Group exercise is gaining traction among fitness enthusiasts. Exercising in a group covers personal training sessions or classes and sports such as football or netball.
Whether it is an exercise class, sports teams training session, or competitive match, according to many research Citations, there are significant advantages to working out as part of a group.
This article debunks myths about preconceived notions about this style of exercise. Stick through this article to discover the surprising benefits of exercising in a group.
Reduce feelings of loneliness
Because of the pandemic, people have been isolated and lacked social interaction. Group exercise provides a touch base with others, meet new people, and potentially make new friends. According to many research Citations, social interaction helps combat loneliness.
Another significant benefit is exercise releases serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter. For this reason, participating in a group exercise is a terrific way to lift your mood. It also helps reduce negative thoughts and feelings associated with loneliness.
Improve your muscular endurance
Besides improving your cardiovascular fitness, one of the physical benefits of exercising is that it helps improve your muscular endurance.
Group exercises motivate you and push you to keep going. Moreover, you are potentially more likely to stick to a group set-up than exercising alone. Committing to a routine helps build your muscular endurance.
Exciting cardio workouts
Working out in a group improves your cardiovascular fitness. With the vast array of activities and classes available, there are numerous choices to get you moving.
Once you discover the exercise that you enjoy, it no longer feels like a chore. With choices ranging from Zumba aqua aerobics to sport style activities such as football and netball, there will be something that suits you.
When you like something, you look forward to doing it, resulting in a vast improvement in your cardiovascular fitness.
Moreover, group exercises push you out of your comfort zone and compel you to work harder.
Rarely, it can be challenging to find the drive to go and work out, especially when it is chilly and dark outside. It could be hard to drag yourself out of bed in the wee hours of the morning, especially if you slept late after a stressful day.
Motivation and accountability
Group exercises keep you motivated. You might fall into the trap of skipping your workout schedule. But in the end, these lapses let you down. But it is much harder to ignore classes if you know others expect you to show up, such as your friends and class instructor.
This aspect is also connected with accountability. Others hold you accountable, and working out with others increases your competitive drive encouraging you to work even harder.
Structure and variety
These may seem like contradictory concepts. But group exercises provide structure in the form of regularly scheduled classes and training sessions. The sessions or classes follow a set structure. For example, warm-up and stretches before an aerobics class, a cardio program, muscular strength training, and a cool down and stretch.
But while the schedule and sessions are structured, each one varies. Class instructors can switch the music and exercises while sports groups mix drills and exercises. The variety keeps everything fun and engaging so you’ll never get bored.
