Give Group Fitness a Try

I went to my first group fitness class when I was two years old. Yes, that's right - two. My mom attended aerobics classes at our local community center in Mound, MN and would bring me along, put me on a blanket in the back of the gym, and let me bop around to the music and draw pictures for her aerobics instructor. I consider myself extremely lucky to have healthy habits modeled for me at such a young age. Not only did it encourage me to make daily exercise as natural of a habit as brushing my teeth, but it also exposed me to the most motivating type of exercise around - group fitness!

Attending a group fitness class is like having a personal trainer - you don't have to think at all about what you're going to do to get a great workout. You just show up and let the pros do the thinking for you! There's great music, lots of energy from the other participants, and someone leading the group who is there to answer questions if you're confused about an exercise.

Most health clubs try to stay on the cutting edge of the latest trends, offering everything from strength classes to boot camps, to dance-based classes like Zumba. Staff are trained and qualified to keep members motivated, working to their potential, and safe from injury. A great group fitness instructor will introduce him/herself to you if you're new and show modifications for all fitness levels. If that doesn't happen - especially the modifications - speak up! Approach the instructor after and pick his/her brain about what you can do if you have bad knees, a shoulder injury, etc.

Too intimidated to try group fitness? Grab a friend! Offer to take him/her out for coffee after if s/he will try this class with you - I'm almost never opposed to bribery. Arrive early enough to talk to the instructor and tell him/her know that you're new and a little intimidated. Grab a spot in the back of the room near the door where you can still see the instructor clearly, and have fun! If you can't do everything, don't worry. A lot of coordination will come with time - more motivation for you to come back and perfect those moves.You might even meet a few new faces - having someone looking for you at class isn't a bad thing, and might encourage you to come back.

If you don't belong to a health club, or yours doesn't offer group fitness classes, take a look in your local paper for community offered classes, or sign up for Groupon and take advantage of group fitness packages that frequently appear for minimal cost. They're usually affordable, close to home, offered at convenient times and a great alternative to get your sweat on!