7 Major Factors to Consider Before Joining a Group Fitness Class

If you ask most people, they probably have something about their body, health, or fitness that they’d like to change. 

Maybe you’re trying to tighten up for beach season or have 40 pounds you’d like to use. Or perhaps you’re focusing on building muscle, making your heart healthy, and fighting off diseases like diabetes. 

A group fitness class is one of the best ways to take your health to the next level because you’re leaning on the support of others. 

We’re happy to let you know what you should look for when joining a class. Consider these tips when looking for the best group fitness situation.

1. Know Your Personal Goals

Before even looking into group fitness classes, make sure that you know your personal health and fitness goals. It’s important to get clarity on your goals so that you know what to look for in any group. 

Write down how much weight you’d like to lose, or any other goal you’d like to achieve. This also includes mental health benefits, since people that exercise regularly are also better able to deal with their depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Consider your deficiencies and how a fitness group can help with them. People join fitness groups because they:

• Help people push past their mental and physical limits
• Provide support and motivation
• Create accountability so that you stick to your workouts
• Teach you more about exercise and fitness
• Make fitness a social activity

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’ll help you find what you need in a fitness group.  

2. Audit a Class to Get a Feel for It

Try out a class so that you can get a feel for how your life will change when adding group fitness training. When you try out a fitness class, you’ll learn more about the personality and energy of the group. 

Testing out the class will also let you know how the group fits in with your goals and your personal fitness level. This is a group that you’ll be committing to every week, so make sure that it fits your sensibilities and helps push you toward your goals. 

3. Make Sure Everyone Is Positive and Wants Change

Prioritize fitness groups that are positive and motivating. You only get the benefits of group training when everyone has a growth mentality. 

When you audit the class, pay attention to how they communicate with each other and push each other toward goals. There’ll be plenty of situations where a group member might begin to falter as they reach their limits. You’ll want to join a fitness group that knows how to motivate while still having compassion. 

Stay away from groups that only serve as meetup sessions. Several people join groups that end up becoming time waste and chit-chat, rather than focusing and pushing past goals. 

Consider the mentality of the group before you choose, since this is the most important attribute that the group needs to have. 

4. Talk to a Few of the Group Members

Get a feel for your gym group to learn what made them join and what they’ve gotten out of it. Once you start hearing testimonials from people who have been able to lose weight and achieve their goals, you’ll feel that you’re right at home with the group. 

The best groups turn into friendships and relationships that people share outside of fitness. Look for groups that have a natural sense of camaraderie and belonging. 

5. Choose a Group That Pushes Limits

Complacency kills your ability to get results with your workout program. Because of this, you need to get around a group that is never satisfied with progress. 

There are always new health and fitness goals to set once you push past your threshold. Fitness is a lifelong pursuit and journey, and the more you engage in it, the healthier you’ll be as a whole. 

Find out how long the group has been around, and what changes they’ve made throughout the years. 

Consider whether the group has a personal trainer that leads sessions. Having an expert or two in the mix guarantees that everyone will keep benefiting from the knowledge and won’t get stuck in plateaus. 

6. Consider the Nature of the Exercise

You have to find a group that aligns with the type of exercise you prefer. There are all kinds of fitness groups that you can join, including groups that focus on:

• Weight training and bodybuilding
• Running, jogging, and training for races
• Group yoga and pilates sessions
• Fitness dance classes
• Aerobics sessions
• CrossFit and other organized workouts
• High-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises

Choose a group that is dedicated to whichever discipline you’d prefer so that you have something to learn and work toward. 

7. Get Ready to Be Accountable 

Never lose sight of the fact that the hard work involved is all up to you. Start thinking about what you can give to the group, rather than just what you will get from it. 

The best thing you can do is become an asset to people who are already on their path to improvement. This will help you also get the most from it, and will take the energy and commitment of the group to the next level. 

Don’t take joining this group lightly. Make sure that you’re committed to becoming an active and consistent contributor so that you don’t let your future teammates down. 

Take Group Fitness by the Horns

Group fitness can be the secret weapon that you need to achieve your health and wellness goals. It’s great for results and also gives you a social outlet that can make your life better.

No matter what group you join, make sure that you find a gym that has the best equipment, facilities, instructors, and any other resources that you need.

Fitness CF is passionate about health and fitness and would love to help you achieve your goals. Snag a free pass to try out our gym today, and contact us online if you have any questions.