by Christopher Covello
Keeping a consistent fitness routine is easy when we’re well-rested and have some free time set aside. Unfortunately, that’s rarely how things play out. Life happens fast, and, when things start snowballing, it’s easy to put ourselves, our goals, and our health last.
That’s where group fitness comes in.
Working out with a partner or in a group boosts our chances of showing up no matter what’s going on in our lives, making it easier to stay motivated and make progress on our goals. So, join us as we unpack what it is about group fitness that makes it so darn effective, as well as ways you can get started with partner and group workouts today!
Top 5 Benefits of Working Out With Friends
It may seem like it doesn’t matter whether you’re working out by your lonesome or bringing your best buds along for the ride, but there are actually a lot of great reasons why you may consider rolling through with a crew when it comes to your fitness.
Here are our favorite benefits of working out with friends.
1. Accountability
A study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that individuals who recruited friends before beginning a weight loss program experienced greater weight loss during a 4-month period than those who flew solo. That’s not all; those with a social support network in place were also more likely to keep the weight off, too!
That’s because they’re not just your friends and family once you bring them into the gym. Now, they’re accountabili-buddies, too, there to ensure you’re hitting the gym regularly and working towards your goals.
2. Consistency
You’re more likely to show up for yourself if you’re showing up for a gym partner, too, but that is even more true if you’re headed to a fitness class together.
That’s because group fitness classes take place at specific, scheduled times throughout the day, so you can’t bargain with yourself to “do it later.” You’re either making it to that Pilates class at noon, or you’re not — plain and simple. And you’ll feel even more motivated to get there if you know someone, or a few someones, are expecting to see your smiling face!
3. Structure and Diversity
We don’t always fall off the wagon because we’re too busy. Sometimes, it’s because we are just plain bored with everything we’ve been doing. Bicep curls, bench presses, lather, rinse, repeat—it never ends!
Hitting the gym with a buddy takes that tired script and flips it on its head. Instead of doing the same old routine for the gazillionth time, you get to share your favorite exercises and invent new workouts together.
Group fitness classes offer even more diversity because they introduce you to a whole slew of new moves. The choreography in most Les Mills classes changes every three months, but all of HAC’s group fit instructors know the importance of keeping fitness interesting and aim to vary their material regularly. Plus, group fit instructors tell you exactly when to do what, so you can switch off, give each new move 100%, and get fit while having fun!
4. Competition
You and your new accountabili-buddy are wrapping up on an afternoon jog. You’re feeling pretty good about the distance you’ve completed and the pace you were able to maintain, when your friend suddenly looks over at you and flashes a devilish grin.
“I’ll race you to that bench,” they say.
You’re pretty tired, but it’s not too far. Besides, what are you going to do: let them beat you by default? You smile back and say, “You’re on!”
We never recommend biting off more than you can chew, but pushing your limits a little bit in the spirit of healthy competition may make you and your workout partner perform better and, in turn, receive better results from your work.
After all, who doesn’t enjoy a little friendly competition?
5. Safety
Sure, working out with a friend or group helps you in terms of motivation and performance, but it may help keep you safe and injury-free, too.
That’s because many of us tend to do too much too soon when we’re first starting out. We’re eager to get started on a new and exciting fitness journey, and many of us remember the kind of fitness we had ten, twenty, thirty years ago, so we think we’re doing a good amount when, in fact, we’re totally overdoing it!
A good workout buddy or a qualified fitness instructor, like our group fitness veterans here at HAC, will remind you to pump the brakes if you’re going a little overboard. Working out with a partner also means you’ll have a spotter on hand to help you bail on a failed lift, correct minor issues with your form, and remind you to drink water between sets, so you get peak efficiency on every rep.
One Day or Day One?
Have we sold you yet on the merits of working out with friends?
If so, read on for a few ways you can get going on your new fitness journey today.
Start Small
You don’t have to corner your friends and force them to commit to a rigorous training schedule that ultimately proves to be unrealistic and unsustainable. Getting started is more about taking little steps over time to become a little healthier today than you were yesterday.
So, commit to something small, measurable, and doable, like a weekly Sunday walk and jog in the park. It’s an excuse to grab a coffee, catch up, and promote healthy habits while you’re at it.
You may consider putting together a brief home-based workout that you and your buddy can complete each day, too. Here’s an example:
- 20 air squats
- 20 push-ups
- 60 second plank
Break each exercise into doable sets—two sets of ten, four sets of five, so on and so forth—and feel free to modify exercises as needed. For example, swap out air squats for chair squats, do the push-ups from your knees, or try high planks instead of forearm planks.
It may not seem like much on paper, but small changes like these can yield great dividends to your overall health down the line. Oh, and don’t forget to text your friend when you finish!
Find Your Tribe
So, you asked around but couldn’t find yourself a new accountabili-buddy. No worries—group fitness classes are not only great for your physical fitness, they’re also the perfect place to meet potential new workout partners.
Don’t be shy. Strike up a conversation next time you go to class. You’d be surprised how easy it is to find someone you vibe with, and they may also be in the market for someone to walk and talk on a treadmill or hit the weights outside of class with.
Social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, may also offer social support and motivation. There’s no shame in posting to your family group chat, Hockessin Gossip Girls, or another online forum to let others in your community know you’re looking for a gym partner.
Of course, it always seems a little daunting to put yourself out there like that, but, with an open mind, a friendly vibe, and a little bit of courage, you’re sure to find an accountabili-buddy in no time!
Talk to Us
Every great journey begins with a single step, and that single step may be as simple as reaching out to us here at the Hockessin Athletic Club. Our staff boasts decades of experience, and we’re ready to help you choose the perfect program to start slaying those fitness goals today.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your phone, open up the HAC App, and start booking some classes. Who knows—you may just meet your new accountabili-buddy there. There’s only one way to find out!
