8 Benefits & 1 Caution of Group Workout Classes

Group fitness classes offer more than just a good workout. They usually take less than an hour of your time (at Break Free Fitness they’re typically 45 minutes), and the benefits of these classes can extend well beyond your time at the gym with psychological, economic, and physical benefits you may not have considered. In fact, there are quite a few studies that suggest the social element of group fitness classes provide many benefits in addition to the physical results and make them well worth the investment.

Healthier Habits

Did you know that people who participate in group workouts tend to adopt the healthier behaviors of those they exercise with? Some studies have even shown that those who are overweight experience more significant weight loss if they socialize with a more fit community. In other words, the more time you spend around those who make fitness a priority, the more likely you are to adopt the same attitude and habits.  This is true for many areas in life.  They say that if you spend enough time with 5 rich people, you’ll be the sixth, and if you spend enough time with 5 fit people, you’ll be the sixth.  So what’s holding you back?  Come join our community that is focused on helping everyone get healthier!  

Greater Commitment

While signing up for a class—particularly one that charges a fee if you’re a no-show or cancel too late—can help some stick to their fitness commitments, studies also show that those who start a weight loss or fitness program are 95% more likely to commit to the plan and complete it if they have others who are also committed to the program. In comparison, just 76% of those who commit alone will hit their goals. Furthermore, those who work out with friends are 42% more likely to keep the weight off. Fitness class packages are a great way to find others who can help to keep you accountable.

More Motivation

Working out with other individuals whose fitness level is similar or a little above ours often causes us to push ourselves a little more than we otherwise would have. This is particularly true in group settings.  Suddenly, we get a little more competitive and attempt those couple extra squats, hold a plank a little longer, or add a couple extra pounds to our lifts to keep up with the group. And by doing so, we realize that we are more capable than we thought!

Less Self-Doubt

In the case that you might not be able to safely keep up with your classmates when first joining a class, it’s important to note that seeing others excel where you might not yet be able to keep up often acts as inspiration within a positive and encouraging environment. And Break Free Fitness coaches are always willing to take the time to help you succeed, no matter what your starting ability level is.  Seeing what others are capable of and what they may have overcome to get there can place a spotlight on your personal mental barriers and inspire you to overcome. In fact, according to one study, participants who exercised with those they perceived to be better than them lengthened their active workout time and increased their intensity two-fold!  Sometimes we just need to see someone else’s success to believe that our own success is possible.  Break Free Fitness is all about building a community that inspires and uplifts each other!  We are, literally, stronger together!

Increased Endorphins

Smiling helps to increase our natural endorphin levels and group classes tend to bring out a few more smiles when we’re working out and laughing along with a group of people having just as much fun with fitness. By linking these positive social interactions with fitness, workouts can become something you actually look forward to! Furthermore, smiling through the tough exercises can increase energy levels and motivate you to take it one step further. This goes the same for smiling through other challenges we face in life.  Smiling through the hard times can help us to keep pushing through! Ultimately, endorphin levels rise with each smile, with each workout and you get an added boost from the positive relationships you form by being part of a community!

 Prevents Injuries

While it may be true that you perform the same workouts in a group class that you might complete on your own, a fitness class lowers your risk of suffering a soft tissue injury. A significant part of a fitness instructor’s job is to ensure everyone in the class is executing the exercises in the right way and not lifting too much weight in comparison to their current fitness level. Your instructor can pinpoint your weak points while you observe the form of your classmates to ensure you’re performing each move safely and effectively. As a result, you avoid soft tissue injuries and are able to stick to a successful workout routine.  One of our priorities at Break Free Fitness is to teach clients proper form for exercises to minimize injuries and maximize effectiveness.

 Encourages Muscle Confusion

Muscle confusion just means that you switch up your workout routines, so you are not always doing the same few exercises over and over again.  Group fitness classes often provide a variety of movements that change from session to session which keeps your body on its toes, ramping up metabolism and strengthening muscles as you go. We can often hit plateaus on our health and fitness journey when the body becomes used to certain exercises, requiring an increase in length, weight, or intensity to continue to see improvements and reach our goals. Constantly researching new exercises or finding creative but safe ways to challenge your body can be time-consuming. Establishing variety by switching up group fitness classes is simple.

 Cost Savings

Finally, it’s important to point out that the investment for group fitness classes can actually be quite a deal! While working out alone may technically be free (assuming you have already put in the investment to acquire the equipment), opting to train with an experienced personal fitness trainer, can easily be $100 or more per session! In comparison, per-workout costs through group fitness classes often hover around $20-$50 (check here for Break Free Fitness current plan options). And at Break Free Fitness, our class sizes are small so that everyone can get personal coaching from our trainers and receive top-notch private training benefits, without the top-notch price! Additionally, group fitness classes encourage commitment and accountability. While basic gym memberships can be as low as $15 per month, it’s easy to skip out on your workouts when your schedule gets busy or you’re feeling overly stressed and tired, eventually leading to an unused gym membership and $15 wasted each month you don’t go.  Plus, if you go on your own, you have to make your own training plan and figure out how to use the equipment on your own.

 Caution on Comparison

While fitness classes can help to target excess weight and build strength, in the end, everyone’s body is different, meaning that you may not see the same results at the same rate as your classmates. Comparison is the thief of joy, as the saying goes. Comparison can become quite discouraging and may lead you to quit group classes altogether, meaning you don’t see any benefits at all! Instead of taking an all-or-nothing mentality and placing too much pressure on yourself and your fitness classes, we encourage you to keep working hard, having fun and making progress on your personal goals!  Consistency is key!

Break Free!  We’re with you!