We are busier than ever! So bringing our social and wellness interests together can be a great way to pursue fitness goals. Whether you like to socialise while working out, or you’re looking to make yourself more accountable to your health and wellness goals, group fitness classes might just be the answer you’re looking for.
You’ll laugh, you’ll sweat, and sure, you’ll work hard but you’ll make some great friends in the process!
Socialise
Now, what sounds like more fun? Working out by yourself through your regular, repetitive routine or getting together with friends in a group fitness class and pushing each other through an exercise circuit?
As the name suggests, working out in a group is a great way to socialise and have fun, in the gym or outdoors. Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, these classes allow you to workout alongside people that share the same passion for fun and fitness as you do!
Motivation
Forcing yourself to get to the gym to do the same repetitive workout can start to get old pretty quickly. By joining a group fitness class, you will be surrounded by people that are at a similar fitness level to yourself. This is sure to provide a little friendly competition and motivational boost to give your absolute best every session.
Structure
Another perk of joining a group fitness class is the structure and variety of the workouts and classes that are available. From weight circuits in the gym or outdoor fitness classes incorporating team games to sport specific classes such as ‘spin’ or kickboxing, you can be confident that your instructor has a well thought out program ready-to-go.
Some facilities will require attendees to sign up to classes in advance (due to demand), which as a result may stop you from backing out of your workouts last minute, especially if your new gym friends are expecting you to show up and join the group.
Most gyms offer classes such as Yoga, Pilates, BodyAttack and many more at no additional cost. Some gyms also provide group PT sessions. These are great for a group of friends that share similar health and wellness goals, with the added benefit of providing you with ‘hands on’ training to master the correct ‘form’ for exercises.
Participating in classes or group training session are great ways to leverage the knowledge of your instructor or fitness professional, especially if you’re working towards a specific goal. Just remember to make sure you choose the right level classes and let your instructor know that you’re a beginner. This will let them know that you may need more assistance than the class regulars, as well as being able to provide additional assistance with exercise form or even whether the class is suitable (for your experience or goals).
So if you find that you’re dragging yourself to the gym or that your progress has plateaued from the same old repetitive workouts, get your friends together and try some group fitness! There’s nothing like a little bit of friendly competition to help you reignite those fitness goals.
Please let me know if there are any particular topics you would love us to look into or if you would like to feature in an upcoming issue of Wellness Matters.
Make sure to drop me a line or call me on 03 9963 4804.
Oliver Szklarz
