Posted on June 16, 2013 by Jenny Cromack

Be honest, when you hear the term “Aerobics” or “fitness class” do you think of the Eric Prydz video for Call On Me?

You’ll not be alone if you do…but sadly my friends, for the most part, the days of Lycra, Leotards and Leg Warmers are long gone. Old School Aerobics classes have largely been transformed into programmes such as those offered through the Les Mill’s and Fitness FX’s repertoires; or they have been infused with a combination of dance for a more “fun “style class such as Zumba® or Bokwa®. (There’s a further discussion to be had regarding Freestyle vs Pre-Choreographed classes, but that’s for a different blog…..)

Alongside the shift out of spandex and headbands into more of a Pre-Choreographed Fitness, came classes for everyone – men and women. The names of the exercise sessions have been changed, weights have been brought off the gym floor and into the studio and male instructors and presenters hold their own in this part of the fitness industry.  Obviously in the Eric Prydz video, the bloke was in the class to ogle the women – and who’s to say that that doesn’t still happen (and vice versa hey girls!); but it’s fair to say that from my experience, the majority of us –male and female – are starting to take Group Exercise more seriously.

And why not – Group Exercise has so much to offer! Every gym or studio is different in terms of the classes it offers; and the names of these classes will invariably be different from place to place. We have also seen a rise in those businesses which specialise in Boot Camps (both Outdoor and Indoor) or those which just offer a single type of class such as CrossFit. To be honest, it doesn’t matter what you call it, these are all essentially “systems of sustained exercises designed to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood and strengthen the heart and lungs”(thefreedictionary.com’s definition of aerobics)(1).

Ok ok, so we’re probably not thinking so technically when we are participating in a class, but there must be something about this “Group Exercise” which we enjoy, as class numbers are on the rise and the industry continues to throw new programmes at us.

So how do you decide if a Group Exercise Class is for you? Ask yourself:

• Do you get bored, continually work out the same way or run out of ideas training in the gym by yourself?
• Are you a social and/or competitive person?
• Do you like working as part of a team?
• Can you self-motivate yourself to work hard or do you prefer to be pushed?
• Do you like to train in silence or to music?

If your answers point to needing motivation and liking training with others (or competing against them), then Group Exercise is for you! There is honestly a class for everyone. It’s like having a large scale PT Session. The instructor is motivating and inspiring, they teach you what to do and reinforce technique, they push and challenge you, they will help you get results and they also try and make it fun! You work with others, they help to build your confidence, they’ll keep you going, and they’ll get you addicted. So what are you waiting for!!

(1)     I particularly like this definition from the same site: “a form of physical activity characterized by strenuous exercise of many muscle groups and intended to increase muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness”

Kate