Group Fitness May Be Habit-Forming
FIT4MOM DC
Mounting research in psychology and kinesiology indicates that group fitness classes can be more effective than a solo sweat session. Writing for the BBC's magazine Science Focus Ian Taylor explores how.
1. Greater motivation
According to Taylor "studies have found that group exercise can be motivating in a way that solo workouts aren’t". Specifically, he points to the work of Dr Alex J Benson a psychologist and kinesiologist, from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Benson tells Taylor that “Group exercise can be an effective lever to help motivate, sustain and promote enjoyable physical activity.”
2. Increased duration and intensity
The Kholer Effect is the psychological phenomenon that describes less capable members of a group trying harder to keep up with more capable members than they would on their own. This may explain why researcher Brandon Irwin at Kansas State University found that women riding stationary bikes saw an increase of as much as 200% in duration and intensity when they worked out with a teammate they perceived as better. Those gains over solo workouts were evident - though not as great - when they were riding along with a virtual teammate as well.
3. Reduced perceived effort
A truth every runner seems to know: it just feels easier to run with a group. Dr. Benson's research backs this up and Ryan Warrenburg from ZAP Endurance explains it this way:
4. Group fitness may be habit-forming
No research is required to explain that people are more likely to do something they find enjoyable and effective, but it does exist (one example). As Taylor points out, "when people commit to weight loss programmes with friends, they are more likely to stick to them than when they try to shift weight by themselves."
The Take Home Message
FIT4MOM has always known that there is something very special about moms coming together to find strength in motherhood. We love to hear all of this research backing us up. If you're looking to make your workout more fun, easier and more effective, join us for a habit-forming group fitness class!