What are group exercise classes good for?

If you're sick of the same old workout, group exercise might be for you. Lifting weights and running on a treadmill is fine for some people but others like to try new and different styles of working out. Group exercise offers many different ways to get your heart pumping and your muscles bulging. If you want to dance, Zumba is for you. You can try spinning which is a very high intensity version of riding a bike. Yoga is for those who are looking to improve their flexibility while pilates can be used to strengthen certain areas of the body. Group exercise offers a class setting which can encourage you to get a better workout than you would on your own. If you see your neighbor starting to increase their intensity level, are you going to slowdown or try to keep up? These classes also offer the benefit of having an instructor give you directions on exercises to ensure you're performing them correctly and provide feedback so you know you're going in the right direction. It's as close to personal training as you can get without paying $50 - $70 per hour of exercise. Most importantly, group exercise classes can offer a break from the usual. They let you have fun while working out which will keep you from quitting. You'll also be surprised at the number of people you end up meeting. For more information on working out, visit the Beginner's Guide to Exercise. You can also check out what classes are popular at the exercise forums.

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