Condominium living is becoming more and more popular for urbanites. Condo dwellers expect a lot out of their building, especially if they are paying high condo fees. Many buyers are looking for buildings that include a quality fitness centre. Space will be a huge factor when designing a fitness centre in a condominium. Here are 5 essential pieces of commercial fitness equipment that will give the users the best workout in a limited space.
1. Treadmill
Treadmills may be the most important piece of commercial fitness equipment that you include in a condominium fitness centre. They are versatile and will meet the needs of many users. Most modern treadmills will offer variant speeds, inclines and programs allowing different users to get different benefits from the equipment. Treadmills are extremely popular so if space allows two or three treadmills are recommended to cut wait times for users.
2. Elliptical
Another piece of cardio equipment that should be included in a condominium fitness centre is an elliptical trainer. They offer a low impact cardiovascular workout using both the upper and lower body. Ellipticals provide a smooth fluid motion while still building strength in the muscles. Since the users feet stay in the pedals throughout the movement there is little or no impact on the joints. A good elliptical trainer will have the capacity to vary in resistance making it ideal for new users and athletes alike.
3. Upright and Recumbent Bikes
Stationary bikes and recumbent bikes are great for older users or for people who are recovering from an injury. Its also a good idea to offer different types of cardio equipment to give users a choice. Upright bikes are more similar to road bikes so are great for users who enjoy cycling but are unable to get out due to location or weather. Recumbent bikes have a different seat position so the rider is leaning back more with their legs slightly elevated. They tend to be more comfortable than the traditional upright bike for longer workouts. Again if space allows having one or more of each would be ideal.
4. Strength Machines
Space keeps coming up time and time again since its something that most condominium fitness centres are lacking. To combat this while still allowing for a good workout, multi-gym systems are perfect. This type of commercial fitness equipment offers the tools for different exercises all on one piece of equipment. Many of the systems on the market even allow several people to use the equipment at one time. Its safe to assume that the equipment will be used regularly by many users so its important to purchase a good quality system that will stand the test of time. Since most condominium fitness centres are unsupervised of safety reasons its better to have a system with pre-stacked weights as opposed to one with loose weights that need to be added on.
5. Free Weights and Benches
A selection of free weights, preferably dumbbells starting at 5lbs and working up to 50lbs, along with benches both incline and flat are also an integral part of a quality fitness centre. Free weights are a popular choice for gym users. There are hundreds of exercises that can be done using dumbbells either standing or using a bench. They take up little storage space and allow for adaptable workouts for patrons. You will want to ensure there is enough space around the benches and open area for users to hold their arms out in all directions. Along with dumbbells, kettlebells are also a good choice.
Setting up a fitness centre in a Condominium isnt that much different than setting up a Hotel gym or Community Centre gym. Think about the demographic of the user, the size of the space and of course the budget. Commercial fitness equipment is a must since it is developed to withstand multiple users per day. Quality equipment doesnt have to cost a lot since there are good dealers of used commercial fitness equipment as well.