How to build your perfect pain cave

living with COVID-19 for the last two years, we are no strangers to spending most of our time at home.

Those lucky enough to work from home have probably made their small office spaces more comfortable and accessible. However, the same cannot be said for “workouts from home”.

Staying fit through exercise is an integral part of staying healthy and virus-free; however, given the limitations of exercising at home, it can be difficult, especially in the midst of the pandemic.

With all that said, let me share a few tips on how you can set up your own pain cave so that it’s not only more conducive to exercise, but also practical and accessible.

make things accessible

I understand that not everyone has enough space for their own. home gym. However, if you have the opportunity to turn a room into a cave of pain, make sure everything you need is within reach.

Your bike, treadmill, and weights should always be ready to go. This not only reduces overhead in training time, but also makes it easier to get started with training.

On the other hand, if you don’t have enough space and need to “share” your pain cave for another purpose, plan it in such a way that there are only three steps to setting up your training area. If it takes more than three steps to get started, chances are you’ll get lazy to do the exercise.

keep your humor

Remember, we live in a tropical country and things start to get even hotter as summer approaches. That said, if you’re doing your cardio indoors, there’s a high chance you’ll get dehydrated due to lack of airflow. Stale air is not effective for heat transfer; this means that the heat released by your body stays close to your skin, creating a kind of “heat bubble”. Proper airflow “removes” heat from the skin and actually cools it.

Take it to the next level by getting a proper size air conditioning. Contrary to popular belief, this will not hurt your fitness as it allows you to push yourself harder and harder.

heat training It helps, yes, but you don’t have to do it every session. you can refer to this guide to measure the size of an air conditioning unit you need. Since you are setting up a pain cave, get a unit that is one size larger to handle all the heat released by your body and equipment.

wicks away moisture

As we sweat during our workouts, we release a lot of moisture into the air. This makes the room feel warmer and more uncomfortable. So a dehumidifier is your best friend.

Not only does it have a cooling effect on your surroundings, it also helps eliminate unpleasant odors and prevents the build-up of mold and mildew.

I would recommend getting the larger, more expensive units for your pain cave as they wick away moisture better. It would also be great if you could set it up in such a way that a drain hose can be attached to it so you can forget about getting the water out of your compartment.

stay entertained

Most people like to listen music while exercising while some like to watch TV. Whichever you prefer, I recommend getting a TV with Bluetooth speakers that you can move.

Having a TV, as long as it’s connected to a streaming device (or has Android or Apple TV built in), gives you more options. You can not only watch your favorite shows or movies, you can also download the Spotify app (or something similar) to help encourage you to exercise.

With the Bluetooth speaker, you can bring it closer to your bike, treadmill, or weights so you can enjoy music without disturbing the neighbors.

thank you very much mats

Sorry for the bad pun, but mats they are really important for your cave of pain. These make cleaning a breeze and help prevent any damage to your floors and tiles. Just remember to choose non-porous, waterproof rugs if you want a low-maintenance affair. The last thing you want is for your sweat odors to cling to your rugs and make them a liability. You can also use disinfectant sprays like everyday athlete to help keep things nice for the next workout.

At the end of the day, your home gym is a personal space that needs your own touch. Whether you’re into cycling, endurance sports, or strength training, there’s always a way to maximize that particular space and call it your own.

Do you have any training questions, comments or suggestions for future articles? Leave a note in the comments section below or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You can also contact Don directly here.

This story was first published via multisport.ph