Shape Up! The Top Three Benefits of Group Strength Training
There are a plethora of fitness choices these days to choose from: personal training, spinning, pilates, yoga, treadmill solo races, Crossfit…the list goes on. While each type has its own set of benefits, resistance-based group fitness may be just what the doctor ordered. The hot doctor, natch. Or the hot nurse if that’s your thing.
Here are the top three reasons:
1. Spice up your life…in the weight room!
Where else can you try a new lift with the safety and security of having a certified professional instruct you? Or have your workout deejayed? At The Phoenix Effect, each instructor programs workouts that fit all levels, challenges even the most seasoned athletes, and plays the hottest dance tracks around. Studies show that having new experiences is the most effective way to get happier, so throw some weights in there and it’s also the most cost-effective way to get hotter! Win win, right?
2. Be held accountable
Let’s face it: getting fit is a journey, not an overnight transformation. Classes serve as a constant reminder that you are not in this alone. Why fly solo when you can have a fun, supportive posse go along with you? Knowing that there is a 6 a.m. class on Tuesday that you and your buddies have signed up for means that you’ll be more likely to go. Telling yourself that you’ll wake up early and “work out on your own” before the sun comes up may actually translate to hitting that alarm and going back to bed. After all, no one will know, right? So, repeat after me: group fitness holds you accountable. They’ll know when you go and they’ll know when you don’t. And they will call you out on it, for sure.
3. Join a community
Physical results require maintenance, but the friendships and the feeling of belonging will far outlast your “pump.” Have you ever thought, “Wow, I wish I had a gym buddy!” Well, now’s your chance to have 20. The Phoenix Effect is constantly conducting some form of challenge for our athletes whether it’s body fat percentage or attendance based where the winners (male and female) will win up to a month’s worth of free classes. We also take pride in assembling teams for charity initiatives such as AIDS Life Cycle or the Reebok Spartan Race. Look into these opportunities with your group fitness program. We have personally witnessed incredible friendships grow and prosper that simply would not have happened had it not been for the class. And that, my friends, is worth its weight in gold.
To wrap up, strength-based group fitness isn’t for everyone. It does require dedication and a commitment to yourself and to others. However, if you’d prefer to plateau, get bored, burned out, risk injury, and not meet any new friends, by all means, stick to what you know and hit the gym. But give group fitness a shot. What have you got to lose? Besides love handles. See you soon!
Jeremy Kinser
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