Group Exercise Classes - Do you take them and why?! Just gathering opinions and misconceptions
Options
MikeNASMGFI
Posts: 21 Member
Do you take them and why?! Just gathering opinions and misconceptions being an instructor myself. I am always intrigued by the answer.
1
Replies
-
I've done a few. Don't dislike them, but prefer to workout on my own - If I'm on my own I can always substitute an exercise I hate doing for another exercise that will work the same muscle. I'd feel awkward (and no idea if it would be appropriate) telling the instructor in front of everyone else that I don't want to do a certain exercise.
This might be a misconception I have, but I also find them to have more cardio than someone who is focusing on strength and muscle building would want.
I'd say the main reason people do group exercise classes is because they get a bit of personal training without having to pay the prices of one-on-one personal training.
3 -
I did Orange Theory for about 1.5 years and loved certain aspects of the group fitness concept. The thing I liked the most was the workouts are figured out for me, so I don’t have to figure out what I’m doing day to day. I walk through the door and I’m instructed on what to do, and it’s done. Also, for some reason I seemed to push myself just a little bit harder in group. This could be because of my competitive nature. What I hated the most was partner workouts.6
-
I go to the gym to do specific lifts, and then I leave. I worked with a physical therapist to come up with a routine that addresses my weaknesses, and improves my performance in my outdoor sports.2
-
I go to spin classes during the winter.
They can be motivating and I can get a good workout.
There's a bit of a social aspect and maybe a hint of "peer pressure" to push me harder than I might do on my own.
But ... the instructor has to be really good and should cycle outside as well.
I've encountered a few who have never been outside on a bicycle and make some pretty ridiculous suggestions.4 -
I love them when the instructor is knowledgeable. I quit LA fitness because the instructors tried to convince me to do things that were not inline with my back injury.3
-
The only group exercise classes that I've done have been sport specific (so spinning for cyclists) or as part of a team (winter indoor rowing workouts at the moment). I like both of those situations because of how specific they are. I also like(d) that both are longitudinally planned. That is to say, there is an X week/month plan that both the spin class and my rowing workouts followed as to better focus our training, make sure we're not overtraining, etc. I wouldn't assume that I'd be able to really find that at your average gym class because of the lack of specificity and because I'm assuming that most people aren't working towards similar performance based goals.
Also all of the instructors I've had have been trained rowing or cycling coaches. As in trained and certified by the national governing bodies for those sports. I suppose it seems like a high bar, but it matters a lot to me because a. if I'm paying for a service and I'm putting my all into the workouts, I want them to be logical and well thought out, and b. orthopedically I am very prone to injury (less so now than when I was doing the spin classes). I wouldn't call myself a serious athlete (others might have differing opinions and they might be right), but that sort of thing is important to me.
I definitely push myself harder working out with people than I would on my own. It's not typically an issue of competitiveness, so much as it's being in a room where everyone is pushing themselves during the same workout. That and being in a room where I'm being pushed by the instructor/coach. I honestly have similar feelings when I'm doing group workouts on Zwift, despite people being all over the world.1 -
I LOVE classes for lots of reasons.
-scheduling, I have to be there at a certain time for a certain length of time. I can’t procrastinate, I can’t stop early and say “good enough”
- It’s a little bit social but during the class it’s just me in my zone.
- I try new things and push myself, I am surprised constantly by the new things my body can do.
- I am so inspired by the people around me, from the “kittens who keep it tight” to the 72 year old who schools us all in step class to the newbies (I’m one of those) who show up and give it all they have.
I got my first gym membership in October at the age of 41 and I am definitely a group class person. I do step, general aerobics, kickboxing, yoga and strength training in group classes every week. I started with just one class and just kept adding on until I got 1-2 per day that I love. I did have some misses, I don’t really like Zumba and there is one kickboxing instructor who does too many jumping jacks for my liking.
So, yes group classes are totally awesome!9 -
I enjoy Group Exercise classes; but in my experience my level of enjoyment is based on the Instructor. Usually the best Instructors have a “following”; their classes are always full. A good class usually has good music, an Instructor with great cueing abilities and a good personality✨4
-
I find it both motivating to be able to compare my fitness level to others and discouraging because I can get in my head! I agree with another poster about the instruction. That can make or break the experience!3
-
I take both Bodypump and Bodycombat and I love them. I love them because of the instructors and the other people in the class. It is always encouraging when the instructor knows your name and calls you out (in a good way!) in class because it makes me feel both proud and accountable and makes me dig a little deeper.4
-
I used to and loved them. I like the comraderie you get working out with others. Often the same people take the classes so you meet people. I'm a very social person so I enjoy that aspect. I guess instill do enjoy these. I figure skate and always try to attend the group classes. I enjoy group settings2
-
Don't attend them... they look fun though.1
-
What types of classes do you teach?2
-
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.8 -
My schedule is so jam packed that I just don’t choose to stress myself out adding another thing. I choose to do home workouts instead so that I can workout while dinner is in the oven or while the kids are doing schoolwork. Sometimes early in the morning. Other times late at night. I used to do classes when I was single and had no kids. I enjoyed them both for the social aspect and the workout. But as my lifestyle changed they were no longer a good fit for me.2
-
This makes perfect sense. It can be so hard to fit it in but you make it work for you. Awesome job and at home workouts are no joke!1
-
I do a swim training session, which is harder training than I'd push myself to do. I also do a body combat class. Both instructors know about a shoulder problem and that I therefore can't do certain things.2
-
MikeNASMGFI wrote: »Do you take them and why?! Just gathering opinions and misconceptions being an instructor myself. I am always intrigued by the answer.
So what misconceptions have you unearthed so far?6 -
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.1 -
I have 2 that I love. The first is "yogaflex" and the instructor is great. It's very calming and wonderful for limbering up and back problems. I told my husband to try it and he goes to every one too. Sometimes we've had a substitute instructor and I hated the class--the right instructor is key.
The other class is "acquagym" in the pool. I've been doing this for 22 yrs. It's great for my OA and I go in the deep end and move fast. There again, the instructor makes or breaks the class, but I've been there so long I just speed up the moves if I think she's going too slow.1
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 389 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 920 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions