Are Group Fitness Classes Really that Good For You?
I don’t really care what kind of exercise you do.
I’m just glad you’re exercising.
Seriously, I am a huge advocate for whichever type of exercise or training you do, whether it be solo runs around Lake Hollingsworth or Circle B, bro-sessions at your local globo-gym, or P90X in your living room.
Those P90X ab exercises are seriously intense!
But something I've noticed after years of coaching is that a lot of people want help with their workouts without feeling like everyone is watching them. They want a trainer to help with their form , help them improve, and make sure they're doing the things correctly.
They'd also prefer to blend into the background a little.
That's one reason I've become an advocate for small group fitness classes.
People don’t want attention, but they want to be coached
Some of my friends avoid group fitness because they don't want people watching them work out or to feel "judged."
Yet, they still ask me to watch their lifts to make sure their technique is good.
What’s funny is I’ll recommend our personal training to them, so they can get that level of coaching without the intimidating group setting. They end up shooting that idea down too because they don’t want to have to make conversation with someone one-on-one.
A completely different type of attention.
I understand both of those concerns. On the one hand, you don’t want to look dumb in front of a crowd. On the other hand, you don’t want the undivided attention of a personal trainer.
You want to fade into the background while still getting coached on your form and technique.
That’s where I’ve found small group classes truly thrive.
Before we continue, I should specify what small group fitness classes are: classes led by a coach with about 4-12 people in class.
Ok, so how do small group fitness classes work for people who are intimidated by big groups and personal training?
Well, small group classes have enough people in class where you can stand in the back without drawing attention to yourself but not too many people where the coach can’t see you work out.
Or worse, when there are so many people that the coach has to single you out by yelling across the room…
No one likes that.
You may not notice your results, but everyone else will
Here’s where small group fitness classes get really powerful.
You see your body every day.
Even if you’re taking mirror photos or diligently tracking bodyweight, muscle mass, or your lifts, you’re not really going to notice your progress.
More importantly, you’re not going to celebrate your wins.
But you know who will notice and cheer you on?
People in group classes.
Especially the Lakeland moms!
Seriously, moms notice everything and are always proud of the people they work out with.
You may not want attention, but it still feels good when someone notices your hard work paying off and lets the whole gym know it.
On the flip side, everyone notices when you miss class
It’s part of my job to reach out to members we haven’t seen in a while.
Do you know how unmotivating that probably feels like?
It’s like having the principal call your parents to tell them you got detention.
But when one of my members ask another member about where they've been, that member is usually in class the next day.
Again, it especially works when the moms call you out.
I think this happens because people in small group fitness classes are, essentially, your teammates. They do better when you’re there, and they can feel let down when you start slipping.
You build each other up.
If you’ve ever found it difficult to maintain your fitness or nutrition habits, this is where having a small community can help you.
It gets you out of the house
I started this discussion talking about people who don’t like big groups, but even those people need time away from work and home.
They need a “third place.” Your first place is home. Your second is work. Your third place is somewhere you can spend time outside of both and that does not include responsibilities.
Small group fitness classes like our Vital One classes have quickly become a third place for many people. This was particularly noticeable during the rise of Crossfit, Orange Theory and Hyrox.
An entire hour where you get to be completely present in the moment (often because you’re just trying to survive the workout).
All the while getting a nice dose of endorphins to improve your mood.
Then, as I’ve mentioned, you also have the camaraderie of those working out with you.
Misery loves company, and debriefing with your gym buddies is a true bonding experience, even if you’re not a people person.
And the sugar on top? You don’t have to spend time designing your own workouts or warm-ups.
You can show up, turn your brain off, sweat, and go home.
So, are small group fitness classes really that good?
I've spent years watching Lakelanders become stronger, build friendships, and find reasons to keep coming back and working out.
I don’t think I would’ve taken the time to write this article if I didn’t believe that small group classes were really that good.
At the right gym, you get the coaching you deserve without ever feeling like you’re in the spotlight.
You get support and accountability from people who know your name and genuinely care about your success.
You get an entire hour where you get to focus on yourself without any external pressure…except for the coach encouraging you to push harder because they know you can.
I support however you decide to exercise because any kind of exercise is better than none.
But if you’re ready to take the next step and give small group classes a try, I’m here to help get you started.
Book a time to meet with me, and I’ll show you how group classes can make a positive impact on your life.
