It’s easy to think you need more space, more time, or for everything to be “just right” to take care of yourself, but this little space has reminded me that isn’t true. It isn’t aesthetic. It isn’t its own designated space. However, it is special to me and the place where I come back to myself. Yes, it would be fantastic to have a designated room for a home gym, but with our temporary living situation, it isn’t possible. I didn’t want to sacrifice something that is so crucial to my well-being, so I put together this small space home gym in our bedroom. Its footprint is quite small, but has everything I need to get a great workout in!

Two years ago, when my oldest started school, I was a MESS! I definitely had an identity crisis, despite still having my youngest home with me. The dynamic of our days changed tremendously and to avoid a total spiral, I leaned into fitness. It started with me downloading the Peloton app and doing home workouts on our TV during my youngest’s nap time. If the weather was nice, I’d throw my headphones in and we would walk to a guided Peloton walking workout. I fell in love with the platform!

A few months later, I invested in a Peloton Bike+. We had a wall in the primary bedroom with enough room to set up a designated workout space and still have room to walk around the bed.

Equipment

It was important to me that I kept this space as clutter-free as possible. My bedroom is my happy place and I didn’t want it to feel like the gym space took over the entire room. Additionally, I wanted to keep this space as budget-friendly as possible. My philosophy with most things when it comes to design, spaces, etc. is to invest in quality items and that investment will continue to pay you back over time. The bike and yoga mat were bigger investments, but they get so much use. After all of this time they still look and feel as good as the day I purchased them.

Peloton Bike+

As I had mentioned above, I absolutely LOVE the Peloton platform! As a mom who can’t get to a local gym regularly, Peloton brought the gym to me. The variety of classes makes the app alone worth having. However, the bike really leveled up my cardiovascular endurance. It is very user-friendly and has countless options to personalize your fitness goals. Truthfully, I have always been an active person, but I never had discipline or consistency until I integrated the bike and app into my regimen.

I love that the Bike+ has a swiveling monitor. With my space constraints, it’s convenient to swivel the screen to take weight lifting classes and yoga classes. The screen is a great size, too! You won’t catch me squinting to see what an instructor is doing. I also really enjoy that the Bike+ adjusts your resistance level for you when the coach calls it out in pre-recorded classes.

Peloton Bike+ // Cleaning Wipes // Sweat towel // Equipment Mat

Resistance Training

I did a ton of research on adjustable weights. There are people who either love them or hate them. I love them! They serve their purpose and do not take up much space. I purchased these because the reviews were solid and the price was very reasonable compared to some of the other options out there. I’ve had them for two years now and they’re still in excellent shape. Each weight can go up to 52.2 lbs which makes them versatile for all kinds of workouts.

This inexpensive mirror from Target is super lightweight! It was important for me to find something that was light and easy to move based on the kinds of workouts I was doing. During warmer weather, I’ll move my weights and mirror out to the deck to enjoy some fresh air during my workout.

Adjustable weights // Mirror // Resistance Bands // Foam Roller // Massage Gun // Wicker Basket

Yoga

My yoga mat. Ahhh I love her so much! I’ve had this mat for 5+ years and she’s just as beautiful as the day I bought her. This mat has great grip and has held up in the sweatiest of workouts. It is absolutely worth the investment. All of my yoga equipment fits nicely into this basket and doesn’t take up much space on the mat that the bike sits on.

Yoga mat // Yoga Blocks (similar) // Yoga Strap // Yoga blanket

A Sappy Note

Heads up- I’m about to get a little sentimental. We lost both of our Newfoundlands- Theo and Paisley, nearly two years ago and about 6 weeks apart. It was one of the hardest periods of my life. They used to lay next to the bike or yoga mat while I worked out every.single.day. It was our special quiet time while Harper napped and something I looked forward to daily. I keep their collars on the bike as a reminder that they are always with me.

A gentle reminder that temporary seasons don’t have to hold you back from the present moment. You can still make space for the things you love, even here. If you wait for the perfect scenario- the perfect perfect home, the perfect timing- you might miss the opportunity to simply live. This little workout space may not seem like much, but to me it’s everything. And if you’ve been putting off prioritizing movement because life feels too full or your space feels too small, maybe this is your sign that even a small corner can be enough.

-Cayla

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only share things I truly love and use in our home.

*I also want to note that this is not a Peloton ad! I love the brand so much and wanted to share my experience with my readers.