Group Exercise Classes - Do you take them and why?! Just gathering opinions and misconceptions

AliNouveau

jemhh wrote: »

No, I don't attend group classes. I have a couple of times in the past, just to try them, but I didn't find them enjoyable. There are a couple of reasons for that.

First, my exercise time is my "me time", my time to be by myself. Everybody needs me time now and then but I'd say (and my family would like agree) that I need more of it than the average bear. I'm fairly introverted and after interacting with people all day at work I need a bit of solitude.

Second, I have a lot of trouble learning physical things in a group environment. I'm not a natural at most athletic or dancing or other coordination-based movements. I've always found that I am still moving into a position while the class is several ahead of me. I tried a fairly basic yoga class (one that was supposed to promote relaxation) a few summers ago and even after several weeks nothing "clicked" with me. It caused more stress than it relieved so I quit.

Third, for the most part, the classes don't involve activities or skills that I want to do. That part is just a matter of personal preference.

I think the bolded is a good thing for the OP to listen to or for any instructors. Perhaps doing an into class where these are the movements you'll be doing or learning is a good thing. I can pick up choreography really easily, I've been doing it my entire life, but I've been to classes with friends and they struggle learning on the fly and get discouraged.

emmamcgarity

I would guess that part of the reason for your post is that you are looking for ways to expand your business. It’s smart to understand what needs aren’t being met. I do a lot of Leslie Sansone videos and find it interesting that her walk based classes were born because she noticed some in her classes had trouble keeping up with the dance like aerobic moves. I’d encourage you to think about the classes you currently offer. Do they reach a broad audience? HIIT and Spin classes are all I hear about in my area. If my schedule were more clear, I’d personally not be interested in starting a class like that. I’d feel self conscious unlesss I had already attended beginner focused classes with that instructor and felt comfortable stepping up my game. Even if that beginner class was matketed toward seniors. Who is your current audience? Who is missing from your current audience?

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

I love my SoulCycle (Spin) class. I could cycle on a bike at home- it would be a lot cheaper! - but there is something about being in a group working towards the same goal that makes you work harder. You look around and think “If you can do this, I can do this!”.

I think finding a class you enjoy really matters, doing something you don’t like is no fun, in a class or otherwise.

I also like to run. For me that is a solo activity, the me time is part of why I do it.

BethE238

I go in phases with them. I like them because they push me to workout harder, or teach me new things. In general, I prefer to workout by myself though, because it’s my only “me” time where I can watch or listen to whatever I want (music, tv, audiobooks) or just concentrate on myself and my thoughts. My main motivation for going to the gym every night is literally just so I can get alone time where I don’t have to talk to anyone or take care of anyone (I of course have other motivations, but that is my #1.)

JessAndreia

Tacklewasher wrote: »

I did 1. Was not what I thought I had signed up for. Was labelled beginner weight training, so I thought they were going through the basics of lifting, but it was a cardio weight lifting class. Hated it. Have not done a group class since but worked with a coach at the Y to learn some basic lifting instead.

I'd rather do my workout alone. Even my running is normally alone.

Yep. Similar experience. The ones I took at my gym were called full body strength (and they have one called cardio strength), so one would assume that one is a weight-lifting class. It was a combination of cardio, dumbbell work, and core work. Didn't dislike it, but not something I'd do regularly.
I'm a little curious to do the cardio strength one just to see what the difference would be, but my cardio isn't good so a bit apprehensive.

M0n1KCR

I go to Zumba and (sometimes) body combat classes. I like th fact that the schedule is set, I have to be there at a particular time, so I go (if I can go any time I want and work on my own, I never do...)
Also, the instructors are important. I usually go to the gym in the afternoon after work. The instructors are fun, inspiring and they really know what they (and you) are doing, explain new movements and correct you if you are doing something wrong. During the summer holidays, I went a pair of times in the morning, a nd found the instructor just terrible, all appearance and no substance... won't be coming back to her classes. If the gym decided to put this lady in charge of the afternoon classes, I'd change gyms. Of course, liking the activity is important but, for me, the instructor attitude makes the class a success or a failure.

earlnabby

I do but only in the pool so, unless you have lifeguard certification, I can't help with specifics but here are a couple of things that make a great instructor in general.

The music is more important than many think. Just putting on a bunch of songs that you like will not help. Put some thought into the playlist (warm up, work out, cool down) but also think of who your students are. Have a variety of playlists.

Have both verbal and visual cues and make sure all participants are getting them

Make every student feel like you are glad they are there. Learn names, don't always chit chat with the same ones, encourage and praise individuals, not just the group.

Gashliecrumb1

Group fitness has a few benefits for me. I draw energy from the people around me and push harder. I take inspiration from the older folks who are still at it.

I'm prone to boredom, so I've tried a lot over the years - cardio kickbox, step, yoga, and powerlift. Currently, spin and bootcamp are my regular classes. As others have said - the instructor is key!! Form is so important and not all the instructors provide enough guidance. I really appreciate the ones who develop new routines and music mixes. It keeps things fresh.

I'm very introverted but it isn't an issue. I attend the early classes before work. The crowd at the 5:30 and 6 am classes aren't there to socialize. They're a pretty focused, "knock it out" group so I haven't run into any gal pals who treat classes as social hour. My thought is you're not working hard enough if you can speak in full sentences.

Squish815

I only do one (Zumba) and have done for nearly 2 years now - it was one of the first things I tried when I started to exercise.

The only reason I've stuck with this is because the instructor is fantastic and the people that attend are great. If the class stopped for some reason I probably wouldn't start another - I'd just go the the gym for one extra day a week.

RunnerGirl238

Nope. I spend all day talking to people and listening to people ...I just want to be in my headspace and jam out to NOFX

kbmnurse1

I take a Cycle-Fit class 3x weekly. Love it.

AnnPT77

I've taken a lot of classes over the years. I'm a procrastinator, so "appointment exercise" can be a help. I've taken classes (or been in clubs) for martial arts, aerobic dance type things, weight training (actual free weight training, not the mixed workouts people mention above), yoga, pilates, rowing (boat and machine both), spin, and I don't know what-all.

I'm not as sensitive to playlists as people above have mentioned (variety is good, though), and tolerate a wide range of instructors as long as they don't actively tell people things that are dangerous or objectively wrong.

The classes that have gained a following, it's mostly about the instructor clicking with a group, and IME has to do with how friendly, encouraging, supportive, and knowledgeable that particular person is. That includes a bit of sensitivity to individuals, ideally, such as noticing that some people don't like attention being called to them in any way, or do/don't enjoy individual social conversation, for example. Some people like individual corrections (one on one, or even in front of the group), while others feel discouraged by individual corrections so "everyone should think about extending their arms fully, but not locking the elbows" to the class would be better than telling the one person who has the issue.

My coaching education also emphasized postive corrections, i.e. "do it this way" rather than negative "you should't be doing X", if at all possible. (Usually there's a way to put it in a "what one should do" phrasing.).

Personally, I prefer an instructor who has really good cueing, and uses multiple modes of instruction (if the activity is complex).

By good cueing, I mean not just clearly saying what to do when, but saying what's coming up. For example, in spin, it helps to know at the start that the instructor will call 3 adds of resistance during a song, which helps me know if I should add a little more or less than they call for, in order to get my personal best workout; or it helps to know at the start of a song that we'll add 10 rpm (or whatever) periodically to create intervals during a song, so I don't go all out rpm-wise before that at that resistance and feel frustrated.

By multiple modes of instruction for complex activities, I mean the ability to show the move (for visual learners), describe the move in words (for verbal learners), and say how the move feels (for people who are more kinesthetic), plus use analogies in a creative way, with multiple analogies for the same move in the toolkit. (As an example of the latter, for sitting up tall when rowing, one coach said to imagine wearing a beautiful pendant necklace, and you want to show it off; another suggested imagining a light on your chest that should create a beam of light down the river; another talked about elongating spine and keeping eyes on the horizon.) In some cases, the instruction mode could include literally touching the student (with their permission, of course!) and putting their body into the right position so they can feel it themselves.

It's also a great practice to set expectations, especially when there are new people. This applies to expectations for the new person (like "in your first spin classes, you don't have to follow all the detail, especially if you don't feel comfortable standing or adding resistance; just try to keep pedaling at a manageable pace if you can" or "it's normal to feel awkward in your first Zumba class or so, but everyone here felt that way when they started (rest of class laughs, nods, etc.)"). But it also applies to expectations for the class: If you're one of those instructors (or you know you have one of those classes, then "please don't have conversations during the workout" or whatever the ground rules might be.

Savagawea

Hi there! I actually take a few classes!

I lift on my own because I have specific goals and time requirements and don’t like distractions.

I also have been taking martial art classes for 12 years and recently joined a group HIIT class.

I like the group classes as it’s easy to walk away from finishing strong when you’re at home. At home, I could to easily be enabled to think.. well that’s enough, and throw in the towel.

I think being in a group makes me a little competitive too!

I want to keep going because I don’t want to be the only one in class that didn’t push my limits.

StargazerB

I'm much prefer to workout at home alone but I'm an introvert so that's likely why. Although, I don't mind yoga classes.

CookieJones2018

I teach group dance classes and the general consensus of why people seem to take them seems to be the support, the general feeling of accountability (when people miss classes, other people ask them if they're okay, where they've been, etc) and the energy boost they get from the community feel.

MikeNASMGFI

The biggest underlying factor I am seeing is that the instructor makes or breaks whether or not you come back. While they are not a personal trainer, they should be offering modifications given that the population is never on the exact same level fitness wise. My HIIT class had people from 21 to 66 yrs old in there yet they all keep coming back. If there’s room I workout with everyone and act as the visual key for everyone. I’ll throw in modifications for the heck of it and call it out if I scan the room and see someone having bad form or is struggling.

MikeNASMGFI

I’d say the number one misconception, aside from group classes are “not for me without trying one” is that you have to lift heavy to gain strength. Your muscles do not care how much you are lifting or how long you are in the gym, all they know is if are they exhausted or fatigued. I myself take other classes and have learned a ton from them, albeit my oerspective is a bit different. I look at how they queue the music, interact with participants, flow of the class in general, etc. I hate when people ask me “how much do you bench?” Dude I haven’t benched press regularly since college! What I do though is push my tempo harder, throw my bodyweight further, and every single time that translates to more power. From fundamental to explosive moves you need all of them!

MikeNASMGFI

The positives far outweigh the downside. I understand people can have schedules that simply do not allow to make those times. And kudos to all of you who still get something done.

CookieJones2018 wrote: »

I teach group dance classes and the general consensus of why people seem to take them seems to be the support, the general feeling of accountability (when people miss classes, other people ask them if they're okay, where they've been, etc) and the energy boost they get from the community feel.

I fully agree with @CookieJones2018 The community sense is amazing. This gets people to look at others and push one another positively. Look working out is not easy, but having fun while doing it? Sign me up!

Machka9

MikeNASMGFI wrote: »

I’d say the number one misconception, aside from group classes are “not for me without trying one” is that you have to lift heavy to gain strength. Your muscles do not care how much you are lifting or how long you are in the gym, all they know is if are they exhausted or fatigued. I myself take other classes and have learned a ton from them, albeit my oerspective is a bit different. I look at how they queue the music, interact with participants, flow of the class in general, etc. I hate when people ask me “how much do you bench?” Dude I haven’t benched press regularly since college! What I do though is push my tempo harder, throw my bodyweight further, and every single time that translates to more power. From fundamental to explosive moves you need all of them!

What does lifting heavy have to do with group classes?

At least ... the group classes I've done and seen have been spin classes, yoga, step, dance, and those I've seen that include weights have had pretty light weights.


Also, you've included a couple key phrases that would have me backing away from your classes:

"push my tempo harder" - yes, there is something to be said for a harder tempo at times. One of the reasons I take a spin class is for the intervals. But there's also something to be said for slowing things down, like in a yoga class or perhaps in a class where someone might be teaching proper form.

"throw my bodyweight further" - I don't know what that means. It's obviously some catch phrase. But what leaps to mind are the people in the gym who are trying to do bicep curls with a weight way above their level, and they're throwing their bodyweight into the lift which results in bad form and an exercise that is poorly done. The second thing that leaps to mind is when we accidentally drop something and have to throw ourselves at it to catch it before it hits the ground ... this results in a pulled muscle somewhere. Or maybe long jumping. But it doesn't have a particularly practical or positive connotation.

So before you throw the "misconception" ball into the court of those who may or may not take part in group classes, maybe have a look at what you're offering. Perhaps you have the misconception that participants are impressed when they hear phrases like "push my tempo harder' and "throw my bodyweight further" ... when they'd really rather hear something like, "in this class, we are going to be focusing on proper form at a level you can manage".


Just a few thoughts.

lorrpb

I think the #1 misconception of instructors is that it's easy for people to know how to modify exercises and to FEEL OK about doing so. Most classes I've been to are designed for the higher fitness levels in the class. Some modifications are offered, but not consistently and it can be a real struggle, mentally and physically, for those who cannot do the exercise as given, regardless of whether it's fitness level or physical limitations.

I don't know what this means, and it strikes me as condescending and/or disrespectful?
I’ll throw in modifications for the heck of it