Get those gains close to home at an apartment gym.
Whether you’re on a fitness journey or use it as a stress reliever, going to the gym has many benefits. But it can often fall by the wayside when life gets busy. Luckily, more and more apartment buildings these days are adding gyms and fitness centers as amenities.
There are tons of upsides to having a gym in your apartment building, from being a cost-saving measure to making it easier to find the time of day to work out. Everyone from expert gym rats to enthusiastic newbies can reap the benefits of having an onsite gym in their apartment complex. Here are 13 reasons why apartments with gyms are the way to go next time you’re moving.
13 reasons to choose an apartment building that comes with a gym
From cutting costs to the ease and flexibility of living just steps away from a good workout, here are 13 reasons why you should choose a complex with a gym the next time you move apartments.
As with any gym, remember to respect others and follow gym rules for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
1. Save money on a gym membership
When you have a gym in your own apartment building, there’s no need to pay for a gym elsewhere. Right off the bat, choosing an apartment complex with an included gym will save you money on a gym membership. Instead of paying a monthly membership fee to a big gym, you’ll get access just by paying your rent each month.
The only downside is that your rent may be slightly higher if you have a gym in your apartment complex. Providing residents with nice equipment and designated workout space, gyms are desirable, high-end amenities. However, having one in your building eliminates the need to pay a gym membership each month because it’s included in the price of rent.
On top of the monthly membership fees, many gyms also charge sign-up or initiation fees. While these costs are sometimes one-time charges when you first sign up, other gyms also charge annual membership dues as well. By having a gym in your apartment complex, you’ll also save on these additional fees.
2. Convenient location close to home
Life gets busy, and sometimes you don’t have the time of day to get to the gym in between work and home life. But when you have a gym in your building, it’s far easier to squeeze in time for a workout.
Instead of wasting time driving or commuting to and from an offsite gym, that time can be better spent on exercising. All you need to do is put on your workout gear and walk a few minutes to wherever the gym is. No need to get up super early and drive across town, try to squeeze in a lunchtime workout or get through rush hour traffic for an after-work exercise session.
3. Less crowded
Except for guests, apartment gyms are exclusively available to building residents. This means there is a finite number of people who can access and use the gym, resulting in a less-crowded workout area. Sure, there may be times or days of the week when the gym is busier than usual. But in general, you’ll likely have fewer people around than in a normal gym. That’s less waiting on a treadmill to open up or idling until someone returns the set of weights that you want.
Plus, apartment gyms are often smaller than regular gyms so there is physically less space for large crowds. If you prefer to work out in a gym with fewer people around, an apartment gym can be a great option.
4. Work out while working from home
If you work from home, having a gym in your apartment building makes it easy and convenient to pencil in a workout before, during or after the work day. Want to get in a quick workout during lunch? That’s much easier to do when your gym is feet away.
You can even hop on a phone call while getting in some cardio on the treadmill without disrupting other people in the gym. Plus, it saves you the time, energy and gas money or needing to leave your apartment and drive or take mass transit to your gym.
5. Meet neighbors with similar interests
Working out at an apartment gym can be a great way to meet other residents who share an interest in physical fitness and exercise. You can make new friends, connect with your neighbors or just befriend a new gym pal who can help keep you accountable on your fitness journey.
If you’re struggling to meet more people in your building or make new friends, your apartment gym can be a great third space to meet and connect with other residents.
6. Test out different equipment and workouts without the added expense
A high-end, state-of-the-art apartment gym can give you the chance to try out different machines or equipment that you may be curious about without buying it yourself or paying for a gym membership or class. Interested in trying out the Peloton bike before committing to buying it? If your apartment gym has one, you can take it for a spin first to see how you like it. Want to learn a new machine or try out a new workout? A quiet, uncrowded apartment gym is the perfect setting to try new things and experiment.
Some apartment gyms even go the extra mile with basketball courts and yoga rooms like these top-of-the-line apartment gyms in Los Angeles.
7. Work out without the social pressure
Many people don’t want to go to the gym because they’re self-conscious about working out in public. Maybe they’re at the start of a fitness journey and feel uncomfortable in their current bodies. Maybe they’re scared of being judged for not understanding how a specific machine works. Whatever the reason, gym anxiety is a real issue for a lot of people.
In a smaller apartment gym, you’ll likely have fewer people in the space at the same time. With a peaceful, stress-free environment to work out in, you can work on bettering yourself at your own pace without fear of being seen or judged.
8. A post-workout smoothie or protein shake is close at hand
Sure, you can always bring a protein bar with you to the gym or swing into Jamba Juice after a workout sesh for a smoothie. But it’s so much easier to have your kitchen just steps away, where you can whip up a smoothie, protein shake or whatever you need to recover after a good workout.
9. An easy way to unwind and de-stress
One of the biggest benefits of going to the gym and getting in a good workout is stress relief. If you’re having a bad day at work or need to shake off some bad vibes, an energizing method of stress management is just a few minutes away. The close proximity also means you can pop in for a few minutes or settle in for a lengthy session.
10. Bring friends or family for a less-crowded workout
Do you have a workout buddy or family member that you like to work out with? As long as you accompany them, you can bring them to use your apartment gym as a guest. That way, you and your workout buddy can take advantage of all the benefits of living in an apartment building with a gym like fewer people vying for the equipment.
11. Keep the kids close at hand
From busy schedules or trying to secure childcare, having kids can make it more complicated to make time for the gym. But having a gym in your building can make it a bit easier. If your child is old enough, you can leave them briefly to get in a workout while they watch TV or do homework. If you have a babysitter, you’re still close at hand. Even if you don’t have childcare, you can likely find a quiet corner of the gym where your kid can hang out while you work out.
12. Shower at home
No more bringing along your shower sandals to avoid touching the germy gym shower floor. No more showering in tiny stalls. No more feeling uncomfortable changing and showering around strangers. Your personal shower is minutes away in the privacy of your own home, with all your favorite products, toiletries and towels.
13. Flexible hours and availability
Instead of planning your workout schedule around a gym’s hours of operation, an apartment gym makes it easy to get in a workout when you want. Most apartment gyms have flexible hours, are open late or are always open and available to residents. If early in the morning or late at night is the only time you have available for a workout, you now have a gym that fits your schedule.
Find the best apartments with gyms in your city
No matter where you live, you can find apartment buildings with epic gyms. On Rent.com, use the “Fitness Center” filter to locate the best gyms in the best apartments. in your city.
Source: rent.com