Craving a private workout space but not sure if a garden gym is the right solution for you? With over a decade spent designing and hand-crafting beautiful bespoke garden rooms, we know what it takes to create the ideal garden gym. One of our most popular design requests when it comes to garden gyms is to opt for an over-height build. But the extra height does come with extra planning requirements that will need resolving, so can you still feel the burn in a standard height building? Heck yes! Here, we’ll run you through the options and share our top ways to reach your fitness goals in a stunning garden gym, built to a standard-height.
Is an over-height garden gym worth the extra effort?
As with every Eden Garden Room, the design you choose is completely bespoke to your personal needs. Naturally therefore, we’d always say that it’s totally up to you. Of course, we’ll offer up our expert advice first. So, here it comes.
Without extra planning, we usually build to a maximum external height of 2.5m, which gives you an internal ceiling height of around 2.1m. Our gyms are our most popular room type where customers choose to go ‘over height’ reaching a maximum of 3m externally. Do note however, that if you can’t build your new garden gym at least 2m away from the boundary line of your garden then you will need to get planning permission (often meaning extra costs and longer time frames).
The benefit of going over height? You’ll be able to include certain equipment that won’t fit comfortably in a lower ceiling building:
- Treadmill or cross trainer
- Swedish ladder
- Weights machines
All of the above are common sights in local gyms and if you’re a regular user, you may be keen to recreate the all-singing, all lifting set up in your own garden gym.
Not thought that far yet? We strongly advise that you have a good idea of the equipment you might want upfront because, if you’re likely to want to feature any of the above into your garden gym, either now, or even a few years away, then it’s wise to future proof your investment and opt for the extra ceiling height.
Of course, the extra height will always help the room feel airier and more spacious, so it’ll never be wasted. For an even more inviting space, you could opt to include a skylight in the ceiling to really brighten up your garden gym.
Extra ceiling height not an option? No problem.
If you want a garden gym but you don’t want to go for planning permission, or can’t build away from your boundary, there are still loads of great ways to help you hit your fitness goals at home.
HiiT training
High intensity interval training, or HiiT, is the quick-fire yet effective workout made famous by Joe Wicks during lockdown. With the option to workout without equipment, HiiT training is perfect if you want to house a garden gym in a multi-use garden room.
With HiiT, you’ll find it easier to follow a pre-recorded training session on a phone or laptop. Luckily, every Eden comes WIFI-ready and with superior electrics and lighting included in your standard quote. So even if you’re far from the main house, connectivity won’t be a problem. Elevate your viewing for more motivation by installing a wall-mounted flatscreen TV (adding to the multi-use of the space). Our design team can help with this by reinforcing the chosen hanging spot to support the extra weight.
Free weights and resistance training
The beauty of this workout option is that it requires minimum space and minimum fuss. Fantastic to help with strength and fat-loss, if you’re self-motivated and can work with stripped-back training plans, you’ll find a garden gym will give you the freedom to experiment with the balance that works best for you. Kettlebells, medicine balls, barbells, dumbbells and resistance bands can easily be picked up online and be neatly stowed away in a storage chest or cupboard if you intend to also use your stunning garden gym for other things.
Although heating comes as standard in all Eden rooms, choose to upgrade your gym experience with a wall-mounted heating/air conditioning unit to keep you cool in the summer and your garden gym welcomingly warm throughout the winter.
Peloton or static bike
The static bike, around since the 70s, is still a popular and affordable way to maintain fitness levels at home. However, interactive cycling training has really taken off in the last 5 years with Peloton at the forefront of this high-tech training revolution. Alternatives exist and it’s well worth doing your research before you commit, especially as some of these include ongoing subscription costs.
Although all Eden garden gyms are hand-built from scratch on-site with premium-grade wood and guaranteed to last a minimum of 10 years, when it comes to installing heavy equipment you will need to speak to your expert team about reinforcing the strength of your garden gym floor. In most cases (depending on the model of your equipment), very few upgrades are required to make a cycling workout work wonders for you, a stone’s throw from your back door.
Yoga studio
What could be more wonderful than focusing on your core strength in your very own yoga space? Set in the surroundings of your garden, you’ll be closer to nature, brilliant for enhancing the mental wellbeing benefits of yoga. Enrich your experience by opting for full-height windows to go with the floor-to-ceiling double doors that come as standard in every Eden. Another popular yogi upgrade is to add a wraparound decking to your garden gym in a matching premium wood finish so you can throw open your doors and make your salutation to the sun alfresco.
Private Pilates studio
Although it can be performed on a simple mat, specialist equipment, available to suit all budgets, is becoming an increasingly common way to intensify your Pilates workout. Similar to yoga in the sense that it can enhance muscle tone, strength and flexibility, Pilates takes focus and concentration. An extra layer of high-grade soundproof insulation can be included in all external walls and ceilings of your garden gym to maximise the peace and serenity within and help you stay in the zone.
Zumba and dance fitness
YouTube is bursting with lively dance workouts for all levels of fitness and skills to try at home with nothing more than a clear floor and a screen. However, your own garden gym offers the mental separation and privacy that you might lack trying to dance yourself fit in your living room. Zumba, Latin-inspired dance, is popular with all age groups for making a tough cardio workout feel like a fun night out. This time you might consider additional soundproof insulation so you can keep the music turned up and the energy levels high without fear of disturbing the neighbours! Rubberised gym floors can also be fitted to your garden gym to help you keep a spring in your step.
It’s not just height that matters when it comes to garden gyms.
As we’re shown, height doesn’t have to restrict you when it comes to choosing to stay fit at home. But there are just a couple of final things to consider before you commit to your stunning new garden gym:
Choose a building fit for working out year-round. Let’s be honest, if you cut corners and your garden gym turns out to be cold and damp in the winter, you’re not going to want to use it. With high-grade insulation, wall construction and premium heating (all as standard), in a welcomingly warm Eden, you will.
Make sure it feels homely. Premium cladding and double-glazed windows will give your garden gym a stunning exterior. Inside, plastered or panelled finishes, quality engineered oak wood flooring and integrated spotlights installed and ready to use from day one will help you feel at home and keep you coming back.
Ensure there’s space to workout safely. Floor space is vital. You need to ensure you have enough room to house the equipment you want, and still move around safely. So, for example, the stunning Eden Essence range comes in pre-set sizes and configurations including 3×3, 3×4, 4×4 and 4x5m, whereas the Eden Classic is completely bespoke, and can be sized to fit the space you have.
Working out alone, or looking to share the space with your yoga buddies? Speak to your design team early to ensure you get the garden gym sized to fit your dreams.
Whether it’s a garden gym for one or a garden gym in which to launch your PT business, make it your own. Be it extra heigh, a quirky shape to fit the space available, or packed with luxury extras like an ensuite shower room, smart tech or even a hot tub deck for a post-workout soak, our expert design team would love to help. Whatever way you prefer to workout a beautiful hand-crafted Eden is waiting to be built, just for you.
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