Calgary investment banker Dan Cristall and his wife Lindsay Olasker don’t have to brave cold, wintery weather to go work out at the gym anymore. In their Bel-Aire home, they simply walk upstairs to their new, well-equipped home gym. “It’s so easy and simple to work out now,” admits Cristall.

Surrounded by windows, natural light illuminates their stylish, dedicated home gym which cost approximately $25,000.

At each workout, Cristall and Olasker can choose from their personalized blend of cardio and strength equipment such as their elliptical trainer, treadmill, weights, cable machine, tubing, bands and medicine balls.

Although they’ve enhanced their active lifestyle, they haven’t cancelled their gym memberships though. During the week, they meet up with their personal trainer at the gym and work out at home on weekends.

The couple consulted their Calgary personal trainer and home gym designer Tim Borys of Fresh Fitness and Lifestyle Synergy. Surprisingly, he says home gym design is a relatively new and rising city trend as Calgarians discover their current, outdated or non-existent home gym doesn’t meet their needs any longer. “A lot of people spend way more money than they have to on their home gyms on traditional pieces (like treadmill and exercise bike),” he says. “The equipment usually ends up as clothes hangers.” Many of the standard Calgary housing layouts do not incorporate a specific area for fitness centers, he says, so many people end up putting them in the basement.

Seven years ago, the former Vancouver personal trainer moved to Calgary and launched his own company after discovering a niche in the market for personal training and home gym design. Aging baby boomers particularly are increasingly retiring and wanting to stay active and fit at home, choosing to eliminate a long commute to a gym.

More and more houses are being built with home gyms in mind too, he says. In recent years, active Calgarians have acquired more knowledge and experience about home gym equipment but can still benefit from a designer’s expertise. “Standard equipment can be purchased at almost any fitness store if you’re looking for a specific piece,” says Borys, “but the key factor in getting the best value is to consult a qualified professional.”
“A trainer or consultant who is experienced in designing home gyms and knowledgeable in exercise physiology will work with you to determine which equipment will be best for your fitness needs and goals, while complementing the design of your home.”

THREE HOT TRENDS
For Borys, who charges $75 per hour for design/consulting and $100-125 per hour for in-home personal training, 95 per cent of the home gyms he designs are for his personal training clients.

He points out three hot current trends in Calgary fitness training and home gym design:

“FUNctional” training studio:
Based on an open concept, this multi-purpose space is supplemented by a few versatile pieces of equipment. This allows for varied use such as yoga, Pilates, strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. This type of space suits any interior design style and budget.

Multi-planar cable machines: These pieces of equipment come in a range of styles, quality and price ranges, but share the ability to challenge any movement pattern and muscle group. For people who want to turn their average home gym into a fully functioning fitness center, these are ideal.

Zen relaxation studio: This is a secluded place for meditation, yoga, relaxation or even exercise. Often styled in an Asian or Indian theme, they incorporate unique lighting, sound and scents to aid in achieving the Zen experience.

Last fall, Calgary firefighter Bryan Rose and his wife systems analyst Faye Wythe consulted Borys when they converted their garage into their home gym. In their Calgary home, just outside downtown, they had space limitations in their 13 by 25 basement. “We were spending $1,000 on gym fees and began asking themselves why,” says Rose. “Now, I’m more likely to work out in my free time. The home gym has eliminated the need to travel. I grab my workout stuff and just walk downstairs instead of the two hour (commuting) ordeal. It’s more convenient and takes some of the stress away.”

The most challenging part of the process, he says, was deciding on what they wanted to do and the equipment they needed. Then Rose headed out to Fitness Depot and other home gym equipment stores to comparison shop pieces.

“What surprised me was the huge range of quality of equipment,” he says.

The couple spent approximately $6,000 on their gym which included a used commercial grade cage, treadmill, Olympic weights, dumb bells, balance boards, medicine balls, rubberized flooring and decorating. While their space is limited; they replaced the garage door with French doors that open up onto the driveway to expand their available workout space.

Rose alternates weekday workouts at their home gym with sessions at the fire hall. While Wythe works out separately as her work schedule differs from her husbands. More of Rose’s friends and co-workers, he says, are planning their own home gyms or expressing interest in creating one.  NL 

What should you consider when you’re creating your home gym?
Borys suggests these tips:

Consult a professional.

Prepare for a consultation by asking yourself the following questions:
· What are your fitness goals?
· What is your preferred style of training?
· Can you describe your fitness likes and dislikes?
· How and when do you plan to  se the gym?
· Who will be using the home gym? (family, kids, guests, specific needs)
· What is your budget?
· Have your decided on a timeline for completion?
· How do these details fit within the present or proposed layout of your home?
· What type of interior design style do you have in your house? 

What do you desire in your gym space?
When you’re working out, decide how stylish and functional you want the gym.  Some inspiring additions might be a plasma TV, a good sound system and additional lighting.

Consider commercial vs. residential equipment.
If you’re looking at a good quality treadmill, for example, a light commercial one might fit the bill better than a cheaper residential model.  While more expensive, the enhanced value of commercial equipment, new or used, means it likely won’t break down as much.

It’s not about being high end.
Remember that you are choosing functional not just high end pieces.  Depending on your exercise needs, you might only need to spend $40 on an exercise ball and a bit more.

Decorate your space, inspire your workout.
The possibilities are endless, for example, hang paintings on the wall. Choose colours that you like and suit your home.

Explore floor surfaces.
While rubberized floors are popular for home gyms, you can opt for cork hardwood, carpet or vinyl.

For more information contact Tim Borys

Fresh Fitness http://www.freshfitness.ca
Lifestyle Synergy http://www.lifestylesynergy.com