Shore Fit
By Bonnie Dodd-Miller
If you’re in the exercise world, nine out ten times you’ve either experienced this yourself or witnessed others struggling to make it to that 6am Bootcamp class. Finding the motivation to actually make it can be so difficult when the your not feeling it on a particular day or week. There is something to be said about the power of working out in a group. What is it about exercising with others that motivates us?
When it comes to workouts, there’s some truth to the old adage, “There’s strength in numbers.” There’s nothing better than a group of like minded people supporting and cheering each other on. I see it all the time whether it’s in my backyard or in the gyms where I instruct. We laugh, we joke around, we sweat like crazy but most of all, we are there for each other and that sense of camaraderie is second to none. Group activity may not be a new concept but it has certainly been on the rise for as long as I can remember.
Healthy actions of others rub off on us and people tend to gravitate towards the exercise behaviors of those around them. I one hundred percent agree that being in constant company of like minded people is so beneficial.
If your internal motivation is low then an accountability partner could be just what you need! Some have weight loss goals while others may have workout goals like running a marathon and they will get there by spending time with their fit friends. The goals are the same and accountability partners are in place. The more time they spend together, the quicker these goals can be obtained.
Friendships are built and bonds are made because the people involved have similar interests and goals.
Workouts with others improve consistency because they involve a commitment. No shows and cancellations get noticed by others and positive peer pressure can help curtail the urges to skip a workout or even quit. When someone is counting on you, you tend to not want to let them down. If you say it, you must do it!
For most people, it’s difficult to stay consistent with workout routines, but having a certain group there waiting for you provides you with the motivation and accountability everyone needs to be successful. It also can push you to perform better. When it comes to group fitness, this translates to possibly pushing yourself harder when working out with people who are fitter than you. You will strive to hold that plank longer or push out 5 more burpees when you’re tired.
Group workouts can have a couple of mental advantages over solo workouts. While it’s true that working out releases endorphins (a runner’s high), but did you also know that it can lead to the release of endorphins outside of just the physical exertion. This is achieved through smiling. Smiling increases endorphin levels. I hear this all the time in my water aerobics classes. They tell me that they always leave feeling happier than when they arrived because we have a great time together, laughing, smiling and dancing to great music. This is a wonderful addition to that runners high that you achieve from the physical aspects of working out. It’s an amazing feeling to see people do things they never thought they could until it took the person next to them to encourage them to complete that set, rep, mile or round.
There’s a bond that is created when a group struggles, sweats, and grinds their way through a tough workout. I focus on building relationships in class because if that happens, I know participants will come back again and again.
Bonnie Miller is certified fitness instructor at the Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center and Atilis Gym in Galloway. She is a mom of three and resides Somers Point.
