The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, strongly suggests that everyone in the United States strive to exercise at least 150 minutes per week. This exercise can be done in a gym, but can also be done from the comfort of your own home. In fact, there may even be certain benefits to working out at home instead of at a gym.
Cost
One of the biggest advantages of working out at home over a gym is the cost. Gyms and fitness centers can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year, depending on the gym you choose to attend. Working out at home may cost an initial investment in equipment, but in the long run, it will usually cost you less. In fact, you can even work out at home for little or no cost with activities such as push-ups, sit-ups and jumping rope, or converting objects such as milk jugs or buckets into home-made strength-training equipment.
Convenience
Working out from home also provides convenience. No longer are you stuck only working out during the open hours of your local fitness center. Even if your gym is open 24 hours a day, working out from home does not require driving to and from the location, which is especially beneficial if you have to spread out smaller workouts throughout the day.
Customization
Another advantage of working out from home is having the ability to purchase equipment you want, allowing you to customize workouts to your wants and needs. This means you are not limited to what's offered at your local gym--and not paying for equipment you don't even use. You can build your gym over time, adding new pieces of equipment on your own timetable.
Appearance
For many people, working out with strangers can be overwhelming when they fear that people are watching or judging them, which can be intimidating, especially for those who are out of shape. Working out from home removes this distraction and allows you to work out more comfortably on your own. Even fitness classes can be done at home by buying exercise DVDs, which features Pilates or even dance aerobics with virtually any music from hip-hop and salsa to country line dancing.
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