Busy schedules, competing priorities and lack of self-confidence are some of the main reasons why people don’t go to the gym even if they want to. These are just a few of the obstacles people face when trying to find motivation to exercise in a communal gym.
From navigating traffic—which is common during gym rush hours—to lacking the social energy to exercise in crowded places, to queuing for gym machines and locker rooms, achieving your body goals can seem like an impossible dream for many.
Except it doesn’t have to be. If this is you, home gyms are your godsend.
If you have space and a small starting budget, you can put together a gym that works for you. So, what does it take to set up a gym in your home and what are the benefits? BDLlife spoke to Eshuchi Lumumba, a long-time fitness enthusiast turned teacher, recording musician and interior designer in Nairobi.
“The idea to have a gym in my house came from the discomfort I felt about two and a half years ago after I moved from Nairobi’s Lavington to Ruaka. Going to the gym meant I had to detour at least four times a week – the number of times I exercise every week,” he said.
Eshuchi Lumumba performs a dumbbell bench press exercise at a gym in Ruaka, Kiambu County on September 3, 2024.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada Nation Media Group
Detours meant he would spend up to two hours in traffic jams just to get to the gym for a one-hour workout session.
“The time spent on the road was useless and when I looked, I did not find a gym that had equipment that suited my exercise needs,” he said.
He quickly did the math and concluded that, if he combined the monthly subscription fees as a lump sum, he would save money in the long run and have the equipment for himself.
“As an interior designer, planning and designing the space was useless, I installed a floor-to-ceiling mirror just to transpose the communal gym into my personal space. I put some photos on the other wall to complete the feeling. I added some downlighter to boost the aesthetic and also provide enough light for my photography (they are huge),” he said.
Research before starting this process helps them make informed purchases.
Eshuchi Lumumba does ab roller training at a gym in Ruaka on September 3, 2024.
“When I shop, I know what I can do without. For example, I don’t have a treadmill. It’s too big and takes up a lot of space. I can easily get the same result by setting up another station that doesn’t eat up a lot of space,” he said.
When building a home gym, functionality and effectiveness are the main drivers of the decision making process. Unlike in a public gym, you may not have space, money and need some equipment. What works for you depends on what you are trying to achieve with your body.
Strength training
To optimize the gym’s functionality, Lumumba first installed a rack cage. He then bought enough plates for strength training and hired a metal factory to build racks for dumbbells.
“Most, if not all, types of equipment that require installation in the gym will come with a manual. To keep costs down, you can read the manual and install it yourself. It also helps you know what you have in case you need to disassemble or fix a loose nut. .”
He also refinished the floors himself.
“It should cost you about Sh10,000 to arrange the floor mats. This will be an unnecessary expense because it is something that can be done easily.
Eshuchi Lumumba works out at a gym in Ruaka, Kiambu County on September 3, 2024.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada Nation Media Group
Does it make economic sense in the long run? “Yes, it is. For a long time, I’ve spent less at the gym than the cost of my membership for the past two and a half years,” he said.
He has spent Sh350,000 so far. The money, he said, was a fraction of what he would pay for a good gym membership.
“When you think about it, it’s a life saver for me,” he said.
Having a gym at home encourages laziness, many argue. It might be one of those things that you love to prepare but only use once. Lumumba disagreed.
“I have to remind myself not to go to the gym more than my body needs. To my advantage, I can use it whenever I want. Besides, having it here means I don’t have to get up earlier than the morning to beat the traffic on the street and in various- different stations in the gym,” he said.
Eshuchi Lumumba works out at a gym in Ruaka, Kiambu County on September 3, 2024.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada Nation Media Group
In addition to saving time and money, a private gym increases your privacy. Some people don’t have the confidence to exercise in a place with other people or they may have run out of social batteries. Public gyms are a huge obstacle in your fitness journey—a contranym by any definition but a valid excuse for not showing up for gym reps or activities. Others request privacy for religious reasons.
“Your own space guarantees maximum privacy from people or energy that you don’t want to interact with. It also pulls you back from forcing yourself to do things in the gym because one of the trainers or fellow gym users is doing them. Saves you from the mistake of training the crowd when you don’t can reach a certain level like other sports friends. It reminds you to do it quickly,” he told BDLife.
What about maintenance? “Treat the gym at home like any other room. It needs regular cleaning and sometimes, special cleaning. Like a general gym, surface disinfection must be routine. In addition, having good ventilation in the room ensures that you keep the gym and the rest of the house,” he said.
Does owning a private gym mean people stop going to public gyms? “I go to the local gym when I want a change of scenery. There’s no guilt in going to a place I’ve visited often,” he said.
