7 Reasons To Love Group Fitness Classes

I know there are a lot of people out there who love to workout at home or don't have the means or time to get to a gym. I get that, I really do. I struggle too with fitting in my beloved BodyPump classes at GoodLife Fitness. I workout at home when I have to, but I definitely don't enjoy it nearly as much as getting out to the gym.

I rarely never go to the gym to use the cardio machines or weight area. I used to, but my time is limited and right now, I prefer the atmosphere of a group fitness class. And while it can feel great to knock out a workout at home, especially early in the day, I love the feeling of walking out of a fitness class knowing I worked my butt off with no distractions (have you ever tried working out with a  toddler crawling all over you?!). It's "me" time. For that one hour, it's just me and my workout and nothing can interrupt that. No cell phone, no whiny toddler, no husband asking where the ketchup in the fridge is (same spot it always is!).

A gym with a great group fitness class schedule is a must, and I'm lucky my gym has one. I can't ever imagine not being a fan of group classes as there is so much I love about them.

7 REASONS TO LOVE GROUP FITNESS CLASSES

1. THE PUSH 

I push myself harder in a fitness class than I ever do at home. I know no one is paying attention to what I'm doing in a class, but the presence of others is enough to make me work my hardest and not give up. For example, I despise lunges. If they pop up in an at home workout, I immediately start to half-ass them. At the gym, I push myself to complete the lunge track no matter how much I want to walk out and take a "water break".

2. THEY'RE EFFICIENT

My time, (as is anyone's), is precious. I don't have 2 hours a day or at a time to spend at the gym anymore. Those days are long behind me, and to be honest, I have so many hobbies I enjoy partaking in, that I don't want to spend hours at the gym if I don't have to. Group fitness classes allow me to knock out a killer workout in a set amount of time. Other than driving time, I know exactly how long my workout is going to take. Obviously not every fitness class is created equal, but if you find the one's you love, than you learn to know what intensity level to expect.

3. THE UNEXPECTED

I like not knowing what to expect when I show up for a fitness class. Yes, the class is predictable in the sense of style of workout and sometimes the sequence of exercises, but prior to walking into the class, I have no idea which music will be playing or which releases the instructor will be incorporating. I like being surprised so that I don't mentally talk myself out of the exercise.

4. THE CAMARADERIE

Even if I don't know anyone in the class, I love knowing that we are all there to work on ourselves. We've all committed to showing up, setting up for the class, and getting our sweat on. We may be all different shapes and sizes, age and gender, but we have one thing in common: we're there to change our selves. When eye contact is made, smiles are exchanged, and I know I'm not in this fitness journey alone.

5. THE SILENT COMPETITION

This relates to #1. I'm not going to give up if so and so next to me can keep going. I'm not going to walk out of a class half way through because I'm tired or don't particularly like a certain exercise.

6. YOU'RE TOLD WHAT TO DO

Sometimes I can't decide what workout I want to do at home. Do I feel like running?, do I want to do a workout DVD?, or do I want to make up my own workout? Sometimes it's nice to just be told what to do! No thinking, just doing.

7. THE INSTRUCTOR

The instructor of a group fitness class can really make or break the experience, but I have to say, all of the instructors I've encountered at my gym, GoodLife Fitness, have been awesome. They are upbeat, they know their stuff, and they motivate me to work hard for that hour. I appreciate when they engage a class and make the experience, and the time spent to get to the gym and workout, worthwhile.


Do you love group fitness classes?

Do you prefer to workout at a gym or at home?

Favourite group fitness class? Right now, mine are BodyPump and BodyFlow, but RPM (spin) is a good one too!


*Linking up with Kris from Canadian Girl Runs for Fitness Friday!

*Linking up with Jill for Living a Life of Fitness, Health & Happiness!

*This post was written as part of the GoodLife Fitness Blogger Ambassador program, however all opinions expressed are my own.