How To Build A Home studio
Home gyms and studios are all the rage. Ever since 2020, when we were all locked down at home and realized the need to keep moving, cultivating a space at home to exercise became a universal undertaking.
A home studio doesn’t have to require a lot of space or equipment.
Let me take you through some of my home studio basics to get you set up in a space that fosters creativity of movement and a home base for those online workouts.
Location, Location, Location:
-Find a space at home that has enough floor space for you to lay down and extend your arms and legs without touching anything. This could be any room with furniture that you can easily move.
-Hard surface or soft surface? It’s a preference. Soft surfaces are usually better for those with thin mats and sensitive joints. Harder surfaces with thicker mats are great because it’s easier to clean away sweat.
Props:
-Find a mat that provides you support. Those with sensitive joints (i.e. knees, elbows, pelvis) will do well with a thicker mat. Thin mats are great to transition from an outdoor workout to indoor and can be layered on top of a thicker mat for extra support. I love the yoga mats from Yoga Design Lab because they are machine washable and light enough to carry around.
-Flex bands. There are a million brands out there and it will be hard to go wrong. Bands are light weight but provide added tension to increase the challenge of every exercise. The added tension they provide is wonderful and they fit easily into your suitcase. It’s the most valuable prop for those who travel.
-Weights. These don’t have to take up a lot of room and are extremely beneficial for strength training workouts which builds strength and bone density. Depending on your budget, you can buy a couple of light weights (2-5lbs) and heavier weights (10-30lbs) or invest in a PowerBlock which will supply you with a huge range of weights without taking up the space of a dumbbell rack you might see at your local gym or studio.
Extras:
-Foam roller. They come in a range of stiffness. I prefer the softer foam rollers. When using a foam roller, on a pain scale of 1-10, you want to live around a 3-4. It’s easy to over-do it with a foam roller so sticking with a soft roller is a sure bet. Always handy to have a stiffer roller for areas that require a bit more pressure..
-Trigger point balls. These are great for releasing muscles that most commonly get locked up. For larger muscles, like hip flexors and upper traps, go for a softball. For smaller areas, like the low back and muscles that align the spine, Franklin balls are the right size and softness to release without overdoing it.
Here are some of my favorite home studio essentials: