If you’re new to exercise or feeling out of shape, the thought of joining an exercise class can be daunting and intimidating. Throw in anxiety or depression on top of that and engaging in a group fitness class may sound like a scary and even impossible feat. But, what if group fitness is just the thing you need to gain confidence, manage your anxiety, or overcome your depression? While traditionally we think of therapy as the key to healing from mental illness, research shows that exercise can play a major role in positive treatment outcomes. The research is even more clear that group fitness has an array of additional benefits compared with exercising solo. Still feeling skeptical? Keep reading to learn more about the research backed benefits of group fitness.
A 2021 study by the Iowa State Department of Kinestology found that in addition to the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, group fitness classes offer some extraordinary benefits that solo exercise can’t offer. One of the benefits found in their study was the impact that a group setting had on participants' overall perceptions of exercise. The psychological phenomenon known as groupthink can be a major benefit to exercising in a group if you’ve struggled to see exercise as a positive in the past. Surrounding yourself with others who are engaged positively in exercise can lead you to experience exercise as more positive, doable, and enjoyable. These positive feelings associated with exercise made it more likely for participants to stick with it, and view it as a fun, social activity.
Another benefit of group fitness is increased confidence. Phillips and Meyer (2021) found that observing others engaging in exercise can build a sense of self-efficacy and confidence in one's own abilities. Why is this? When we belong to a group, we tend to model the behaviors of others in the group. Therefore by seeing others engaged in fitness and breaking a sweat, we are likely to push ourselves to do the same. This sense of oneness and connection with our group members can also lead us to be more committed and accountable, as we are likely to not want to cause disruptions to the group. So basically, that peer pressure that got us into trouble when we were teenagers, is actually going to help us be successful when it comes to group fitness!
Now maybe you’ve gotten this far and are thinking: this all sounds great, but my depression or anxiety is just too debilitating, and a group fitness class couldn’t possibly work for me. While taking the leap into group fitness can be a big step, it can also have a big impact. Exercise has been scientifically proven to lift mood, as well as regulate the nervous system, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Exercise helps to build attunement to our body and gain a sense of bodily autonomy, which can help in learning necessary skills for managing anxiety. According to Allie Townsend, from the Baylor College of Medicine, behavioral activation is an effective treatment for depression, which includes both activities of mastery and pleasure. Her research found that participating in a fitness class can act as both an activity of mastery and pleasure. Gaining new skills and learning new exercise techniques serves as an activity of mastery, while engaging in the social connection of a group and experiencing the endorphin release from the exercise serves as an activity of pleasure. She also notes that working with a fitness instructor can take off some of the pressure, as you don’t need to know what to do other than show up.
If the research hasn’t convinced you yet, see for yourself the benefits that group fitness can have for you! At Mind and Body Therapeutic Connections, we believe in the benefits of group fitness. Unlike a traditional gym or studio, we offer a variety of small group fitness classes that are designed for all abilities and can be tailored to meet you wherever you are at on your fitness journey. As always we are here to support you on your wellness journey, and are happy to provide you with the tools that we know can make a difference.
