I’ve seen it so many times.
New individuals that come into the gym may be a bit unsure of what exercises need to be done or even how to do them for that matter. You may not challenge yourself the way other people can challenge you. That’s where taking group classes can be so beneficial to your fitness goals.
For starters, it is so inspiring and motivating to see so many like minded people working just as hard as you in reach of their own fitness goals. Working with people can help you find that extra gear that you thought you never had before. It also becomes more of a social environment. You meet new people that can teach you things about fitness that you didn’t know and working out seems less like a chore and more of an enjoyable activity with friends.
Another benefit of group classes is that there is no thinking involved when it comes to your workout. The instructor has all of those details planned out. All you have to do is show up and work hard. You don’t have to think about what kind of exercises need to be done or how to plan your workout.
There’s nothing like being held accountable for showing up to group classes. If your just starting out, there will be days that you don’t feel like working out. There will be days that your body is not feeling its best. If you know there’s a penalty for not showing up to class, you’re less likely to miss a class.
Working out by yourself can get boring. No doubt about that. A lot of people quit because of boredom. You never have to worry about that with a group setting. The instructor will keep the class new and exciting and every instructor has a different style and different taste in music that guarantees a different workout each and every time.
Doesn’t matter your fitness level when it comes to group class you can always learn something new when in that type of setting. Plus you don’t have to do it alone. No better feeling than working together!
Here’s an excerpt from a recent ACSM article:
“An exercise class structured with a purpose can be beneficial for people with limited knowledge about safe and effective exercise programming. An appropriately designed class includes warm-up, cool-down and flexibility in addition to the conditioning section. When people exercise on their own, they often skip portions of a workout they know less about or are not their favorite to perform. Furthermore, the fitness professional is not only designing the components of the workout, but also the intensity, so the class is designed appropriately to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. The fitness professional can also serve as a resource for class participants and encourage them to engage in other healthy behaviors outside of class.
Many people quit an exercise program because of time constraints. Participating in group exercise may help overcome this obstacle. Some facilities offer 30- and 45-minute classes for individuals with limited time. In addition, the consistency in scheduling offered by group exercise programs allows participants to choose a time and schedule it in their planner as they do other daily activities.
Lastly, group exercise appeals to many people because of its diversity. Traditionally, group exercise was available inside a fitness facility in the format of dance choreographed to music. While this still exists, many non-traditional group exercise formats are emerging, some even outside. There are boot camps at your local park, yoga on the beach, ski conditioning at the soccer field, trekking on the bike trails, stroller-walking classes in your neighborhood, and Latin dance at the local recreation facility. Regardless of your passion or interest, what is most important is to move. Group exercise offers an outlet for people to do this while having fun!”
