So, you’ve decided you want to get fit but you’re not sure where to start.
There are many options for exercise, but two of the most popular are group fitness classes and gym workouts.
This blog examines the unique advantages of both to help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and preferences.
I’ll also look at a third option which may offer the best of both worlds.
FITNESS CLASSES
There is a broad range of fitness classes available which provides enough variety to appeal to most people.
It’s important to understand that not all fitness classes are created equal and it’s worth spending time finding out how each class type fits your particular needs.
For example, a Circuit class aims to develop muscular endurance; Indoor Cycling will predominantly improve cardiovascular endurance; and Yoga focuses on flexibility, balance, and posture.
You need to choose wisely based on what you want to achieve, or perhaps attend a number of different classes which develop the full spectrum of fitness qualities.
Follow The Leader
Fitness classes offer a guided experience, with an instructor providing cues for timing, technique, and intensity.
Some classes have complex routines, and having someone to mirror as you learn sequences and exercise technique is helpful, especially for beginners.
Due to the large number of participants in most classes, guidance and instruction tends to be fairly generic in nature, with little opportunity for individual correction.
A good instructor will be able to adapt the class to some extent for those who are unable to follow the standard workout.
However, if you have anything more than a minor mobility issue, it may be necessary to find a class which caters specifically to your needs.
The Fun Factor
Classes are typically done to music, and exercising to music can be fun, even for those who don’t hear the beat and are going one way while everyone else is going the other!
There’s also a great sense of community when a group of people exercise together. With the right group, it’s a fun environment which encourages participants to keep showing up week after week.
Are Fitness Classes for Men or Women?
Most classes tend to be female-dominated, and many women feel more at home than they would in a gym which is often perceived as a more male-dominated and intimidating environment.
Men can feel similarly uncomfortable in classes where they are the only male there, and some instructors now offer classes which are for men or women only.
Online Fitness Classes
Other recent trends are online classes which are delivered using video conferencing software, and on-demand classes, where recordings of classes are made available through membership platforms.
Online classes open up the possibility of taking part in fitness classes which are not available in your local area and working with instructors you particularly like.
They are also suitable for people who may be unable to leave the house at particular times, for example mums who have children at home; people with transport issues; and others who feel uncomfortable in large groups.
On-demand services provide the option to exercise at a time to suit you and to repeat your favourite classes several times per week.
THE GYM
Structured Exercise
Gyms provide a structured environment with spaces for different types of exercise such as weight training, aerobic exercise, and stretching.
There is a broad range of equipment, including free weights, fixed resistance machines, and cardio equipment such as treadmills, bikes and rowers.
This allows you to customise your workout routine according to your fitness goals and preferences.
Creating a training programme which maintains or improves muscular balance is much easier in the gym than in a fitness class because of the vast range of exercises which can be performed.
If you already have issues caused by an imbalance somewhere in the body, it is easy to construct training programmes which develop weak areas, improve posture, and rehabilitate injuries.
There are endless possibilities for constructing workouts and training programmes by manipulating variables such as exercise selection, sets and repetitions, how often you train, and which muscles you train each day.
With a little imagination, you should never get bored in the gym!
The Gym Environment
Gyms have a different energy to fitness classes, but the more relaxed atmosphere is preferable for many people.
Everyone is striving to achieve their own particular goal and the gym can still be a motivating environment in its own way.
Training in the same space as others who are a little further along the fitness path can provide motivation and belief that achieving your goals is possible.
Training vs Exercise
It’s worth looking at the difference between “training” and “exercise” when considering the relative merits of fitness classes and the gym.
Exercise is physical activity done for the effect it gives you that day, such as improved mood and energy levels.
Training is done with a goal in mind, for example getting stronger, running a 10k, or building muscle, and involves following a programme which is specific to the outcome you want to achieve.
Getting Stronger
Gyms provide the ideal environment to work towards many fitness goals. In some cases, they are the only viable option.
For example, while there are many ways to improve aerobic fitness, there is one thing you can’t do effectively anywhere else, and that’s strength training.
To get stronger, you have to lift progressively heavier weights.
A well-equipped gym allows you to make incremental changes over weeks and months, something you can’t do with other forms of exercise. If you’re more interested in aesthetics, effective weight training is by far the best way to build muscle and change the shape of your body.
It’s not just muscles which get stronger. Your bones get stronger too, and this is incredibly important as we age, especially for women.
Strength training is the best way to achieve increases in bone density, and the gym allows you to perform a broad range of weighted exercises to strengthen the whole skeletal system.
Sports Conditioning
Strength and Conditioning is an essential part of modern sport.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional sportsperson or a weekend warrior, you’ll benefit from the development of physical qualities such as strength, power, and endurance which a properly-designed training programme can provide.
For the amateur sportsperson, the biggest benefit is perhaps the reduction in injuries which come from being stronger, more mobile, and addressing imbalances in musculature which can often be created or exacerbated by your sport.
Open All Hours
Many gyms now offer 24-hour access which means you can exercise at almost any time of the day or night to suit your schedule. Whether you’re a lark or a night owl, a shift-worker or a busy parent, you have the flexibility to train when you want.
SMALL GROUP FITNESS CLASSES
We offer another option at Putton Mill Fitness Centre which may provide the best of both worlds: Small Group Fitness Classes.
What are Small Group Fitness Classes?
Small Group Fitness Classes provide a structured and personalised approach to fitness.
Classes are restricted to a maximum of four members, and the training programme is adapted to suit each individual.
Members take part in classes two or three times per week, but the service takes a more holistic approach, with six days of workouts programmed into a coaching app.
Members have access to a choice of additional workouts which address all areas of fitness and which can be completed in the gym or at home.
The Benefits of Coaching
A coach working closely with a group of four members can provide far more individual instruction than is possible in a large group fitness class.
An experienced coach can help you develop excellent exercise technique, as well as providing guidance on weight selection and alternative exercises to work around injuries or other limitations.
The net result is a safer, more effective workout than would be possible in large fitness classes or when training on your own. Ultimately, this leads to better and faster results when compared to the other options.
Social Connection
We get great results when we train consistently for many years and activity becomes integrated into our lives.
People who train with others stick to exercise much longer than those who don’t, and the social aspect of training as part of a group is a major factor when looking at adherence to exercise programmes.
Members often develop friendships and a sense of community, something which is hard to get when training alone in a gym, and this adds another layer of support and accountability as they work together in pursuit of their health and fitness goals.
Better Results
Small Group Fitness Classes combine the benefits of fitness classes and gym workouts.
You get the mood-enhancing effects of exercise and a sense of achievement after each session, while following a high-quality training programme designed to produce long-term benefits in health and fitness.
You are guided by an experienced coach while working alongside a small group of like-minded individuals who help keep you focused on your fitness journey.
CHOOSING YOUR FITNESS PATH
Whether you’re drawn to the lively atmosphere of fitness classes, the structured environment of the gym, or the personalised approach of Small Group Fitness Classes, the key is to find what works best for you.
Exercise should be enjoyable, sustainable, and tailored to your goals. It may even involve a mix of all three options.
For example, two Small Group Fitness Classes per week combined with two or three sessions of your choice of aerobic exercise and some short on-demand Yoga or mobility sessions would form a very complete fitness programme.
If you’d like to find out more about Small Group Fitness Classes at Putton Mill, you can book a Strategy Call where we discuss your specific requirements, address any questions, and help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
