Do you have a fitness goal for the new year?
It’s that time of year. A fresh start. Ready to make big improvements. You will hit the gym and get in the best shape of your life.
There’s just one problem. You had this same resolution last year and the year before that.
This year is going to be different because you’re going to draw on the power of teamwork in the form of group exercise classes. Here’s how it worked for me.
Marie signs us up at the Y
A few years ago, my wife suggested we join the YMCA. I pushed back. We already had a treadmill for the winter, and enjoyed walking the neighborhood in the summer.
She countered that the Y had group fitness classes. She thought it would be fun to take them together. I wasn’t sure how that was going to make any big difference, but decided to give it a try.
At first the group classes were interesting because they were new. There was fancy footwork to learn in BodyStep. The clean and press move at BodyPump required a bit of practice. Trying to keep up with the sprinters in cycle class kept me on my toes.
Then everything that was new started to feel old. Boredom was sneaking up on me, and I knew it would keep me from reaching my goal.
Teamwork saves the day
That’s when the power of teamwork kicked in. I started to know some of the people who attended the classes. The more we got to know each other, the more I felt part of something bigger than just me.
I wasn’t exercising. I was contributing to a group effort to be healthy and have fun. I found energy and support in my classmates. I wanted to see them, so I showed up. I wanted to do my share, so I tried harder. I wanted to be part of the gang, so I contributed to making the experience more fun.
If teamwork can help me raise my heart rate and sweat, two things I previously avoided, just imagine what it can do for you.
Image credit: FaceMePLS
