BEST BETS: Tailor your gym needs to suit your budget;

The days of long waits for sweaty machines are losing their appeal faster than a New Year’s resolution. No wonder, then, that more and more people are opting to work out at home. “There’s the ever-growing feeling of how important it is for people to find some time to exercise on a regular basis,” says Preetom Mukherjee-Roy, fitness manager at Solace, Calcutta. “And the convenience of home offers people a very time-efficient solution.”

Home gyms are also on the rise partly due to the fact that equipment now comes at affordable prices. Mukherjee-Roy says one can build a good gym with the right cardiovascular and weight training machines for as little as Rs 15,000 to 20,000. “However, if you want custom-designed multi-gyms built according to your specifications, you should be ready to spend Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.”

But think before you buy. Think space, for instance. If you live in a small apartment, you probably don’t have room for a universal gym. And then there’s functionality: this goes hand in hand with “Is it practical?” There are so many forms of exercise equipment and just as many salesmen telling you that their machine is exactly what you need. Find out what it really does.

And don’t get into debt buying a top-of-the-line model for your first exercise equipment purchase. If you are just starting out, a durable treadmill for about Rs 7,000 would probably better suit you than the super duper, 10hp, speed up to 10mph, Rs 50,000 one. If it does the job, especially for those just starting out, don’t let any salesmen tell you about the bells and whistles of higher models.

What to buy

Treadmill

The favourite machine in a house gym, it’s a great cardiovascular workout. It gives you great resistance, and the machines come in all shapes and sizes. The incline feature is especially helpful. A treadmill tip: walk backwards on it for five minutes to really work your hamstrings and glutes.

Cost: From Rs 7,000 to Rs 5 lakh.

Cross trainer

These are on the steep side and only those with deep pockets should go for them. They are a great buy, though. If you like to run but your knees are hurting, this machine has fluent motion. It’s great for simulating climbing. So if you have the space and money, get one. It gives you the best of both worlds: running and stepping/climbing.

Ab exerciser

Mukherjee-Roy says it is the best thing in the market for flattening that paunch. He recommends the Ab Coach or the Ab King. Both models have good back support.

Cost: Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000.

Weight bench

If you are really looking for something simple and inexpensive for strength training, a weight bench and some cast iron dumbbells is recommended. Get one that is adjustable.

Cost: Rs 3,000 (custom-made ones) to Rs 8,000.

Fit ball

Fit balls, available in the city at Reebok, have gained popularity over the last few years. They can be used for a wide variety of exercises from arm strengthening to trunk stability. “In fact, if you master the art of using a fit ball, you won’t need to spend on a bench,” says Mukherjee-Roy.

Cost: Rs 1,000 app.

Weights

One of the best things to have for any home gym is free weights. If you want to get an effective upper-body workout, this is the way to go. You can do a lot of great exercises with your arms and legs.

Cost: Based on weight.

Stairclimber

The jury is out on this one. While they come in handy where there are no staircases available, stairclimbers often have a step height that is too tall for most people and therefore place a lot of stress on the knee joint and may cause injury. But some of the upper-end models might be a good buy.

Cost: Rs 8,000 onwards.

Stationary bike

Another great cardio machine is a stationary bike, especially if you don’t want to go outside. Biking is a great fluid motion for your knees, and the machine doesn’t take up much space.

Cost: Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000.

 

Tota Roychowdhury sweats it out at home. Photo: Subhendu Chaki

Why actor Tota Roychowdhury loves to exercise at home...

I was an athlete and played football regularly. One day in 1989, I started playing without warming up. In the process, I tore my hamstring and was off any kind of physical activity for months. In 14 months I gained 22 kilos. Then one day, I ran into a friend who could not recognise me because of my sudden weight gain. That day I vowed to get back into shape. I started consulting a number of experts in the city. Sadly, that didn’t help because, I realised later, they were not educated enough to be in the business. Then I went to Mumbai and did an 18-month course on fitness, read books and met many experts. It was only then that my fitness level became the same as it was before. Back home, I searched high and low for a good gym. Then I decided to have my own gym. I chose all my equipment carefully, adding a few pieces at a time as I started with limited resources.

It can cost you anything between Rs 40,000 and Rs 1 lakh to start a gym. Your budget has to go up to Rs 30-40 lakh if you want imported equipment.

(As told to Sipra Sen Saha)