How to kit out your garden gym

What’s not to love about working out at home in the privacy of your own garden gym?

You can exercise when you want, with just a short stroll across the garden, cutting out gym subscriptions or bookings, and those annoying queues for the most popular bits of fitness equipment.

We’ve been building garden gyms for years as log buildings make perfect gyms - they are light and airy, easy to cool or warm, and boast a calm, noise-free feel.

Here’s our pick of the top fitness kit:

Elliptical or cross trainer – offers a low-impact, full-body workout that burns calories at a rate of around 800 an hour depending on your body weight. They can improve your balance and mobility, you can work your whole body and you can mimic many different types of exercise – jogging, climbing etc.

Treadmill – the fitness stalwart and still one of the best. Helps you burn calories, build speed and endurance, and is a great cardiovascular workout. Also, useful if you are recovering from a physical injury as you can hold onto the hand rails whilst walking on a smooth surface.

Yoga/pilates mat – many of our customers use their garden gyms for yoga and pilates as they are such relaxing spaces to spend time in. An ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing, yoga can benefit people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains, plus depression and stress. Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way with a particular focus on your core strength. The best mats offer some cushioning and a non-slip base.

Rowing machine – not as hard core is it looks and is great for burning calories. Rowing can help build muscle and improve flexibility and mobility.

Gym ball – also known as stability balls, they are an effective tool for strengthening your abdominals and other core muscles. If used correctly, they can help people who suffer from back pain and can improve posture, balance and coordination. Check out exercise ideas here.

Our garden gyms start at £20,895 and, in most cases, no planning permission is needed. We can fit them in an unused corner of your garden or at the end of your plot. We can also add a kitchen and changing room if required. For more info, visit our home garden gyms page to view our full range.