It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that health and fitness is a solo mission. While using exercise as a vehicle for some healthy alone time and as a great mindfulness activity, the idea that you have to do it alone can be off putting — and simply isn’t true.
Group fitness classes, whether that’s kickboxing, a team sport like HYROX or even a group strength training session, can have profound benefits – not just for your motivation, but for your mental health.
Fighting Fit is a Manchester fitness gym that prides itself on fostering a friendly and supportive community as well as helping our members meet their fitness goals. That's why we offer group classes across all disciplines, from mobility to boxing.
Not sold on the idea? Let us convince you.
Improve your health and fitness
Not to point out the obvious, but engaging in a social sport is a surefire way to improve your fitness. Considering you’ll be attending classes regularly, you’ll begin to see improvements in whichever discipline you choose, and the knock on effects on your cardiovascular health, strength, mobility and any aesthetic goals you might have, from weight loss to hypertrophy, will be plentiful.
Make friends
Making friends as an adult is tough, but having a social hobby can really help. If you’re somebody who works out regularly anyway, why not combine the benefits you get from lone workouts with the joy of meeting new people and making friends. One of the main benefits of meeting people through sports is that you’ll know you have at least one thing in common – but martial arts gyms are home to so many different people, which makes the prospect of meeting somebody you could learn a lot from all the more promising.
Accountability and motivation
If you’re someone who struggles to motivate yourself to hit all of your planned workouts week in week out, you will likely benefit from the accountability that comes with doing a social sport. Having teammates often means that people are counting on you to turn up, so you’ll feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to hitting all your sessions. Not only that, but the support you get from your friends and teammates can be extremely encouraging. Knowing that you have people cheering you on can get you to the gym on even the worst days.
Healthy competition
Speaking of motivation, there’s nothing like a little bit of healthy competition to keep you turning up and working as hard as you can. While it may be daunting for some people to be surrounded by others who might be faster, stronger or more experienced, it can be a great way to push yourself to achieve your personal goals. You are the product of the people you spend the most time with, after all, and if you’re surrounded by hungry competitors, you’re like to become one yourself.
A sense of community
It’s no secret that a loneliness crisis has swept the nation, especially since the pandemic – and that it can be difficult to find community while living in the city. Being part of a social sport or a gym that is built on group activities, where people notice when you’re not around and smile when they see you, will give you a real sense of belonging. In turn, you’ll feel less isolated, more confident, and, of course, motivated.
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