We all have our set ways of staying in shape, don’t we? Some people like jogging, and others (like me) despise it. Some people will relentlessly pursue building like Arnie, while others are focused on cardio and core exercises. These are some of the factors that influence the popularity of gyms and home workouts.
Today, we will explore why some of us would rather stay at home and do some sit-ups and push-ups than go to our local gym. For others, working out in our living room is a hell-on-Earth scenario—but let’s weigh up some positives and negatives.
Harnessing the Digital Revolution
The underlying drive behind the success of home workouts has been the accessibility and choice online. The digital revolution has been the driving force behind the growth of many industries; in the case of some regions of finance, such as cryptocurrency, it emerged solely because of the internet.
Bitcoin has emerged as one of the leading payment methods online, and like fitness influencers, it’s created an extra layer of convenience for those seeking the service.
While it might have found its feet in the realms of online gambling, it’s becoming an increasingly popular payment method for fitness influencers, especially those who operate as nomads or have clients online from all over the world.
Online gambling has highlighted how digital currencies provide a new, convenient service for those who do the majority of their business online. For many bettors, an online BTC casino functions as efficiently and does not sacrifice the site’s or payment systems’ security.
Cryptocurrency casinos could be at the forefront of the blockchain revolution, which many economists believe will be around the corner within the next 12 to 18 months.
However, it harnesses the power of digital platforms in the same way many fitness influencers have over the last decade or so – with many of them making a lot more money from their YouTube channels than they would otherwise as a personal trainer in a local gym.
Pros of Home Workouts
By far the two most significant pros of home workouts are convenience and cost. The price of gym memberships can vary. You can find relatively cheap ones at around $50 per month. However, more extensive packages will set you back upwards of $200.
Those who have permanently switched from gym to home workouts save around $1,000 annually – so it is by no means a small amount of money. This cost doesn’t just filter into the membership cost either; there are other costs, including travel and attire for your trip to the gym.
By firing up YouTube or other video streaming services and performing a home workout, you cut out the costs of traveling to the gym and the time it takes to commute back and forth. You can also find many specific types of workouts online.
For example, if you like martial arts, there are many free shadowboxing workouts and cardio-based exercises where you don’t require any equipment. Turn your home workout space into a room that helps you get into the right mindset to workout.
We all know a few little changes and tweaks to our homes can go a long way, and being able to personalize your home workout space is another major positive that influences people to switch away from gyms.
Alongside other handy tips that can help to improve your fitness and activity, having the solace of our home, away from the distractions of the gym, can also help get that extra 5% out.
Negatives to Consider
Many people prefer going to the gym as it is part of their daily routine. Even though it costs more monthly than subscribing to an influencer’s workout channel, gyms have a whole range of apparatus and specialist equipment you wouldn’t be able to get at home—unless you have a multi-million dollar gym like Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg.
If you’re looking at bulking up with heavy weights or using rowing machines and other core exercises, it’s challenging to replicate this at home without a significant upfront cost. Quite rightly, cost is one of the main driving forces behind people’s decision to switch from the gym to home exercise routines.
The same applies to other amenities that often come with more expensive gym memberships, such as sports classes, saunas, and swimming pools, and that is what you’re paying for more than just a gym membership on its own.
Although people seek out these classes online, for many, there’s often no substitute for the social element that comes with exercise classes—a crucial ingredient missing from home workouts. It’s often the main issue people cite, alongside the lack of specialist weightlifting equipment you can only find in the gym.
Final Thoughts
Home workouts could be right up your street if you want to stay in shape cost-efficiently. If you prefer a gym’s atmosphere and social element, that will be your best option. It’s not a case of one of these options being superior.
In fact, they both offer entirely different types of workouts. Many of us have our own set formula or structure for our day, and our exercise routine is often a staple of that. The end goal is the same whether we work from home or go to the gym.
