Group Exercise Classes - Why they are great!

So, being a personal trainer who is often focused on individual clients, you'd think I'd have some issues with group exercise classes.  Some trainers feel that the lack of individual attention will lead to participants using bad form, not giving 100% or just not being pushed to their level of fitness.  While there is some validity to these points, I think the benefits outweight the possible negatives.  I am a big believer in ultimate cross training, I think a little bit of everything is good for everyone!   I don't believe that you can get by with only group classes, I think there is a place for them in your fitness routine. I teach Les Mills Body Attack, it's a sports oriented high energy class.  We launched brand new choreography this weekend and it was a great class that left me with an exercise high!   Group classes afford people the chance to jump in and try things they normally wouldn't do, take the exercises at their own level and feed off of the other participants energy.  My class this Saturday had great energy and it took us all to a higher level, the lunges were deeper, folks pushed out a few more push ups then they previously thought they could and the high knee runs were higher!  Some other reasons to include group exercise classes into your routine:
1. you can try something new
2. you don't have to think of a workout, the instructor has done all planning
3. you can meet new people
4. being around people will push you harder
5. you, along with the rest of the class really feel like you've accomplished something once that hour is finished (and you have!!)
So, I'd like to encourage all of you to add a class or two to your routine, they're fun!  Don't worry if you don't know the moves or you've never done it before, remember, everyone was new at one point!  What are your thoughts on group exercise?  What keeps you from joining a class?  I'd love to hear some comments!!

Who are we and what are we all about?!?

You are probably saying, “Yet another blog about physical fitness? Really?  What’s this one about? Running? Weightlifting?  Diets?”  Well, the real question is what is this blog NOT about?  Between the two of us, we (Samara and Kelly) have tackled many fitness issues and challenges and are still muddling our way through so many more.   We are starting this blog as a place to share our learnings with as many people as we can!  Its tough figuring out how to reach your potential in any fitness activity, maybe something we’ve learned can help a few of you out there, and hopefully you all can teach us a few things!  The way we see it, Life is good J! We’ve only got one body, so let’s share together everything we’ve learned to make the most of this one life, with the strongest, most fit body possible.

Samara and I have been athletes all of our lives (or so we thoughtJ ). When we met, as college roommates, I ran track and Samara was a swimmer. I think we both considered ourselves pretty fit then…but we’ve come a long way…and we’re still going.  For example, yes, I ran track, but I couldn’t for the life of me do 10 push ups and struggled with eating disorders. Yes, Samara was on the swim team, but she was also a size 10-12. These days, we both have specific passions, ranging  from Competitive Fitness to Ironman Triathlons.  While our competitions may be different, we both provide each other support along the way each season. And we find that, more often than not, we run into similar stumbling blocks and learning points. We’ve pretty much done everything together since college, so we decided, why not blog together? We hope that you’ll join us on continuing our journey for a fit life.