As a trainer and fitness blogger, “how can I stay motivated to work out?” is one of the questions I get most frequently.
There is, of course, no single answer—motivation is something that’s always individual. No matter what made you start a program or make healthier lifestyle changes, there will be times that motivation is simply lacking—and that’s NORMAL! There are however, a few universal tips that I suggest clients try to see what works for them.
Over the years, I’ve suggested to clients that adding a group fitness class can develop confidence for someone new to working out. It can also provide a much-needed challenge to someone who has been working out for years. But I’ve always personally been a solo circuit-training-junkie. So to get a bigger taste of the group fitness world, I joined the ONE Brands family at the Flywheel Sports studio in Charlotte, NC, where high-intensity group workouts are a way of life—and, I must add, Birthday Cake, Maple Glazed Doughnut and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt ONE Bars are available all month!
So based on past experiences and the great workout I got at Flywheel, here are the top four reasons why adding group fitness classes to your workouts can help you stay motivated!
MIX IT UP
Frankly, I had no idea what to expect in the group fitness space, and I was a little unsure of things. I wore comfortable, sweat-wicking clothing, stayed hydrated all day, and arrived early enough for an instructor to educate me on the bike and the tracking device. Then it was time for class! I absolutely loved the energy of the music and the clear directions that guided me through the different intensities and inclines of the workout. In under 50 minutes, I was dripping with sweat and completely invigorated by the energy of the group. The change of pace from my usual regiment was truly awesome.
HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE
Sometimes just getting yourself to the gym is the hardest part, so signing up for a group fitness class is a great way to make sure you’ll show up when motivation is lacking. Once you’re there, the room is full of energy from the other participants, and the instructor keeps class moving with upbeat music and clear directions that help guide you through.
Finding a class that pushes you outside your comfort zone can be intimidating at first, so consider having a friend to go with you to lessen the anxiety.
TAP INTO YOUR COMPETITIVE SIDE
It’s important to know your personality when it comes to creating and maintaining a fitness routine. If you are a competitive or externally motivated person, then a solo lift at the gym may lose appeal quickly. If that’s what you experience, then the excitement of a workout centered around performance and measurable data during a fitness class could be just what you need to perform your best. More and more group fitness classes (though certainly not all) offer ways to visibly correlate different statistics and show data based on heart rate, speeds, weights, reps, etc. It’s one of the benefits of being able to pick the class that bests fits YOU!
MAKE IT AN EXPERIENCE
Going to new classes in new cities is an amazing way to create memories and sustain healthy habits. It can make working out feel more like a treat than a duty! As a Greenville, SC native, being able to experience Flywheel in Charlotte enabled me to get to know people in a new city with similar lifestyles and interests. So get a group of friends together to experience a new class together every weekend—it can introduce you to forms of exercise you may not even know you enjoy!
So take it from me, a (maybe former) solo workout junkie: adding group fitness classes might be the thing you need to stay motivated and take your workout game to the next level. Give it a try!
