With Christmastime just around the corner, thousands of us will be turning our attentions to our waistlines in January. In fact, 12 per cent of all gym memberships start in January – and most of us give up within six months!

This equates to an incredible £558 million in wasted gym membership money around the UK. So, have we fallen out of love with exercise, or simply getting out to the gym? If you fall into the latter category, a home gym might be the solution.

Work out on your time

In a study by Women’s Running, one of the biggest reasons for quitting the gym was time. We all have busy lives, and when we factor in the commute to the gym, or the constraints of class timetables, getting out can be hard. A home gym allows you to work to your schedule, whether you’re a night owl or early bird.

Get a better return on investment

Home gym installations are a significant cost in the short-term, but once they’re done, they’re done, and you have the perfect home gym and spa. Your exercise and spa equipment are yours to enjoy as you see fit. No monthly memberships, cancellation fees, or thousands spent on fancy gym clothes to ‘keep up with the Joneses’. Plus, your equipment is likely to last much longer than something that’s used 200 times per day. You can maintain and update it as you please.

Stay away from the colds!

There’s no delicate way of saying it. Gyms are hotbeds for bacteria. Here are a few statistics that might frighten you, courtesy of Fitrated:

• Exercise bikes have 39 times more bacteria than a café tray
• Free weights have 362 times more germs than a toilet seat
• Over 70 per cent of bacteria in gyms is potentially harmful

If that’s not enough to make you run a mile, you may not enjoy exercise! With a home gym and spa, you can keep on top of your cleaning and keep users to a minimum.

No more queueing for equipment

There are no peak times for your home gym and spa. You won’t have to wait days to book in and use your own hot tub, nor will you have to queue for the treadmill. It’s your space to dress how you want, listen to what you want, and exercise when you want.

Feel your confidence grow

Wherever you’re at in your fitness, the gym can be an intimidating place. Typically, women may feel they are being judged by other women – in fact, 65 per cent say they suffer from “gymtimidation”, according to Fitness Magazine. It’s not just women, either – 36 per cent of men suffer from the same fear. With a home gym, there are no scary weight rooms or goddesses in yoga pants – just you, your machines and your workout.

SONA’s tips on getting the best from your home gym and spa

• Have your workout in mind when planning your gym – do you want a treadmill with a window view, or do you prefer to be close to a thumping AV system? Your home gym installation can be customised so it is just as you want it
• Use smart technology for a handsfree experience – we need our hands to work out, so try a SONOS music system, or voice-activated assistants for blinds and curtains
• Customise your workout with lighting – consider a Lutron Homeworks system when planning and designing your gym and spa, this allows for multiple lighting circuits that can be controlled with lightning keypads, remotes and iPad’s. Your home gym lighting can be customised to your requirements
• Relax and treat yourself – there’s no need to scrimp on the relaxation. Build your own smart home spa to help you unwind and recover from injuries. We can install spa pools, swimming pools and even baths that fill to your desired temperature!

To create your perfect SONA home gym, speak to the SONA team today.