5 House Plants You Need for Your Home Gym
House plants enliven a space full of industrious or heavy gym equipment. The fresh greenery keeps the air clean, all while reducing stress. Live plants are a great way to bring the outdoors, inside and naturally soothe the sympathetic nervous system. Consider this; a Japanese study took two groups of people and put them in two different environments with the same task. One group was to walk in an urban setting, the other in a forest. The nature group reflected a higher heart rate variability. Meaning, our nature exercisers stayed more relaxed. Physically, they were less stressed than those walking just as strenuously as those in the urban setting.
Now, we’re not telling you that you have to find a random forest to work out. Instead, we’re telling you to go out and invest in some houseplants. Even though exercise is purposefully stressing your body, nature has powerful calming effects, surpassing the physical demands of working out.
Tip: Going to an actual gym to blow off steam? Shop around for a club membership to a facility plush with plants.
Check out these house plants you need for your home gym-- like yesterday.
Jasminum polyanthum
Jasmine’s scent has been scientifically said to decrease heart rate while inviting you to enter into an invigorated and calm mood.
Light requirement: Full sun to partial light.
Things to know:
- Does best in homes kept in cooler temperatures
- Very fragrant at nighttime
- You may need to give it some time outdoors before moving it indoors.
Winter Blooming Jasmine
Light requirement: Full to partial light.
Things to know:
- It is not an actual climbing plant
- It will needs training to grow vertically
- It’s not soil-fussy
This variation of Jasmine doesn’t have its cousin’s heavily sweet scent, and it probably won’t put you to sleep. But, what we love about this plant is that its flowers will bud and blooms as early as January. So, strategically, brightening up your home (and gym) when seasonal depression is at its highest.
Snake Plant
Light requirement: Bright indirect light or shady corners.
Things to know:
- Their leaves can burn in direct, bright light
- This baby is native to Africa, specifically the tropics of West Africa and the Congo.
Throughout the night, the snake plant goes through a photosynthesis type called the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism process (CAM). All this means is, the plant absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, filtering the air while you sleep. Other plants might the opposite. This plant cleans the air, priming it for your morning yoga flow. Oxygen-rich air boost your mood and energy levels.
Aloe
Light requirement: Bright direct light.
Things to know:
- Your plant will require a minimum of six hours of light daily
- Bent aloe leaves signal you’ve placed your plant in too low of light
Beyond its bright greenery, aloe plants are a polite reminder to make that homemade hair mask or herbal convocation—an aide-memoire to indulge in small acts of self-care, post-workout sesh.
ZZ Plant
Light requirement: Bright Indirect light, fluorescent lighting is okay!
Things to know:
- Opposite the Snake Plant, the ZZ plant will release oxygen during the day.
- ZZ stands for Zamioculcas Zamiifolia or as its also known as the Zanzibar Gem.
A NASA-backed clean air study divulged three important toxins your ZZ plant is capable of absorbing. Among those air pollutants were xylene, toluene, and carbon dioxide.
Xylene is a pollutant commonly found in industrial or urban environments. The toxic in small daily doses can cause eye, throat, skin, and nose irritation.
Toluene is a significant part of smog pollution, says WHO Europe. In addition, the EPA points to airborne Toluene pollutants as the cause of fatigue, sleepiness, headaches, and nausea.