Gym Workout, Home, Anywhere

INTRODUCTION

Where a gym workout is performed is an important factor in achieving fast workout results. Personality, overall workout goal (and associated requirements), logistics, availability etc will have an impact on the most effective workout location. 

TYPES OF WORKOUT LOCATIONS

1) Gyms

• Fitness gyms - aimed at the largest segment of the workout market. The facilities offered would include machines, studios for group classes ( dance, aerobices, pilates...). The main locations are in community sports centres, retails parks and city and town centres to serve the office worker market.
• Bodybuilding gym - these would usually cater for "hard core" workout people. Quite often they would be located in places such as warehouses, basements, office buildings which offer large open areas allowing lots of heavy equipment to be installed. 

2) Home

The range of workout equipment currently available enables a person to create a home gym and follow a home workout as good or better than a gym workout. This is regardless of all but the most high level workout objectives (fitness, strength, muscle, bodybuilding, mobility / flexibility etc). It is no longer resticted to very basic workouts like high repetition pushups.

3) Travel Gym Workout

Most workout goals can be accommodated whilst travelling provided thought is given to making the best use of surroundings (if no gym or fitness facility is nearby). Simple solutions like

• 1 limb exercises
• using furniture/doors/doorways  - for assistance & balance
• combination of these 2 methods

enable fitness, endurance, mobility and even heavy strength training to be performed.

The options of workouts that travel are increased further if space saving and versatile equipment is included in luggage e.g.

• skipping / jump rope (jump rope workout)
• suspension training straps
• resistance bands
• smaller dumbell set or kettlebell - could also feasible depending on enthusiasm and luggage strength

Such equipment means the difficulty of the exercise can be tailored to age, ability etc

4) Work, Outdoors, Anywhere

The information presented in Travel and Home above could equally be applied to this category. The play items in many parks can easily be turned into effective gym   workout equipment e.g. Monkey bars and balancing bars. Bars of differing heights allow the workout to be scaled according to a person's profile and fitness, strength etc. 

FACTORS AFFECTING WORKOUT LOCATION

1) Personality / Preference

Some people need to be in a gym to have the training mindset. Others dislike waiting for pieces of equipment or having to alter the sequence of their workout routine. The ability to focus amidst noise and movement will also play a role in influencing where to workout.

2) Constraints

Household duties, work pressures and lack of a nearby gym may dictate that a person exercises at home or completes an office workout whilst on lunchbreak. Workplaces even provide facilities not available at gyms or feasible at home. Stair climbing or stair sprinting is a very effective and time efficient way to get fit and develop leg power and speed.

Modern design of equipment means items no longer have to be permanently fixed to a structure e.g. cantilever pull-up bars. Combining these with

• special door anchors
• resistance bands
• suspension training equipment

allows a person to get a comprehensive workout whenever and wherever they choose. 

Utilising particular principles means that even high levels of strength and muscle can be achieved. The same can be obtained using advanced calisthenics (even in the gym if that is the preferred location).

3) Preferred Frequency, Time, Duration

The advent of 24/7 gyms means that it is increasingly feasible to workout at a time most convenient to you. Frequency and duration will have a role as to where the workout can be performed and also which equipment can be used. 

4) Personal Finances

Fast workout results can be obtained on a shoestring with creative thinking and a small investment in home equipment or anywhere training equipment such as suspension training, adjustable dumbells, skipping / jump rope etc.

5) Profile

As age, ability and experience place the individual more towards the entry point of the training range, the location can be more flexible due to the less intense workouts followed initially. 

6) Workout Goal /  Equipment Requirements

If the objective requires specialised equipment to be used, the choice of location may be limited. This is more likely relating to dedicated sports people, especially professional or high end amateurs e.g. athletes, swimmers, footballers.

CONCLUSION

Each person will have to assess the above factors to determine whether to perform a gym workout or train at home, work etc. The chosen site(s) should be those which deliver the best return for the time, effort and cost invested.

Although many people will draw up a plan it is wise to be flexible and avoid being extremely dogamtic. Allow for occasional unpredictable changes to your plan. Variation can be a good thing.

Consistency of training with adequate rest / recovery are 2 of the major factors in goal achievement. Whilst avoiding excessive fatigue it is better to do something than nothing, regardless of where the gym workout is completed.

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Site under construction - apologies for any gaps or apparent inconsistencies. In time as more information is added the whole site should "hang together".

Initially the focus will be on general information which should assist with achieving results regardless of the approach you take in working out.

Later I will provide more detailed information.