Fitness Junkies: 3 Ways to Enhance Your Group Fitness Journey

Group fitness classes have become the new, fun way to workout. They are motivating, competitive, and lead to both, collective and personal success. Although some fitness junkies enjoy sweating on their own, the group fitness trend is in full-force with studios, boutiques, and group training sessions on the rise. As a fitness lover, learning about new innovations in the health and wellness world can help enhance your own fitness journey. 

Christine Van Dusen's article, The Cult Appeal of SoulCycle, discusses one of the leaders in the group fitness industry today: SoulCycle. SoulCycle is a group cycling class, lead by an instructor, that is meant to be a tribal, primal, and fun way to get a good workout in. They have gained a massive and loyal following, helping to explain Van Dusen's article title. 

 Image from SoulCycle located on Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Not interested in cycling? Check out this article from Brandi Kupchella, What's the Theory Behind Orangetheory Fitness?. Orangetheory Fitness, another leader in the group fitness industry, is an instructor-guided class that takes its participants through different cardio and weightlifting circuits, measuring their heart rates during their workout in order to track short-term performance, and eventually, long-term growth. 

Action Recommendations 

• 1. Trials Maximize Experiences – Most studios and boutiques offers free trials or a free-first class, so maximize your fitness experiences and use these to your advantage; you never know what new exercises and classes you might like until you try them!

• 2.  Your Body-Type Rules – Find a group training class that incorporates exercises YOU enjoy doing for YOUR body type that makes YOU feel good. 

• 3. Teams Create Success – Working out with others, whether they are your best friends or strangers, creates an opportunity for support and competition – use these to your advantage; they are great motivators for personal success.

Consider these recommendations when you're thinking about starting your group fitness journey and maybe even try out a new class - perhaps at SoulCycle or Orangetheory Fitness!

Liza Elder

I am pursuing a Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing and Communications and am a fifth-year student-athlete on the Women's Lacrosse team at Northwestern University. I have a passion for Health and Fitness, and am always on the hunt for new trends that help forge a better lifestyle. Connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter.