Hit Your New Year Stride with Group Exercise Classes in Baltimore
So you want to be healthier in the new year. Why go it solo when you can have company along the way? Enter group fitness classes. There’s a reason why group training joined HIIT training and wearable technology to claim the top three spots on the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) list of the top fitness trends for 2018.
Looking for the specifics of how adding group exercise classes to your fitness plans for the year ahead can help you achieve your health and wellness goals? Read on for a roundup of six inspiring incentives to give group fitness classes a go in the year ahead.
1. You’ll keep boredom at bay.
Anyone who’s ever started a new fitness program knows that getting started isn’t the problem. So what is? Keeping your momentum going when the initial thrill wears off. Because of their diversity, group fitness classes are a great way to keep your energy and enthusiasm up.
From spin classes to strength training to yoga, there’s always a new and exciting reason to go to the gym. If you love the water, aqua programs are also an appealing option. Sign Up for an Aquatic Session at Brick Bodies today.
2. You’ll actually show up.
A growing body of evidence shows that there’s definitely strength in numbers when it comes to working out in a group compared to working out alone. While you might be tempted to let yourself off the hook on the day of a workout, you’re much more inclined to follow up and follow through if you’re part of a group of people who are expecting you to be there.
3. You’ll perform better.
You’ll do more than just show up when you work out with others; you’ll perform better, too. Says The Globe and Mail: “New research suggests that group exercise unleashes a flood of chemicals in the brain, triggering the same responses that have made collective activities from dancing and laughter to religion itself such enduring aspects of human culture. For some (but not all) people, finding workout buddies could help turn fitness into a pleasant addiction.”
4. You’ll develop a routine.
Group fitness classes offer structure that working out alone does not. The more structure your workout routine has, the more likely it is to become a habit. You’re also more likely to work out longer if you’re in a formal group class than if you’re exercising alone. After all, while it’s easy to quit a treadmill or stairclimber workout because you “don’t feel like it,” walking out mid-class is much harder.
5. You’ll make fit-minded friends.
The saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” If your goals for 2018 involve leading a healthier, happier life, then participating in group fitness classes can offer the perfect opportunity to make friends with like-minded individuals. This camaraderie can make all the difference when the going gets tough. You’ll look forward to connecting with your new friends every day, which transforms a trip to the gym from something to dread to something to delight in.
6. You’ll learn to workout smarter.
Group fitness classes are led by qualified, trained instructors. This makes them the ideal forum in which to learn proper form aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of your workout while simultaneously lowering your risk of injury.
Says ACSM: “An exercise class structured with a purpose can be beneficial for people with limited knowledge about safe and effective exercise programming… 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.”
Fitness class instructors remain a resource for participants outside of the classroom, as well.
One last-but-not-least reason to try group fitness classes this year is that they’re fun! While joining a new class can be intimidating to newcomers, just remember that everyone in every class started somewhere.
