{"id":5135,"date":"2022-07-07T15:24:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T15:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=5135"},"modified":"2022-07-07T16:39:02","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T16:39:02","slug":"the-benefits-of-joining-a-fitness-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/the-benefits-of-joining-a-fitness-group\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Joining a Fitness Group"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

You already know that exercise offers a huge list of health benefits<\/a>, from improved mood to stronger bones and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. But while exercise, in general, is hugely beneficial, there\u2019s one type of exercise that can offer additional benefits\u2014and that\u2019s working out with a group of other people.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at some of the benefits of joining a fitness group, as well as tips on how to find the right fitness group for you.<\/p>\n

Why join a fitness group?<\/h2>\n

On top of all the benefits you\u2019ll enjoy from working up a good sweat, joining a fitness group or group fitness class offers a few additional benefits, both for your health and your social life. <\/p>\n

Group fitness classes can help with motivation. <\/strong>A lot of people struggle with finding the motivation to work out on a regular basis. But for some, working out with a group can be just the motivation they need to commit to their fitness.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people find that working out with a group can be a stronger source of motivation than exercising alone,\u201d says psychologist and wellness coach John O\u2019Brien<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Joining a fitness group adds a layer of accountability\u2014and for many people, that accountability acts as motivation. For example, it\u2019s easy to hit the \u201csnooze\u201d button on your 6AM alarm when you\u2019re planning on going on a solo run\u2014but knowing that your running group is waiting for you to start can deliver the dose of motivation you need to get out of bed, lace up your shoes, and get going.<\/p>\n

Group fitness can inspire you to work harder\u2014and get a better workout. <\/strong>When you\u2019re working out by yourself, it can be easy to slack off (who\u2019s going to know?). But when you\u2019re working out with other people, \u201cyou have others there to encourage you and push you,\u201d says personal trainer and running coach Meghan Kennihan<\/a>. This can help you get a better workout.<\/p>\n

Working out with others can also infuse your workout with a competitive spirit, which can also help to improve your workouts. \u201cPeople who exercise with others can also use the group as a source of healthy competition,\u201d says O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people have others to compete against, they naturally begin to work harder,\u201d says Katie Pierson, an experienced group fitness instructor and lead editor for GirlBikeLove<\/a>. \u201cThey naturally want to keep up with the other people in the class.\u201d<\/p>\n

Group fitness can help you form social connections. <\/strong>One of the biggest benefits of joining a fitness group is the social benefit. When you see people regularly, it\u2019s only natural to get friendly with those people. \u201cIf participants attend a class [or group] regularly, they\u2026naturally begin to form bonds with the other students who come to that class every week,\u201d says Pierson. <\/p>\n

And because you\u2019re all working towards a common interest or have a common goal (for example, you all signed up for a kickboxing class or are training together for a triathlon), it fosters a sense of community\u2014which can make for stronger social bonds.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Joining a fitness group] makes you part of a community where you can find support and guidance from people who are on the same journey as you,\u201d says Kennihan.<\/p>\n

How to find the right fitness group for you<\/h2>\n

Tap local gyms and fitness studios. <\/strong>Local gyms and fitness studios are a great way to tap into your local community and find group classes and\/or groups that align with your interests and fitness goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoining a gym or studio close to your house increases the chance of you going,\u201d says Pierson. \u201cAlso, you meet people who live near you, which can foster relationships outside of the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n

Use different digital platforms to see what works for you. <\/strong>Online forums and social media are great resources for finding fitness groups. Try joining\u2014and introducing yourself\u2014on the Fitbit Community forum to share about your fitness goals, healthy habits, and which Fitbit device you\u2019re currently using to meet those goals. You can join or create groups to make and cheer friends on, and stay motivated together! <\/p>\n

You can also try sites like Meetup.com, where you can find \u201cfitness meetups where you can join based on your interests and age level,\u201d says Pierson.<\/p>\n

Searching Facebook Groups is another option, or using more localized social media platforms like NextDoor to find a local fitness group that suits your needs.<\/p>\n

And if you don\u2019t find one that matches what you\u2019re looking for? Consider putting yourself out there and posting on social media to start a group of your own!<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to try new things. <\/strong>In a perfect world, the first fitness group or class you try would be the perfect fitness group or class for you. But the truth is, sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error.<\/p>\n

Be willing to put yourself out there and try new things. Experiment with different types of fitness classes (for example, kickboxing, yoga, and strength classes) and groups (for example, a running group and a strength-training meetup) until you find a place where both the activity and<\/em> the people feel like a good fit.<\/p>\n

The post The Benefits of Joining a Fitness Group<\/a> appeared first on Fitbit Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s take a look at the benefits of joining a fitness group, along with how to find the right one for you.
\nThe post The Benefits of Joining a Fitness Group appeared first on Fitbit Blog.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":""},"categories":[20,1,21,22,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5135"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5135"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5138,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5135\/revisions\/5138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}