Working out has many benefits, both for our minds and bodies. It doesn’t only help to keep you fit, but it also helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle and can improve mental health too. But let’s face it, keeping up with an exercise regime in the long term, can be hard work, not to mention boring at times. If you’re at the point where you’re having to drag yourself to the gym, you’re in need of some motivation. Group workouts could be just the thing.
Group workouts can bring a real boost to your motivation levels and make all the difference when you’re wavering with your workouts.
Working out with a group of others is more fun, and it fuels your determination to stick at it to the end. In a bid to switch up your routine and keep your fitness focus, we have listed seven group workout routines in this guide that are bound to get you back on track.
CYCLING
Cycling is a great, energising fun workout when done with a group of other people and it produces many health benefits all at once. Although cycling is an exercise known to many as a way of strengthening the legs, it’s health benefits stretch far beyond just the legs. Cycling is also a great form of aerobic exercise. Intense and continuous cycling can significantly raise your heart rate and get blood pumping around your body.
It also greatly increases the flexibility of your joints and ligaments. If you want a whole body workout that leaves you feeling like you really have achieved a calorie burn, then you need to try out cycling. Cycling also provides an effective route to strengthening your core, and firming up any wobbly areas. Your arms are also getting a workout during the entire session. It’s a workout that makes you work but when you workout as part of a group, the push of others will keep you motivated.
YOGA
Yoga is one of the oldest forms of exercise available. Although many have taken time to master moves at home alone, it’s no substitute for the expert tuition of a qualified yoga teacher, and the motivation and social benefits that can be gained from practising the ancient art of yoga as part of a group.
Yoga helps you stretch your joints and muscles which can give you greater flexibility and relief from all manner of aches and pains. A good yoga workout awakens your whole body and helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle if done regularly. Not only does it contribute to improving your physical health, but it also benefits your mental health too. It keeps your mind and body in sync. And you don’t even need to be a gym member to take part in a yoga class. Any yoga group, whether it’s in a church or village hall, or someone’s house can give you the same benefits.
BOXING
If you are looking for something a little bit more intense and more challenging, give boxing a try. Boxing is another great whole body workout. The beauty of boxing is that you don’t have to do it alone. You can train with a group and it becomes a social activity too.
As an added advantage, you get to improve your confidence, your resilience, your coordination, and build your strength, amongst other things. It’s a total body workout that goes beyond the stunts, and the heavy blows you see on TV.
HIKING
As gentle as it might seem, hiking is one of the most effective workouts you can do. The longer the distance, and the steeper the climb, the better. With hiking, you can significantly raise your heart rate, have a good aerobic workout and burn lots of calories. Hiking is more enjoyable when you walk socially with a group of people; you can talk as you walk. You can explore different areas of the country, take in some awe-inspiring scenery, increasing your distances over time and beat the blues too as walking is brilliant for mental health.
ENDURANCE OBSTACLE WORKOUT
The endurance obstacle workout is a great way to connect with your inner playful self and get fit at the same time. What makes this so much fun is that you get to do it with a group of like-minded people. The exercise involves overcoming a series of obstacles and requires both your body and mind to be engaged. The results of this excellent cardiovascular workout are a raised heart rate, burned calories, improved mental health, improved endurance, and a smile on the faces of all those in your team.
INDOOR ROWING
Rowing is another excellent way to improve your health with a group of people in a social environment. It serves as a great way to build strength in your upper and lower body, and is more effective than bench presses or using dumbbells in isolation. It is not only focused on your arm and leg muscles though. Rowing improves the condition of your entire body. Having a partner beside you might influence the number of rounds you go per session, so it’s a good one to buddy up for.
SELF DEFENSE
With self-defence classes, you are bound to break a sweat. You need to learn how to move, and learn when to dodge a punch, as well as good positioning. All of these help you with keeping your mind alert and helping keep your joints and tissues flexible. The reason why this is a recommended group workout is that the learning is in two directions. You can learn from both the instructor and from other students. It’s a great workout for mental health too.
These are some of the best group workouts you can try to help you improve both your mental and physical health. The categories of exercise in this guide go from simple to intense. It all depends on what you feel you can take. So if you want to be healthy, and need some motivation to do so, you should try working out in a group.
