I haven’t gone to a gym in quite a while. I’ll be honest, I’m pretty partial to doing my own thing in my own way and my own time. I enjoy the freedom, comfort and practicality of doing things at home or any other place of choice. I do understand it’s not for everyone, since not everyone has the determination and discipline to do it (but I’m betting you do).
1. No “open” hours
Training outside a gym lets you choose your own hours, your own time, your own everything.
No open hours means you do it when you want to do it. #workout freedom. Photo by Marino Gonzalez
2. No distractions (other than those YOU allow)
I train by myself in a park or at home. Guess what? I don’t have to put up with noisy kids, waste time clearing a barbell (because of someone’s lack of basic gym etiquette), pick up artists nor guys posing in front of mirrors as if they were the next Arnold.
3. Adaptive workouts
This is a particular advantage to classes. Basically, I can modify my practices to my energy levels, strengths and weaknesses. If I’m short on time, I get to choose which exercises will get full attention while others may be compromised. In a class context, this is incredibly hard, since teachers/coaches/you name it, have to take in account a group. Even though he may sometimes adapt things in general to a particular person, you don’t really get something completely tailored to your daily needs (this is, of course, not the case of personal training).
4. Limited resources
There was a time in which three was all we needed, probably a stronger time.
This may sound strange, but I think that having little to train with is an incredible advantage. You have to master one move before you can go to the next; you’ll have to dominate a certain weight before you’re strong enough for a big jump (as it used to be with kettlebells, and their half pood jumps). This will make you creative, this will make you patient, and this will help you stay healthy.
5. No witnesses
This cuts both ways, and one of them is definitely and advantage. You don’t get to compete with your buddies, so you can concentrate on doing things right instead of heavy or fast (or however you kids do your pissing contests). This is ultimately a good thing. Doing a bench press so heavy you can’t do it right, or doing half-assed push ups only to get a higher number is not only dumb, but also dangerous. You get to focus on doing right, believe me, strength, speed and endurance will follow.
Hell, you can do weird or sissy (no insult intended whatsoever) exercises without worrying about whispers and comments and such. Be weird, no one will judge 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTuV4UqtxXk
There really is no need to impress, plus, you’ll get scolded
6. No waiting on equipment
This is self-explained. There’s nothing worse than having to wait for a group of people on a particular tool to finish while their rest periods take forever.
7. No etiquette needed
You get to do your thing in your underwear, and almost nothing beats that 😉 But seriously, if you’re going to the park to practice disregard this last item completely.
These are my reasons, and so far they’ve proven good. I’ve rebuilt my push-ups, pull-ups and squats completely, I’ve practiced at whatever hour I could (in busier times), I’ve had lighter days, quicker days and heavier, balls to the wall days without worrying of making a fool of myself. All of this, I’ve done in my undies.
Have you tried working out at home? Did it work for you? Share your experience with us!
Motus Virtute