gym memberships – and you don’t even have to get in your car but rather just walk outside and enjoy the space you have.
Many people will use a spare bedroom or a basement to build a home gym but if you don’t have the extra space this might not be an option for you. So here are some options and issues to consider when building a great fitness area in your outdoor space so that you can fully enjoy your home and all its spaces.
Create a designated spot
Whether you want to have a covered or uncovered space you first need to determine where in your yard you’re going to put the workout area. If you already have a large deck or patio you could easily convert any unused portion of that into an outside gym. You can also add some kind of cover to the area – like a roof or awning – to make the space a little more relaxing and protect you from the sun or rain when weather is less than ideal.
Portable vs. Permanent
One of the biggest decisions you will have to make is whether you want your outdoor gym to be a permanent fixture. This decision might be dictated to you by your environment, especially if you live in an area that experiences drastic changes in weather.
If you are lucky and live in an area where you can enjoy your backyard year-round then you will still need to decide if you want stationary equipment – such as treadmills or weight lifting equipment – or if you are looking for more a more open space to practice yoga or Pilates. Regardless of which option is right for you, you will still need to design your space around whatever is best for your lifestyle.
Cover your Ground
When you’re at a gym you will probably notice that the floor is covered with mats or slip resistant flooring for safety reasons. No matter where you determine your space outside to be you will have to make sure the ground is properly protected.
The best material to use to solve this issue is paving stones. They are slip resistant so if the area becomes wet you will still be able to work out safely as often as you’d like. As a bonus, paving stones often add to a home’s value since they often enhance an outdoor area regardless of how they are used, so if you end up selling your home you will not have to worry about removing to additions you originally put in for your outdoor gym.
Light it Up
If you plan to work out during early or late hours make sure you have adequate lighting in the space so you can work out safely.
Build a Fence
If you are self conscious, or maybe just want to keep away from nosy neighbours you may want to consider adding reed fencing or trellis to the top an existing fence. This will give you your very own work out area while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
If you have a large backyard you can add in as many custom options as you’d like: a walking track, a half basketball court, rock climbing wall, the options are endless. By creating an outdoor gym for adults the children in the home will be able to see adults working out on a regular basis which can provide life long healthy attitudes towards fitness and health.
