Group Exercise Might Be Even Better for You Than Working Out Alone – Here’s Why

Group exercise classes are popular: Nearly 40% of regular exercisers take part in group fitness classes. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the American College of Sports Medicine predicted that group fitness classes would one of the three most important trends in the fitness industry in 2020 – for a good reason.

Exercise has clear benefits for your health. health and well-beingand the side effects – think lower blood pressure, better glycemic control, better sleep – are overwhelmingly positive. And group exercises may have particularly beneficial effects.

If you’re considering joining an online group class—or someone is encouraging you to do so—here are some research-based reasons why it might be a great idea.

Everyone is doing it, why not you?

Other people influence your attitude and emotional reactions during exercise. This means that they can affect how you feel during exercise, which is key to determining whether or not you do it. If you meet others who exercise regularly, you will start to see exercise as more positive, common, desirable and feasible.

Psychology and exercise researchers as we know that people are influenced by their environment in several different ways. Knowing other people who lift weights or go to spinning classes influences your overt and covert attitudes – Your thoughts and feelings – about exercise.

It also shapes what we call social norms: your perception of whether other people exercise and whether you should.

Having fun with friends motivates

Even if you have already decided that you want to exercise and intend to do so, there are some different types of motivation that can determine whether you will be successful starting and maintaining exercisesExercising with others can strengthen these motivations.

The highest quality or type of motivation is called internal motivation – you do something because the behavior itself is enjoyable, rewarding, or both. If you enjoy exercising, not just the positive feelings you get after a workout, you’re more likely to stick with it. Practicing with other people can provide this pleasureeven if the activity itself is tough or not something you love. Group exercise can turn your workout into a fun social activity, which may keep you going.

Practicing with others maybe also meet some basic psychological needs. Any type of exercise can support someone feel in control of their choices, but the social support of a group can strengthen the sense of autonomy. Similarly, group exercise can raise your sense of mastery – through growing competence, for example in spinning or step aerobics. And it will certainly raise your connection with others. People I naturally choose to keep up they engage in behaviors that, in the long term, promote mental health – and this is a win-win situation for both parties.

On the other hand, exercises seem less engaging if motivation is external – for example, someone else tells you to exercise, or you do it primarily to lose weight. In that case, sticking to a fitness regime becomes less likely and less satisfying. Similarly, if the external factors disappear – maybe you lose weight or find that you no longer care about the number on the scale – then the motivation to exercise is likely to disappear as well.

Friends support make it a habit

Practicing with others can make the whole process easier and more habitual. Friends can be both a cue and a reward for exercising.

First, you look to other people to learn how to do something, and it is human nature to model your behavior on those you see around you. When watch others who sweatcan start build confidence in your ability to perform exercises – psychologists call this self-confidence self-efficacy. You can then they tend to model their behavior after others, too. This is very significant when starting a novel exercise program, because how confident you are in your own abilities to take a yoga class or try out a novel piece of equipment at the gym will predict whether you give it a chance.

Second, friends can remove some of the barriers to exercise. A workout buddy can remind and encourage you to exercise, hold you accountable, and even support with physical logistics like giving you a ride or sending you links to Zoom classes.

And don’t underestimate the desire for competition. A little warm a competition organized by your group can also raise the intensity of your exercise.

Habits are automatic behaviors that you don’t have to spend a lot of energy forcing yourself to do it – it’s your default, preferred behavior. You do it consistently and often, without using up all your willpower. Friends who exercise can support here, too. Habits need a cue to trigger the behavior, and a friend regularly texting you to say she’ll see you at the pool on your regular day to hang out can do the trick.

Habits also require a reward to maintain, and the intrinsic motivation that comes from exercising with others can be a reward that makes exercise part of your daily routine.

Sticking together and exercising

Group exercise appears to have certain benefits that cannot be obtained by exercising individually.

Engagement in group exercises it can also lead to a more coherent and resilient experience with exercise. Previous studies have shown that people who feel more connected in their exercise classes, attend more sessions, arrive on time, drop out less often, are more resilient to interruptions, and are more likely to achieve greater psychological benefits from exercise. Because dropouts from exercise programs are common and interruptions can easily throw people off their exercise routines, engaging in a group exercise class may be a particularly good way to avoid these problems.

When choosing the exercise group you want to join, think about how similar the other participants are to you – think about age, gender, interests. You will probably create a more cohesive group of people you identify withand these connected groups will be more likely to stick together and continue practicing.

Group support at a secure distance

Exercising with others can provide all the ingredients for a successful, enjoyable, and vigorous lifestyle. Especially if you’re feeling isolated by the pandemic and its aftermath, now might be the perfect time to try remote group exercise. If the weather cooperates, you might be able to find an outdoor yoga class with plenty of space between participants or a running club where members wear masks.

Virtual classes can be a substitute for in-person group classes. Yes, they may require a little more motivation to find and access, or summon equipment you don’t already have at home. But remote classes have additional potential benefits, including schedule flexibility, variety of classes and exercise types, and contact with others who are physically distant.