Working out alone can be fun and empowering. But there is also a ceiling to how fun exercise can be, especially if you’ve been training solo for a while. Group fitness – particularly small group classes – is a great way to build a community and camaraderie in your fitness journey that is never lacking in energy.
Here’s the case for training in small groups to make fitness sustainable for the longer term.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IN FITNESS
Small group classes bring the participants together. Crossfit and Hyrox bring people together because they are groups of people all working toward both short-term and long-term fitness goals.
The short-term fitness goal is completing the workout for the day. The long-term fitness goal is building a resilient body.
The accumulation of these short-term goals – coupled with seeing a variety of faces each day, encouraging each other, and having fun even during the most difficult of exercises – builds a sense of community that a standard gym environment cannot match.
Group classes are also characterized by high energy, usually sparked by a charismatic instructor, which is infectious and can significantly boost your drive to exercise. The right music and mixture of participants in a class add a stickiness to group classes that make clients eager to return and face their next challenge.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSISTENCY
Accountability is important for any fitness goal, but accountability and consistency change with small group classes. When you show up for a class and build rapport with your classmates, you also build a means of holding each other accountable.
Missed workouts and classes mean a bit more to you when your friends and workout partners are expecting you, and you can be more motivated to be consistent when you have a group of people prepared to see you day in and day out.
Most group classes also follow a consistent weekly schedule, so you’ll always be able to expect the same coach and instructor along with your classmates. Your instructor will play a large role in your accountability just as your friends will.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS, ACCESSIBILITY AND COMPETITION
Small group fitness classes are also more cost-effective than one-on-one personal training sessions. They have the structure necessary to form an effective habit, but also the intensity and energy to help people from all different backgrounds feel the same level of accomplishment in their fitness.
While small group classes offer the same energy and accessibility as group workouts, they also allow for more personalized attention from instructors. Group fitness Instructors in small classes can better offer feedback and modifications to make sure form is correct and technique can be adjusted if needed.
Also, the spirit of friendly competition is very alive in small group classes. While there is a sense of camaraderie, there is also a competitive aspect of working against your classmates that drives higher output.
Having competition is a major driver of fitness results and a good instructor will elicit this competition during class to make the class even more enjoyable.
DIVERSE WORKOUT STYLES AND FLEXIBILITY
Small group classes come in a variety of formats, from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training and yoga/pilates. Having options allows clients to select from a wide range of fitness-enhancing classes and have a diverse background in exercise.
Flexibility and variability in class choice can also make fitness interesting for clients who are always looking for something new. Choosing a new class at a particular studio or simply taking a small class with a new instructor can be a new way for someone to appropriately challenge themselves in the same environment.
The dynamic nature of small group classes can drive similar fitness results as personal training or large group classes. It also helps foster long-lasting relationships with fellow clients, friendly competition, and a sense of accountability that is unparalleled. Consider small group fitness classes as a way to increase your social footprint and find new opportunities in a new community.
Explore our group training classes at Forte Lab to get started!
