A new trend in exercise is catching on with aging adults, and it’s called group exercise. While group exercise for the senior workout was popularized in the 1980s by Jane Fonda, in recent years, it has become increasingly popular among aging adults who enjoy its social benefits and convenience. Group exercise offers mental and physical health benefits beyond traditional fitness routines of running or lifting weights alone. Read on to learn more about how this easy form of exercise can change your life as a Golden-age adult, no matter where you live or how much time you have to invest in exercise.
Make New Friends
Taking part in exercise classes with other people who have similar interests, backgrounds, and fitness levels is a great way to make new friends. You even end up being invited to social events you would not have attended if it wasn’t for your newfound friend. As a bonus, group exercise classes are a fun and entertaining way to meet like-minded people who you can work out with regularly – all of which help you keep fit, improve health, lose weight and build confidence.
Develop Social Skills
Group fitness training is a great way to improve your social skills. During group fitness classes and activities, you’ll have to work with other people to achieve specific goals. Participating in a class or activity like yoga or Pilates requires working as a team. The fact that you’re working alongside other individuals will naturally result in communication and teamwork on both a primary and advanced level.
Reduce Stress
The effects of stress in Golden-age adults can be hazardous to one’s health and wellbeing. By participating in group exercise, Golden-age adults have an opportunity to express themselves and get rid of the pent-up energy they might be harboring while also bonding with other people experiencing a similar situation. This goes back to improving mental health, which all people should strive for.
Improve Physical Health
Exercising releases endorphins that elevate your mood and help you feel better overall. It increases blood flow, encourages weight loss, strengthens bones and muscles, and even benefits organs such as your heart, lungs, and kidneys by boosting their performance by strengthening them up.
Motivate One Another
Lifting weights and working out on your own can be tedious. But when you are in a group setting, there is motivation to get it done. A little competition never hurts either, as there is usually some leaderboard in most gyms where everyone can check their progress. It also helps motivate yourself with others around you. You don’t want to let yourself down by missing a day or skipping a workout because people count on you to go.
Enhance Cardiovascular Fitness
Many aging family members enjoy group exercise because it is low impact, using movements that don’t put excess stress on bones and joints. Studies suggest that high-impact aerobic exercises like running may increase a person’s risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Still, others suggest that only long-term, high-volume training increases risk. Either way, many forms of group exercise are low-impact and suitable for older people looking to improve their cardiovascular fitness.
