Strength in Numbers

Source: www.xperiencefitnessblog.com

You have heard the saying “strength in numbers” before, so can the more people you workout with actually increase your strength? The answer is hard to determine because there are many factors that go into having a successful workout and they are different for everyone. People workout for both their physical and mental health. This post will go into the depths of group versus solo workouts. 

Men and Women’s Health writer, Markham Heid, wrote the article Should You Work Out Alone or With a Group? in 2015 for the Fitness section of Shape Magazine, which entails articles about diet, fitness and beauty. The overall argument is that group workouts are more effective because you are motivated by those around you, this is especially true for outgoing people who want to build their energy. But on the contrary, working out alone is also very beneficial because it yields mental benefits that do not happen in a group workout.

We were all taught in required P.E classes that the “goal is to maximize both the psychological and physical benefits of exercise” when working out. But as we get older, it becomes harder to stay motivated to workout and more expensive since high school gym is the last time you will be expected to workout due to state laws. That is why having a likeness towards working out whether it be alone or with a group must be developed so that you can continue working out. Also, a good support group (friends, classes, your own motivation) can help too.

Group workouts, for many people have proved to be a successful way to staying motivated, “95% of those who started a weight-loss program with friends completed the program, compared to a 76% completion rate for those who tackled the program alone.” Individuals within a group of friends who are all working towards the same fitness goals will stay motivated to keep up with the group. I can relate to this because when I go to a yoga sculpt class (intermediate yoga with weights) with one of well-experienced friends I use heavier weights than what I would train with alone. In a class setting “you tend to gravitate toward the exercise intensity of those around you,” so in my experience my friend makes me work harder in class because I want to keep up with her level.

Although I am a strong advocate for group workouts and fitness classes, other people may feel anxiety from them.Depending on how trained you are can affect your likeness to working out in a group setting. If you are more introverted and untrained, then working out in a group may make you feel more self conscious especially in a yoga studio with mirrored walls allowing everyone to see you. That is why group workouts are most effective for outgoing people that like being challenged by others while working out. Another factor that goes into your preference of working out alone or in a group is the amount of time in your day that you have to workout.

People with more time to workout usually workout in groups, and people who workout only if they have time after their work will often work out alone. If you are working out in the morning to energize yourself for the day, then working out in a group will help build that energy, but if you have limited time to work out at the end of a long day, then working out alone will help you relax and clear your mind.

Whether you regularly workout alone or with a class or a group of friends, it is important to understand the mental health benefits that come from solo workouts. “When you exercise alone, your brain has time to think through problems and reflect on issues.”  This is not to say that group workouts are bad for your mental health, but they do not allow for that prolonged thinking time that working out alone yields. When deciding to workout with friends or alone, only you know what works best for you! You need to know your personality type, your skill level, the amount of time you have to workout for the day, and your workout goals for the day in order to choose if working out solo or in a group will be the most effective for you.

Future Research:

• What are advantages to working out? What are disadvantages?
• What is considered an average workout?