Some people don't like others watching while they exercise.
That's one reason Sara Esh, a yoga instructor who recently moved to Philadelphia to work at a gym there, travels to Lancaster at least once a week to work with clients in their homes.
“Not everyone wants to draw attention to themselves. Not everyone is comfortable with that,” says Esh, longtime owner of Zen & Fit. “And I work with a lot of professionals who are on the move. They have to be in and out.”
This can be difficult in a gym – especially if you're social. She knows what she's talking about.
“When I'm at home and in the gym, people want to hug me, which is great,” she says. “But sometimes I’m not 100 percent there.”
Some people find it easier to concentrate in one of the home gyms that have gained popularity in recent years. You know they're a thing when you find home gyms on the Parade of Homes — which has been the case in Lancaster County lately. In fact, a model home from Keystone Custom Homes even had a climbing wall.
“We’re always trying to figure out what we can do with our flexible space,” says Ryan Brubaker, Keystone’s director of architecture and innovation.
“Over the past few years, we've put on the odd play. … But lately, health and fitness trends are becoming more and more popular,” he adds. “So we put gyms in our basements.”
Keystone Custom Homes makes them eye-catching — the first thing someone sees when they walk down the stairs, he says.
Model homes help people imagine living somewhere. And living somewhere today often also means working there.
“It’s a more mindful culture to stay active,” Brubaker says. “But I also think there is a growing trend towards connectivity.”
Fitness enthusiasts can easily connect with online trainers from home. And people looking for a home are often able to take advantage of that option, he says.
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Creating the space
From a design perspective, Brubaker suggests carrying elements found elsewhere in the home into the gym.
“Make sure the room harmonizes with other areas of the house,” he says.
Esh says that for yoga, every home gym needs two mats – one thick and one thin. A mirror is key to shape control, she says. And she's advised her clients to add plants, candles and essential oils to amp up the Zen factor. But research what’s in it.
“You don’t want anything toxic in there,” she says.
The pandemic has certainly played its part in introducing people to the idea of home gyms. Numerous former guest rooms are now used for this purpose. Of course, the weight of the equipment must be taken into account. If it's too heavy, that could be a problem. Garages make sense in this regard.
That's why when House Beautiful renovated its entire home in Asheville, North Carolina last year, the magazine commissioned New Jersey-based design firm Iron House Design to build a garage gym.
Iron House founder Tanya Ryno explained in the release why she positioned the elliptical machine and treadmill to face outward.
“Opening the doors can transform a typical garage gym into an inspiring space that lets in fresh air and a view that energizes you,” Ryno told House Beautiful. “It also extends your workout area to the driveway, creating room for more dynamic movements – perfect for mixing up your routine and staying motivated.”
That's the easy part. But as Iron House notes in one of its blog posts on its website, “garages were not built with wellness in mind, so they come with some obstacles,” such as temperature in winter and summer. Insulation, ventilation or mini splits can help. Iron House's garage suggestions also include layered LED lighting and custom concrete flooring.
The design firm also published advice on choosing wall art.
“If the room has a neutral color scheme, opt for bold or colorful artwork to add vibrancy and energy,” suggests Iron House. “On the other hand, if your gym is already filled with colors, textures, and patterns, choose simpler, more muted art to maintain balance and visual harmony.”
There are plenty of customizable signage options on Etsy for “So-and-So’s Home,” as well as cheeky options like “Antisocial Fitness Club.”
These are of course the extras. Equipment is generally not available.
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Equip the room
People who want to train at home are the be-all and end-all in Christian Sciarrino's company. He is the founder and owner of CFF-FIT on Granite Run Drive.
“We sell commercial fitness equipment for people who want the feel of a gym but don’t want to go there,” Sciarrino says.
His customer base used to be more CrossFit-oriented, but that has declined significantly, he says.
“I think we've gone back to where people only want the essentials in their house,” he says. “They want an elliptical machine, a treadmill or a bike, depending on what they want. And maybe they want free weights, a bench and maybe a stand.”
He says people are selective when it comes to what they bring to their home gyms, adding that this can include – and often is a desire to – continue with a piece of equipment like the one they were assigned for physical therapy. Sometimes it's about achieving health goals that change as you get older.
“As you get older, it’s all about mobility and flexibility,” he says.
Sciarrino says motivation is often expressed in home studios for economic reasons.
“They are the ones who can afford to put the home gym in,” he says. “The guy who lives next door and he's 25 years old? He's going to go to Planet Fitness or something because he doesn't have the ability right now.”
The National Health & Fitness Alliance reports that 25% of gyms open at the start of the pandemic were permanently closed.
Some people ordered alternatives for their homes. Often they paid a pretty penny. Some are now trying to unload their purchases.
“People come up to me all the time and say, 'Hey, do you want to buy something?'” Sciarrino says. He doesn't. He doesn't buy home furnishings.
“They're trying to get what they paid for. And that's not happening,” he says. “The market has been flooded with fitness equipment and much of it has been inflated.”
Despite the impact of the pandemic, McKinsey & Co.'s 2024 Future of Wellness Survey found that 60% of U.S. gym-goers said going to their gym was a core part of their fitness routine.
The mentality behind these statistics must be taken into account when planning a home training facility.
“When you come here, my first question to you is, 'Have you ever worked out at home?' says Sciarrino. “Because if you haven't, I'd say you should start with the basics. I'm talking about getting a band and doing push-ups. I don't want to waste your money.”
Before investing too much in a home gym, it's best to find out whether you're suitable for training at home. Some people aren't. He is one of them.
“I could fit 10,000 things in my house. I'll never use it,” Sciarrino says. “I'm just not that person…I need to have that gym vibe. Not because I want to talk to anyone. I don't. I just need to stay away from everything else.”
Start small, suggests Sciarrino.
“You can always add, but you can’t take away,” he says. “Well, you can. But it will cost you money or time.”
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