I recently took a trip to Cambridge to have a look at a customers camping pod which he has converted into a fantastic Family Home Garden Gym!
If you’re looking for a convenient and comfortable way to work out in your garden, the Log Cabin Camping Pod from Tuin can make an excellent Garden Gym Pod. With its durable construction and attractive design, the camping pod can easily be transformed into a cozy and inviting workout space.
One of the key benefits of using the Log Cabin Camping Pod as a garden gym is its compact size. Measuring just over 3m x 4m, it is small enough to fit in most gardens without taking up much space. Yet it is still large enough to provide plenty of room for a variety of gym equipment. Such as a rowing machine, treadmill, cross-trainer and exercise bike.
Dr Dr Saeb-Parsy mentioned that although the space is small, him and his family are all able to use the machines at the same time. They would all start on a piece of equipment, exercise for a set time period, then rotate so everyone could have a go on each item. Having somewhere in your own back garden to exercise in comfort proved to be very practical. In addition, the garden gym pod proved very useful during the Covid lockdown period.
*Note: The customer has modified this camping pod by moving the front wall forward, increasing the cabins internal space. He achieved this by cutting a new channel further forward into the wall logs. Finished by slotting the front wall logs into the newly created groove.
Garden Gym Shed Pod – Feature Video
Benefits of having your very own Home Garden Gym SHed Pod
- Convenience: With a Garden Gym Pod, you can exercise at home whenever you want, without having to leave your property. This can save you time and money compared to traveling to a gym. You won’t have to worry about commuting to a gym, finding a parking spot, or waiting for equipment to become available.
- Privacy: A Garden Gym Pod provides privacy, which can be especially important if you’re self-conscious about working out in front of others. It’s also ideal for families who want to exercise together in a private setting.
- Customization: Garden Gym Pod can be customized to meet your specific fitness needs and preferences. You can choose the type of equipment and layout that works best for you, resulting in a more effective and enjoyable workout.
- Flexibility: Garden Gym Pod can be used for a variety of exercises and activities, including yoga, weightlifting, and cardio. It can also be used for other purposes, such as a home office or a guest house.
- Year-round use: With a Garden Gym Pod, you can exercise year-round, regardless of the weather outside. This can be especially important in areas with harsh winters or extreme heat.
- Value-adding: A Garden Gym Pod can add value to your property, making it more attractive to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell your home. It can also enhance your overall quality of life and well-being.
Why Tuin and the Garden Gym Shed Pod?
Dr Saeb-Parsy initially hired a builder to design and construct a similar styled pod for a garden gym. The build failed at the design stage as they were unable to plot anything with the space and layout. So the customer searched the internet. He was looking for a company the made high quality sheds that could stand the test of time. He soon came across us TUIN. Dr Saeb-Parsy was impressed with our range of designs, quality and knowledge base. He commented that the ordering process went smoothly and was able to select a prefered week of delivery.
Home Garden Gym Shed Pod – Image Gallery
Home Garden Gym Shed Pod Build
As with all of our log cabins, our camping pods are designed with the customer in mind. They require basic DIY skills and tools to complete its construction. By following the clear instructional drawings the garden gym / camping pod can go up as smoothly as our timber. What makes this build extra special is that the whole family joined helped with the planning, building, and painting. (more about this below)
Tools needed were, mallet, spirit level, jigsaw, tape measure, ladder and drill.
All information is in our Camping Pod Full Instructions Build Manual
Foundations
A good, solid and secure base is paramount to a strong and durable garden structure. This particular build will be holding a large weight due to the gym equipment and the number of family members exercising together.
After following the instructions provided in the instruction manual, the base frame, which comes standard, was constructed. Continuously ensuring the base is level at all times.
Flooring
Initially, tongue-and-groove boards of 28mm are laid on the floor.They were laid directly onto the floor joists and secured with screws through the “tongue” at 45 degree angles. The boards need to be laid with the channel facing up, this is to allow for the end walls to be slotted into place.
With this particular build the customer extended the front wall, so he cut out an extra channel towards the front of the pod. Dr Saeb-Parsy then thought ahead and decided to put the larger gym equipment onto the base before proceeding. This would ensure he didn’t have issues in lifting it through the doors later on,
Walls
The walls arrive prefabricated so were simply slotted into the pre-cut channels on the floor. A spirit level was used to ensure the walls were level, and then temporarily braced with a pieces of timber on each side.
Roof / Shell
The outer shell / roof was then ready to be added. Starting from the bottom, the customer began securing the roofing boards by screwing them to the 2 end walls, making sure they were level as he went. He removed the temporary timber braces as he made his way up both sides of the cabin. Once each side of the roof met in the middle, the boards were cut to size to ensure a tight fitting and screwed down. Once the shell was complete and secure, Dr Saeb-Parsy was able to remove the rest of the temporary timber braces that were attached to the walls.
Windows & Doors
The next stage was to cut the openings for the windows and doors. Consulting the instruction manual Dr Saeb-Parsy successfully cut out the openings for the windows and doors to his specific requirements. He used a tape measure to measure and mark his cuts and a jigsaw to make the cut. The windows and door frames were then screwed into place then subsequently the windows and doors themselves.
Roof Shingles
The last part of the build was probably the most time-consuming, and that was the shingle roof. Again starting from the bottom of the shell / roof, shingles were laid and pinned down as per instructions, ensuring the are level and overlap to the correct measurements. Although time consuming the finish of these curved shaped shingles look fantastic, and will last for many years.
Treatment
Another essential part of ensuring your wooden garden pod remains in good condition is the treatment it is given. We have a comprehensive Log Cabin Treatment Blog available to read.
We also supply Embadecor Timber Stains available in a number of shades to suit your look and stye.
Family Home Garden Gym Shed Pod Building Project
Dr Saeb-Parsy and his family built the pod themselves. Constructing the pod as a family is a fun and rewarding project. It provided an opportunity for the family members to work together, bond, and create something meaningful.
Benefits of a Building a Garden Gym Pod as a family
- Strengthening family bonds: Working together on a project can help family members develop a stronger sense of teamwork and collaboration. It provides an opportunity to communicate, solve problems together, and share a sense of accomplishment.
- Encouraging creativity: Building something as a family can encourage creativity and innovation. Family members can bring their unique perspectives and ideas to the project, resulting in a more interesting and personalized outcome.
- Building practical skills: Building a Garden Gym Pod as a family can help family members learn new practical skills, such as woodworking, painting, or basic engineering. These skills can be useful in other areas of life, such as home repair or DIY projects.
- Saving money: DIY can be a cost-effective alternative to hiring a professional or purchasing a pre-made item.
- Providing a sense of accomplishment: Completing the project as a family can be a source of pride and satisfaction. It provides an opportunity to see the fruits of your labor and to appreciate the hard work that went into the project.
- Creating memories: Building a garden feature as a family can create lasting memories that can be cherished for years to come. With it being in the garden it provides constant opportunities to look back on the experience and the finished product with fondness and nostalgia.
Documenting the Build of their Garden Gym Shed Pod
Dr Saeb-Parsy and his family documented the build by writing an article. They examined the similarities and described how building a metaphorical – or actual – shed can help create and maintain harmony between life and career. Titled;
“How to build a garden shed: A metaphor for achieving harmony between career and family“
Dr Saeb-Parsy
The introduction to the article reading:
“Constructing a garden shed or other building for your family can serve as a useful metaphor for how to achieve harmony between your life and career. Your vision of ‘the perfect family shed’ will likely include key attributes such as the shed’s purpose, design, colour, size, location and structural parts. These can represent a family’s life aspirations such as health, relationships, education, financial security, career achievements, rest and relaxation. Building your family’s perfect shed and achieving harmony between the family’s life and career ambitions both require planning, communication, compromise, resourcefulness and teamwork. Here we examine the similarities and describe how building a metaphorical – or actual – shed can help create and maintain harmony between life and career.”
Kathryn Saeb-Parsy1, Nadia Saeb-Parsy2, Kiana Saeb-Parsy3, Kourosh Saeb-Parsy4
Their article can be viewed here:
Hex Garden Summerhouse Log Cabin
Impressed with the quality of the pod, Dr Saeb-Parsy took the skills and experience gained from building his own Garden Gym Pod and used them to build one of our lovely Nora Hexagonal Summerhouse Log Cabins which is situated in the opposite corner of his garden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Log Cabin Camping Pod makes an excellent garden gym that is convenient, comfortable, and versatile. Its compact size, and its natural light make it an ideal workout space. Its durable construction and low maintenance make it a worthwhile investment for any fitness enthusiast. With the Log Cabin Camping Pod, you can enjoy a great workout in the comfort of your own garden.
I love the fact that this was a family project. Every member had an input into its look, build and shared use. I’m sure the Saeb-Parsy family will enjoy many more workouts in their garden gym shed pod for many more years to come.
