As winter slowly begins to creep in, the call to the couch and Netflix is much more enticing than getting to the gym to do an early morning or an evening workout. If you need that little extra push to keep up with your workout despite the cold weather and darker mornings and evenings, group exercise might be the push you need to keep moving.

With so many other aspects of our life involving groups, why shouldn’t your training? The benefits of exercise in a group are abundant and should be enough to make any Negative Nancy want to give it a go!

Motivation

I personally struggle to stick to any exercise routine if I’m doing it alone. Having other people exercising alongside you can give you the boost you need to keep moving. It’s inspiring and motivating to be surrounded by so many focused and determined individuals.

A little competition and rivalry can be a great way to push yourself that little bit more, and having others to measure yourself against might inspire you to try and beat their time or their weight. If you’re a little shyer, there’ll be plenty of friendly faces around encouraging you to do your best.

Accountability

Training in a group setting will help hold you accountable for turning up regularly and giving the session all you’ve got! One study found that 95 percent of those who started a weight-loss program with others completed the program, compared to a 76 percent completion rate for those who tacked the program alone. The group who exercised with others was also 42 percent more likely to maintain their weight loss.

Social Environment

To put it simply- training in a group is fun! Having a group of people motivating each other along the way is a super enjoyable way to work out. They’re also a great place to meet people from your community with similar goals and wants. These people will often become your support network and will be there to pick you up when you’re not feeling super pumped about the 6 am class on a cold Monday morning.

More time with your trainer

Compared with some of the bigger fitness classes, such as a spin class, group training will usually be in a smaller group (the groups at The Biomechanics are a max size of 4). Your trainer will have more of an opportunity to spend time monitoring your progress and lend a helping hand when needed.

Another study found that group exercise participants showed significant improvements in their mental health (12.6 percent), physical health (24.8 percent) and emotional (26 percent). They also reported a 26.2 percent reduction in perceived stress levels. By comparison, individual fitness participants on average worked out twice as long, and saw no significant changes in any measure, except in mental quality of life.

Have I convinced you to shake up your routine and give group training a go?  

It may be a little intimidating to walk into a new group alone for the first time. At The Biomechanics, we run you through a 1-on-1 session so we can get to know each other and our facilities, before jumping into a class. Our small group sizes ensure that you get the attention and help you need, without missing on the fantastic benefits of training in a group setting.

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