Group Exercise this New Year

A great way to get in shape this New Year is to exercise in a group! Group exercise is great for exercise variety, consistency, motivation, accountability and fun! It allows you to not worry about what exercises you have to do. A group exercise instructor takes care of that for you. You can just show up to class, get motivated, have fun and get into great shape!

With some planning, you can arrange your entire exercise schedule around group exercise. Focus on the exercise component that you want to address: strength training, cardiovascular exercise or flexibility, and then find the appropriate group exercise class that will take care of this.

Example: Let's say your goal is to lose 10lbs and "tone up". An exercise plan that encompasses cardiovascular exercise 5-6 days/week along with 2-3 strength training sessions and 1-2 flexbility sessions may be an appropriate plan to follow. To utilize Group Exercise for all of this look for the following:

For Cardio: Step classes, Dance Classes, Spinning, boxing (including taeboxing and kickboxing), anything with the word "aerobic" in it. If you aren't sure, just ask the instructor.

For Strength Training: Lower or uppper body classes, general strength training. Look for words like "strength" or "anaerobic". Again, ask the instructor if it is focused on strength training or cardio primarily.

For Flexibility: Yoga, Pilates or even most martial arts could work well.

Look to take one cardio class each weekday and one strength training class every other day while mixing a stretching class in there as well.

Personally speaking, I love group exercise classes. I get highly motivated when I work out in a group. I push myself harder and achieve much more than when I am by myself. If you are a member of The Works, and you are looking for a great workout, any of the classes taught by Amy A. are the best! I would recommend checking out any of the classes that she teaches.
Also, I will be starting my own "boot camp" class this January. Come check it out: Fridays at 4:30pm at The Works!

Decide this year to make your goals count! Get in shape with a group!

"Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties." Mark 6:39-40 (NIV)