If you look at the main objections that people give you about why they don't exercise the excuses given often depict working out as this overwhelming and imposing thing that involves repetitive, monotonous activities that they do not aspire to do. How quickly our associations change! When we were kids, activities such as running, jumping and climbing were associated with "play" and fun. This was our favourite part of our school day! Now we see it as time taken from us rather than time well spent! When people give excuses about not using a gym or health club they state reasons such as time, bordeom, motivation or a sense of self-consciousness; all of these states come from facing the challenge alone.
The late 1980's brought with it the boom of Corporate fitness. Studies in corporate fitness have shown that "aside from the benefit of keeping employees in the building during their lunch hour or breaks, management soon discovered that in-house gyms had some benefits that extended beyond reducing employee sick days. Workers who exercised together developed a sense of teamwork that could not have been accomplished through any type of corporate retreat or human resource department workshop (Social Benefits of Exercise - Lisa Mercer).
One of the most interesting studies about the social benefits of exercise was conducted by Nick Crossley at the University of Manchester entitled "In the Gym: Motivers, Meanings and Moral Careers." In this study conducted over 2 years in a popular fitness conetre in Manchester, Crossley found that groups of members would arrange to gather at the gym on certain nights of the week. In some situations they either went out for drinks after their workout, or they met for social gatherings outside of the fitness centre. In some instances, he found that people went to the gym even if they were too tired to workout. "They might have been following an ongoing romantic or work saga of one of their gym buddies." The gym also became a place where people could meet and talk to members whose expertise they required, whether it be a mechanic, a financial adviser or any other type of service professional they might need. Crossley also found that members eventually developed unwritten social contracts. If you did not show up for a few weeks, members would call to find out if you were okay. Though our fitness goals are often very important to us, sometimes it is the social associations that we make with it that enhance our motivation. While the thought of slogging it out through a gruelling gym session can be influenced by our emotional state and the weight of our day, sometimes committing to our friends is enough incentive to push beyond the 'fatigue' or what other excuses we made for ourselves.
In my decade (gulp!) of instructing Group Fitness classes there has been some amazing things I have noticed; the same faces over and over again, people walking into a Group Fitness studio in an obviously tired state who still find the motivation to front up, strangers suddenly talking and becoming friends budding from one common interest they share - the love of a particular class. Suddenly they are encouraging one another to meet up to try another type of class, and so our Group Fitness community builds! Some people even plan their social lives areound the classes they participate in - "Sorry, Tuesday night's out, that's Combat night!" It is amazing that, although what inspired us to start our fitness regime may have been quite goal orientated and health specific, what motivates us to continue brings us righ back to our roots; we return to the feeling of 'play' and socialness that we felt as kids in the playground. It is the fun and the shared experience that drives us to be active.
Although the results may motivate people to get into the Group Fitness studio, there is something more at work that keeps people coming back. Les Mills trains their instructors on elements they call 'connection/communication' and 'fitness magic.' These are emotional elements in training. It takes participants beyond what they 'should' be doing to reach their fitness goals and makes them emotionally connect tot the experience. It is the connection and the emotion that a whole room of people share that makes people return to the Group Fitness Studio. We may feel 'smashed' by a Cycle session, or groan coming down the stairs after Pump, the feeling of sharing that common bond with a group of people all experiencing the same thing pushes us through the barrier and we front up next week so we can experience it all over again. Our group menatlity gives us a sense of strength and our feelong of belonging helps us lose our self-consciousness.
Our 'social' health is something that should not be neglected. When I hear people refer to exercise as 'boring' or 'repetative.' I think about some of the classes I have done and realise that if there was 'repetition' I didn't notice! I was too caught up in the experience and spent too much time laughing off the challenges with friends around me that I forgot it was supposed to be 'work!' When I think of what motivated my workout choices, it wasn't the actual workout. It was the emotion I associated with it and the energy I felt being a part of a large group of people, it was the familiarity with the faces in the room and the instructor. Although my fitness and results are important to me, my surroundings motivated me to front up and put in my best effort no matter how little energy I convinced myself I had to start with. Sometimes by exercising and giving into our 'social health' motivations, we actually commit to our physical health goals.
