If you have a designated space in your home where you work on your fitness — or if you’re wanting to carve out more space for this area in your life, this article is for you.

Depending on your body’s needs and your personal interests, there may be specific tools or workouts you like to use and participate in. While I can’t jump into your life to cover all those specifics (are you an avid rock climber? Love rowing? Peloton user?), these ideas are meant to get you thinking differently about the actual space you’re working out in.

Below, you’ll find ways to support your body based on its Environment Variable and how to set up the physical space you work out in based on the room you have available.

I repeat some of these themes across different Environments, but want to encourage you to think about your space in a way that brings in principles from your Human Design Environment. Let’s take a look at how to set up your DREAM Home Gym for your Human Design Environment:

Keep it simple

Streamline the space you’re using by keeping your tools simple. You don’t need to overwhelm your system with tons of things going on in the space. Consider the parts of your body that you want to take good/better care of, and prioritize that within the space you’re using.

Quality Equipment

If you are bringing in equipment to support your physicality, this is where to spend your money — not on modelling the space itself. Caves people are concerned with what is available to them within the hardscape they’re in. If you have a budget, make the investments on the actual equipment you’re using and design the space around it to complement that.

Back & Core Exercises

We know that Caves people need to keep their backs safe, protected and prioritized in life, and taking care of your back in your gym is a great idea. Workouts that strengthen your back muscles (and core as these wrap around your back) help you to consider this important part of your life. Interestingly, many Caves people run into back issues throughout their life. If this is you, consider how you can prioritize back care in your home gym.

One Entrance to the Space

Your home gym would do well tucked in a little nook or cranny — like space under the stairs, or converting that corner of the garage or basement — but if we’re designing your DREAM space, ensure there is just one entrance to the space itself. This will help create a sense of security in the Environment and help set your body up whether it’s designed to be activated and engaged or relaxed and set at ease (Caves Selective & Caves Blending).

Orient your Equipment

Ensure the equipment you’re using in your space is oriented to face the door or opening to the space. You don’t want to be doing deadlifts or rowing while facing the wrong way, inviting anyone to come into the space and sneak up on you. Whatever equipment you’re using and whatever space is available to you, ensure you are setting up the space in a way that has you in the command position of the room. In Feng Shui, the command position is in the back corner facing the door.

Have a “back wall”

Considering the space available to you, how might you be able to use a “back wall” to set up or hang your equipment when it’s not in use? Can you hang your skipping ropes, free weights, medicine balls, etc, on one back wall? Rather than scatter your items throughout your space, organizing a back wall helps to anchor the space.

Dark walls/ceiling

Whether you use dark paint or natural items like wood panelling or shiplap, creating a cozy darkened space can help to create that cave-like feeling that you sink into. Consider wood ceilings, dark textured walls, or other creative ways that you can creatively and elegantly make the space feel like a deep sacred nook that holds you while you care for your body.

Cozy Floor Mats

Many Caves people can’t resist rolling around on soft carpeted floors — how can we bring this concept into your home gym? Consider using floor mats or rubber flooring for impact absorption and easy maintenance. This will help you with your floor exercises which are great for stretching and bodyweight exercises.