Everybody is different. Some prefer to go to the gym by themselves and workout alone. However, not everyone is like that. Some people are unsure about what they should do once they enter the gym. They don’t know what exercises to do, or sometimes they don’t even know how to properly do the ones they want to. That’s where group classes come into play!

The goal of the gym is to help members stay active and get in the best shape possible. If someone doesn’t know what workouts to do or doesn’t know how to properly do them, they can’t properly stay active or get fit. Group classes fix both of these problems. Group classes allow you to learn about several workouts. Instructors in these classes should also ensure that your form is correct so that you can stay safe and get in shape.

However, these classes have much more benefits than simply helping you stay fit.

Helps with Accountability

When you work out on your own, it can be relatively easy to skip a workout. You are the only one who always knows when you skip. However, when you exercise in a group class, several people notice when you miss. Your instructor and others in the class may ask you why you missed the last session or may even send you a text on the day of, checking to see if you’re okay.

Those who work out in a group setting are more likely to complete their weight-loss program than those who do it alone. One such study showed that 95% that started with friends finished the program while only 76% who started alone finished. Even further, the group was 42% more likely to keep the weight off than the ones who started alone.

Exercising in a group setting gives you countless other individuals who are going through the same thing you are. It provides you with a built-in support system that will push you to complete it.

Encourages You to Work Harder

Group classes are a great way to stay active, but they are also great at pushing you to work harder and be better. There is a term known as the Köhler Effect, which states that no one wants to be the weakest link in a group. While in a group class, you push yourself to work harder to keep yourself from being the weakest link. Working out in a group setting encourages you to push yourself further than you normally would on your own.

Another reason for working harder is group classes add to your competitive edge. Everyone has a competitive side to them. Seeing those around you work out pushes you to be better and work harder. This competitiveness isn’t negative, however. It’s a positive boost.

Overall, working out with others has proven to help you increase your workout time and intensity by nearly 200%, according to Kansas State University researchers. Others around you continue to motivate you.

Provides Social Opportunities

Probably one of the most obvious benefits of group classes are the social ones. Not only do these classes get you out of the house to be active, but they also give you plenty of chances to flex your social skills. Group classes are often more fun than simply working out on your own because you can interact with others.

They offer you a chance to meet new people who you may have plenty in common with. After all, you’re already attending the same class! You can build a support system for life within the realms of your workout group. You can meet up with other members before and after your session, creating lasting relationships.

Working out as a group creates a sense of camaraderie. Everyone is in that class for the same goal. By going to the same class every week, you build up a feeling of community.

Improves Mental Health

It’s becoming more and more well-known just how positive exercising can be for your mental health. Exercising releases the body’s feel-good chemicals called endorphins. You tend to feel much happier and are given a sense of euphoria when endorphins are released into your body.

However, group classes encourage the body to release endorphins in more ways than just exercising. Smiling is a great way to boost your endorphins. Being in a social aspect increases your likelihood to smile than working out on your own. Other ways endorphins can be released in group classes include:

• Laughing
• Helping others
• Dancing
• Meditate
• Talking with others

This boost in endorphins helps relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The International Journal of Stress Management published a study that found that after exercising on a stationary bike with someone else, people felt calmer than those who biked alone.

Helps with Form

Fitness Nation offers our members several different classes to choose from. However, this means that each class will have different exercises. Each exercise requires a different form that must be mastered to keep you from hurting yourself.

If you were to just try a new workout program on your own without any experience, you may not perform the workout correctly. When you use the incorrect form, you aren’t only keeping yourself from getting the most out of your workout, but you are also increasing the chance of sustaining an injury.

It is an instructor’s job to ensure that all members of a class are using the correct form, protecting their health. The instructor should be keeping an eye on each member’s form and should have the knowledge needed to correct them when necessary. While some may see this as a nuisance, it can save you from harm.

Not everyone has the knowledge or motivation to successfully workout on their own. That does not mean you can’t still enjoy a good workout. Thanks to group classes, newcomers can still stay fit while enjoying plenty of benefits. Group classes are not specifically just for newbies. Even those who have been into fitness for their whole lives can enjoy the benefits of a group class. Fitness Nation offers all of our member plenty of classes to choose from. Contact us to learn more.