If the Covid-19 pandemic did one good thing, it’s that more people are exercising. Believe it or not, exercise rates were up 88% during the pandemic, but numbers are starting to drop.
The good news is that as gyms are staying open for good now, your options are wide open. Well, there are some ways to maximize your benefits in the gym. Let’s talk about the benefits and the different types of group fitness classes to see what’s right for you!
Benefits of Group Fitness Classes
There are simply too many benefits to exercising that we won’t even bother trying to list. There’s even a saying among doctors that if a medication were created that did everything for your body that exercise does, it would be the greatest advancement in the history of medicine
Well, you can find plenty of truth to that statement. Exercise helps fight off chronic diseases, mental illness, and complications of aging. For immediate benefits, it helps improve our energy levels, keeps our blood and nutrients flowing correctly, and helps us build strength, endurance, and self-confidence.
Keep in mind, those are only a few examples from a long list. However, when it comes to group fitness, there are even more benefits. Let’s talk about some of them.
Community-Building
If you want to meet new people and enjoy a community setting, then group fitness classes are for you.
It’s difficult to make friends on your own as an adult. When you were a kid, you were forced to interact with your peers and you saw them regularly, making it easy to follow up. As an adult, we often only get that regular interaction at work.
Well, with group fitness classes, you can enjoy the benefit of seeing the same people regularly, which will help you make new friends with similar goals and interests as you! Also, you will feel a new sense of community and belonging as you begin attending classes regularly!
Motivation
Working out in groups is far more motivating than going to the gym solo every time. There are also many notable health benefits of group workouts. It’s not the competitive spirits within us that drive us to do better, it’s that we have a community to push us to be our bests.
Not only that, but that extra motivation helps with exercise adherence. It’s great to perform better in the gym when you’re there, but it’s far more important to keep coming back.
Well, when we have people to help keep us motivated, it can push us through when challenges come our way, which brings us to our next point.
Accountability
When faced with a new community and motivation to participate in that community, you are far more likely to adhere to your program. Not only do you pay for a membership, but you have people who want to see you every week when the time comes, keeping you accountable over time.
The first 6 months of an exercise program are the most important, as half of the participants drop out during this period. After 6 months, participants are far more likely to adhere to their programs. If you’re new to the exercise scene and you want to make health a lifelong habit, then set yourself up for success with a group fitness class!
Group Goal-Setting
Another great way to keep you motivated and accountable is by setting goals as a group! That way, there’s no competition, only a community working together to achieve a common goal. This helps strengthen relationships just as well as your muscles!
Structure & Variety
Many people interested in fitness choose to hire personal trainers to show them how to perform exercises properly, keep their workouts interesting, and offer a structured program with intended results.
Well, you get that same benefit with group fitness classes. Not only will you have an instructor showing you the ropes, but you will have peers around you to offer help when you need it.
Every week, you will be doing something different, which will keep your workouts interesting and promote adherence over the long term. If you find yourself doing the same things at the gym by yourself every time, it gets demoralizing. Try a group fitness class to keep it interesting!
More Fun
Lastly, but most importantly, group classes are more fun! Whether you do solo workouts at the gym, have a personal trainer, or just work out at home, group exercise is far more fun. To achieve the recommended 150 minutes of aerobic exercise every week, having fun makes it a lot easier!
When you have the right instructor and the right team with you, working out is far more enjoyable. Don’t underestimate the value of fun when it comes to exercise adherence, performance, and reaching your goals.
Think about the old saying “when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life”. Apply that same thinking to exercise. When it’s fun, it won’t be considered a chore, which is exactly what you need to build healthy and long-lasting habits.
What Types of Group Fitness Classes Should I Try?
Honestly, there’s no limit to the ones you should try. If you’re interested in a niche class like martial arts, rock climbing, or other sport, then you will have to find a specialized facility.
However, every gym will offer some type of group fitness class that you can try! They say that the only “bad workout” is the one that never happened, and that same logic applies to group fitness classes. Here are some of the most popular ones you will find at a gym, what they are, and why you should try them!
Yoga
For those looking to relieve stress, build balance and flexibility, and enjoy a more quiet atmosphere, yoga is for you! Yoga is undoubtedly one of the most popular types of group fitness classes, and for good reason. Yoga incorporates techniques that help you improve your fitness, mind, body, and spirit.
In a typical yoga class, you will be holding various poses that focus on balance, stability, and flexibility. These could be standing, kneeling, face down, or in a supine position, and will likely include a wide variety of movements.
Also, you’re likely to meet very zen, down-to-earth people in these classes, along with people who are looking to develop those skills and get in touch with themselves. If those sound like the types of friends you want to make and the goals you want to reach, then give yoga a try!
Pilates
Yoga and pilates are terms often used together, and they tend to confuse some people. Let’s clear up the differences between the two fitness classes.
Primarily, yoga focuses on the flexibility of joints and muscles throughout the body, whereas Pilates focuses on relaxation and strengthening of those muscles while promoting proper alignment and posture. The two styles are often used in tandem with one another to achieve a wider array of results!
However, both styles use primarily bodyweight movements that simply require you and gravity. Both are also focused on relaxation and helping you get in touch with yourself, so there’s no reason not to try both! Because of these similarities, you’re also likely to meet similar people with similar goals to a yoga class.
In a typical Pilates class, you should expect a longer duration of low-impact exercises, mostly on a yoga mat or in a standing position. To learn more, take a free class and see for yourself!
Zumba
Fortunately, Zumba classes won’t be mixed up with anything else! These classes are wild rides filled with different dance moves, hype music, and an energetic instructor! If you’re looking for zen, this isn’t the place.
Zumba incorporates plenty of different movements at constantly varying tempos, and it’s centered around all different types of music. If you’re looking to improve your cardiovascular health, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better class for it.
After a first Zumba class, most participants will have a significantly elevated heart rate and a tough time catching their breath. It’s an amazing way to improve your cardiovascular endurance without even realizing it, as classes tend to be so much fun!
If you like variety, then this is perfect for you. You could be working with dumbbells in your hand one day, practicing your Salsa moves the next, and doing something completely different on the next run.
Zumba is excellent if you struggle with fitness motivation, you’re looking to lose weight, learn some dance moves, or simply improve your endurance. If those are your goals and you want to make some fun and energetic friends, then this is the class for you. Try a free Zumba class today!
Cycling
If you aren’t a dancer but you still want a great cardio workout, then cycling is perfect for you! Even if you do like to dance, this is an excellent supplement that will have you feeling the burn every time.
This is another class where you are bound to find an energetic instructor looking to push you to your limits, making this a great option for those struggling with fitness motivation. If you find it difficult to get cardio in during the winter, then this is a great indoor session to incorporate into your routine.
If you’re worried about a stationary bike being too boring, don’t worry at all. These classes are known for their hype music, enthusiasm, and participant engagement, so give cycling a try!
Small-Group Training
If you’re nervous working out in front of bigger crowds, want to be more intimate with your new community, or want more individualized training, then you may benefit from small-group training.
Here, you will likely incorporate strength training exercises, as these need more individualized attention for safety reasons. If you’re looking to build strength or muscle, then this is the right setting for you.
Alternatively, you could try aquatics classes, which will have similar endurance benefits to others on this list, but involve your whole body. Aquatics training classes are also extremely fun for those who like to swim, and they often incorporate a healthy combination of cardiovascular and muscular endurance as well as strength training.
Small groups are great for beginners or anyone who wants more individual attention without personal training. If any of that is appealing to you, then try some small-group classes today!
Senior Classes
As we mentioned, one of the key benefits of fitness classes is making friends and being surrounded by your peers. Well, that’s not always easy to do in your senior years.
Fortunately, there are group fitness classes designed just for seniors that work with their capabilities to promote a healthy lifestyle in their golden years! These classes will involve plenty of different exercises and styles to help keep you active and healthy for the long haul!
If you’re interested in trying a senior group fitness class, try a Silver Sneakers class for free today and meet some peers with similar goals!
Get Up & Get Active!
Remember, the way to benefit from these different types of group fitness classes is to keep showing up and doing your best! If you don’t like one of your classes, there’s nothing wrong with that. Try new ones until you find the right fit because the benefits are simply too great to pass up!
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