“Teamwork makes the dream work”

Don’t let this overused collaboration saying deceive you, there’s science behind it. More importantly, social impact theory tells us it can be a key to a more successful workout! While it’s possible to achieve your long term fitness goals on your own, studies show that engaging in workouts with others can increase your level of exertion and ability to push yourself, making sure you are getting the most out of your physical activity.

According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Social Sciences, people tend to gravitate toward the exercise behaviors of those around them. This means those bootcamps and instructor led classes you’ve been taking part in are more likely to help you get the best out of yourself. Instructors are also trained to look for signs of body fatigue and help push your limits. It’s the same reason why so many people say the best shape of their lives was when they participating in sports teams, the exertion of those around us and a well-trained coach are a recipe for success.

There’s also an added benefit of gaining increased muscular endurance and strength. Group led work allows us to learn from those around us, helping you achieve greater flexibility and form during exercises. This in turn can lower your risk of injury and build core muscular strength to help you through your daily activity.

Just as important as all the health benefits, group workouts are a great social opportunity. We can connect with the people around us who have similar goals. They allow us to surround ourselves with those who will hold us accountable and at the same time build a community of support. Looping it back to what we know about social impact theory, seeing the person next to us giving their 100% gives us the motivation to do the same. When I see people leave class, one of my favorite parts are the reactions. At a moment you’d expect to see a wave of solemn faces, instead you see smiles. Together we can accomplish so much more, and at the end of the day it’s much better to know you have a team of others to high five and celebrate.