There are around 7,000 gyms in the UK, everything from exclusive high-end health clubs to those spit-and-sawdust ones your trainer warned you about. But at-home workouts have come a long way too. Technology lets us connect with trainers on the other side of the world, accessing workouts posted online for free and even use electricity-generating bikes to charge our electronic devices. But when it really comes down to it, is it better to join a gym or workout at home? Pros to joining the gym 💪 Joining a gym saves you from buying lots of expensive and bulky equipment. Most gyms will have a good range of cardiovascular and strength training options, allowing for a comprehensive workout and the opportunity to change your routine. While folding equipment can help mitigate some of the problems of working out at home with limited space, you may still encounter noise from vibrations, which can annoy housemates and neighbours. 💪 Gyms also help people achieve their fitness goals. This isn’t just because of the equipment but also because there’s a sense of community and often accountability. Gyms offer members a means of escaping a home life which may be rife with distractions—children, partners, pets, social media, etc. Home workouts have the benefit of being convenient, but for some people, it’s easier to exercise (both mentally and physically) in a separate environment. 💪 Gyms provide a safe and well-lit space for people to exercise during winter. There’s around a 4% decrease in physical activity participation when there are fewer daylight hours. If you’re an outdoor runner or cyclist without the appropriate stationary equipment, a gym is a good bet for winter training. 💪 Gym memberships often include classes. These are great for interaction with other members and offer accountability. It’s far easier to treat a group workout like an appointment than when you’re attending the gym alone. One study found that members who exercised in groups were more loyal than those who didn’t. It’s an interesting statistic for gym owners as it suggests a means of improving gym retention, but it also shows individual users the power of community. Classes have evolved too from just indoor cycling (which we love) or aerobics. You’ll now find many options, including strength training, dancing, trampolining, walking rugby, etc. Pros to working out at home 🏠 The biggest benefit of exercising at home is the convenience. No more time spent in traffic or lugging a gym bag on public transport. You can fit a workout into your daily routine more easily—between work calls, when the kids are in bed, before breakfast or when you can’t sleep. 🏠 You can generate electricity as you ride when you exercise at home! The electricity-generating RE:GEN is a smart fitness bike. With patented digital resistance and enhanced adjustability, it's the future of fitness. Pre-order your RE:GEN now or sign up for updates on future releases. 🏠 It’s often cheaper to exercise at home. It can even be free if you’re using resources like YouTube. Given how expensive things are, gym memberships can feel like a significant financial burden, especially if we’re not attending as regularly as we’d like. While there may be a start-up cost to working out at home, such as buying an indoor fitness bike or weight selection, it’s not a repeat purchase. While subscriptions can soon stack up in price, they’re often on a rolling basis, making it easier to budget for. 🏠 There are people in the gym. They're sitting around on equipment you want to use, sweating on everything and not wiping it down, grunting and growling over weights, and causing problems. You don’t have to deal with this when you’re exercising in your own home. Should I join a gym or workout at home? Many people choose a hybrid approach to working out. They might go to the gym three times a week but then supplement this with other physical activities at home or outdoors. Choosing whether to work out at home or the gym ultimately boils down to individual choice. Several factors can influence a person’s decision, including their financial situation, time constraints, goals and personal preferences. It also depends on the type of experience you want. For some people, leaving the house is what helps make exercise more enjoyable. For others, it’s a hardship that may ultimately prevent them from exercising entirely. Gym memberships can be affordable. They can also be expensive. The level of choice in your local area will depend on how many different operators there are. Working out at home can be entirely cost-free, but it can also be expensive, especially if you’re into high-end, high-tech digital fitness. Again, it comes down to what you want to get out of your at-home experience. If you’re struggling to decide between joining a gym or working out at home, try and explore both options as cheaply as possible before finalising any decisions and pending money on memberships, subscription fees or equipment. There may be a guest pass you can use at the gym. You can also use pay-as-go with services like Hussle to try out different gyms or studios. Some gyms also do weekly and monthly passes. Pure Gym has a daily pass, too. These will be more expensive when compared to membership fees in the long term, but they’re a great short-term option to help you make the best decision for you. You can shop around online, too, finding free trials of subscription fitness services or using free online classes to check your commitment to at-home workouts before purchasing big equipment. Remember, too, that there are other options beyond just exercising at home and going to the gym – swimming, outdoor running and cycling, rock climbing, team sports, yoga classes, etc. that may suit your needs. ⚡⚡Are you ready to turn your home workouts into electricity? You can now pre-order the electricity-generating RE:GEN by clicking here.⚡⚡ OR ⚡⚡Sign up for updates on the next RE:GEN product drop⚡⚡