When you think of training, most people picture a solo workout at a commercial gym or even a one-on-one coaching session. However, training with friends and teammates can actually help you reach your fitness goals faster! In this blog, we’ll highlight 3 benefits of group training for kids and student-athletes, including:
- Greater variety of exercises
- Increased motivation
- More accountability
Greater Variety of Exercises
It can be easy to mindlessly go through the motions at the gym, especially if you’re comfortable with a specific routine or type of exercise. Not only can this workout method get boring, but repeating the same moves can actually hinder your progress. To lose fat and build strength, you have to consistently challenge your muscles. Adding more variety to your workout routine is one of the best ways to prevent a fitness plateau, and group training is one of the easiest ways to increase your variety of exercises. From group lifting classes to cycling, there are so many ways you can switch things up! Plus, all coaches, trainers, and instructors have different styles of teaching — even if you only want to attend one type of group class, the workout will always be a little bit different.
Increased Motivation
Sometimes, finding the motivation to work out consistently, or just get through an especially tough workout, can be difficult. Whether homework is getting in the way of your scheduled fitness time or your couch is calling your name, there are plenty of reasons why student athletes lose motivation. One of the best ways to motivate yourself to get to the gym and really challenge yourself is by having other people by your side, cheering you on.
Group exercise classes offer multiple kinds of motivation, as not everyone is motivated by the same things. If you’re competitive, find someone in the class that’s stronger, faster, or has more endurance than you and try to keep up with them – your inner athlete will inspire you to push your limits! Or, you can participate in a challenge with a friend. If you’re attending a cycling class, see who can bike more miles in the allotted amount of time. This will not only increase your motivation, but will also make exercise a little more fun!
If you’re not the competitive type, group exercise classes also offer words of encouragement. From inspiring coaches to kind friends, you’ll hear something along the lines of “you can do it” more than a few times. Some classes, like yoga, even make you repeat positive affirmations to yourself at the end of each session! So, no matter what inspires you to push a little harder, group training is a great way to increase your motivation and help you achieve your fitness goals.
More Accountability
Another aspect of fitness that can prove to be difficult is maintaining your accountability. While you may start off your fitness journey strong and consistent, it can be easy to slip into the mindset of “I’ll go tomorrow.” Group training can help keep kids and athletes accountable through class sign-ups and accountability partners.
If you have to sign up for a group class in advance, you’re more likely to actually go. When you can exercise whenever and wherever you want, like at a home gym, it’s easy to decide to skip your workout. However, if you sign up to be at a certain place at a certain time and put it on your schedule, you’ll feel more obliged to go. Some group training places even include cancellation fees if you decide to back out at the last minute — if you don’t go, you’re literally paying the price!
Another way that group training can boost your accountability is by providing you with accountability partners. Whether you have one person you train with or you’re attending classes with your teammates, having someone encourage you to stay consistent is always beneficial. In fact, studies have shown that 95% of people who start a training program with an accountability partner completed the program, compared to a 76% completion rate for those who did the program alone. So, next time you’re struggling to keep yourself accountable, convince a friend to train with you!
Inspiring Athletes and Building Confidence
At C4 Performance, our goal is to help children and teens build confidence on and off the field and achieve their personal fitness goals. Contact us today and help your athlete create a lifelong passion for health and fitness!