Yep, that’s a wee me being leap-frogged by one of my hyperactive dance partners from the Lindy Hop team. Good times.Attention all nether rock dwellers: You might not have heard but we’re in a recession. And the long arm of the recession has been particularly tough on the fitness industry. Gym memberships are down, fitness clothing purchases are declining and personal trainers are finding their business getting a lot tighter. Mainly this seems to be because people view fitness as an expendable luxury. This seems a bit disingenuous to me. In my mind, fitness itself is a necessity for good health and a sound mind but fitness can be achieved without spending a dime – it’s called the outdoors, you’ve heard of it, right? So one way that savvy consumers are cutting back on their fitness luxuries without cutting out fitness altogether is to consolidate. Hence, the fitness trend for 2009 has been crowned: Group Fitness.
For those of you older than 20, group fit refers to what us oldsters use to call aerobics or cardio class. You basically have one teacher leading a room full of sweaty folks. Group fit has moved way beyond Jane Fonda and The Firm though and now you have options ranging from kickboxing to bootcamp to spin.
Whenever I mention group fit and my deep love for sweating with strangers – or just strange friends (hellooooo TurboKick!) – inevitably someone says, “Oh, I could never do that!” And hey, if you are happy running in the beautiful outdoors 365 days a year, I’m not interested in changing your mind. But many people avoid group fit because of one basic reason: self-consciousness. They say they aren’t coordinated (read: I’ll fall off the step or drop my weight on my foot or kick my neighbor) or they prefer working out alone (read: I don’t like other people’s bodily fluids flying at me) or even that they think they wouldn’t fit in (read: I don’t have matchy-matchy workout clothes, toned abs or I’m not 21.)
I’m not going to tell you that your concerns aren’t valid (Well, except for the matchy-matchy clothes one. As long as it covers your naughty bits and gives you adequate support then wear whatever you want! You’re just going to sweat all over it anyhow.) but if you can overcome your self-consciousness you will discover there are a ton of benefits to group fit. Not only do you have an instructor to tell you what to do – hard to think what comes next when your heart rate is in the red zone – but you also get music and, best of all, friends. It makes a huge difference to be able to laugh with someone else when you turf it. Plus it saves on money since the whole class is essentially paying the instructor’s salary.
A great way to get involved in group fit is one of my all-time loves: dancing. Eight million viewers of Dancing With the Stars can’t be wrong! For all of you who have sat on your couch and watched a parade of c-level stars shake their money makers, I am here to tell you that you can do it too! “But I’m not coordinated enough, blah, blah, blah….” Who cares? It’s so fun that you’ll forget all about the fact that your feet are more George Foreman than Mario Lopez. Plus there are tons of options in cardio dance. Latin classes like Zumba are exploding right now. Urban classes like Hip Hop Hustle are found in the farthest reaches of suburbia (not to be confused with Rihanna’s Disturbia, although I can see how you make that mistake). Ballet, tap, swing, ballroom, and even “aerial dancing” where you spin suspended from strips of fabric are found in gyms near you.
Back in college I was on a Lindy Hop (a form of swing dancing) team. It was truly one of the highlights of my college experience. While we weren’t doing it specifically for exercise, I definitely found that all the dancing made my butt tighter, my stomach flatter and my legs looked smokin’ in those little red hot pants (see above). While swing dancing was my first love, I also got to do a lot of ballroom dancing and discovered Latin dancing. Which came in handy after I got married and my husband refused to swing dance with me saying I was too bossy and I back-lead. Both of which are true. (I’m a control freak, remember?) So the husband and I took up Salsa dancing together and our marriage has been muy caliente ever since!
Wednesday’s Great Fitness Experiment Giveaway: Core Rhythms DVD Set
Would you like a chance to add some Flamenco to your flan (a bland Spanish dessert with the texture of cooked boogers)? One of my pet peeves about other dance cardio videos I have tried is that they take an aerobics instructor and teach her a few dance moves. This is exactly the opposite. In this 4-disk DVD set, international dance champions Jaana Kuntz (she of the hot pink hair) and Julia Powers (she of the big hair) teach you actual Latin moves from the Salsa, Samba and Merengue. I have to say that for an at-home workout, this is truly one of the more delightful ones I have tried. It’s campy – the shiny costumes! the spray tans! the omnipresent ginormous set of abs pulsing behind them! and it’s a decent workout – anyone who has ever watched “latin hips” in action knows those great abs don’t happen by accident! Basically it’s Strictly Ballroom meets Fit TV. It’s aerobics for drag queens.
And it’s so much fun you’ll forget you are even working out. Plus you’ll learn moves you can actually take with you to the club or your cousin’s 3rd wedding.
One last super cool thing about these DVDs is that you always have the option to change the view at any time. So rather than staring face-on at the teachers, you can switch to a back or side view to really see what they are doing. It also comes with an introductory DVD that explains slowly and simply how to do the basic moves so you aren’t left scrambling to catch up.
To enter to win your own Core Rhythms starter pack, leave me a comment below telling me how you feel about group fitness. Do you love a packed room of sweaty masses? Or do you prefer to work out that hip action in the privacy of your own home and then wow everyone at the next family reunion luau? Anyone want to go dancing with me?
I have grown to love group fitness. I used to be very overweight and was extremely self-conscious when I first started exercising. Gradually, I realized people are way more interested in looking at themselves in the mirror than paying attention to me. Having a set time to be at the gym for a class is almost (though not quite) the same as having an appointment with a trainer.
I enjoy working out alone too. In that case, I prefer that no one uses any of the equipment around me when there are available machines elsewhere in the gym.
I do both. Love hitting up the trails for a solo run, but I also love classes. I’ll try anything – spin, yoga, Zumba, body pump, etc. I get bored with the same workouts everyday – gotta shake things up a bit.
I enjoy group fitness. I joined a gym on for a free trial week to try Spinning. But I ended up liking the BodyPump classes. I certainly am a bit more disciplined when I am in the class. At home, I tend to quit after a few reps. The energy in the class is amazing and I loved my instructor.
Having said that I haven’t gone to a Group Groove class. I just think that I won’t get max calorie burn as I would be busy trying to learn stuff and giggling a lot.
Suganthi
Suganthi
I’m pretty uncoordinated, but when I was preggers with my third I decided I wanted to try out some group fit classes. Doing step while 8 months pregnant pretty much cured me of self-consciousness. You can’t look any worse than I did! Love group fit. Now if only I could convince my babies that going to the Y is fun . . .
I am extremely uncoordinated, but don’t mind laughing at myself so group fitness isn’t bad, just not preferred. I might hit up Turbo Kick next time in MN though!
I am torn. I love doing yoga with a room full of people, but I dread a class where I have to do any moves in any sort of order that might take me into someone else’s physical space. Mainly because I don’t want to seriously injure anyone.
I also really only like running alone. In fact, when I ran in my first 5k this summer, I was so afraid of ruining it for someone by tripping them or blocking them that I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and fell down. On my face. And what was I thinking as I landed in the mud? I was thinking “Please don’t let anyone trip over me and ruin their race!”
I LOVE dancing! I don't care if I'm the embodiment of the tutu-d hippo in Fantasia! I just LOVE it! Oh. But we're talking about group fitness. Way back when, I did the aerobics & step-classes. I was humiliated by a teacher telling me, "You're doing it wrong! Why don't you listen!" Um. Hello. I'm hard-of-hearing and can't exactly lip-read you when I'm staring at the back of you or when I'm staring at the ceiling/floor/wall with everyone else. Meh. I just then decided that it wasn't going to be beneficial for me if I couldn't learn to do the moves right without someone being exasperated with me. SO, in-home it is!
As part of my routine I work out early in my home, I will go to the gym for my strength training.
Awww – Charlotte I’m sure you would be fun to work-out with! I think I would be totally self-conscious in a group setting…but I would love to try it sometime. I work out in my living room and neighborhood because it’s cheaper and I don’t have to drive anywhere. But we have a beautiful fitness center downtown that I would love experience. One day I’ll work up the courage! 🙂
I used to be one of those people who shunned group fitness. I said that I didn’t think it would be challenging enough, but, in truth, I was self-conscious! About a year ago, I tried a Les Mills BodyPump class at my gym and was hooked. There’s something empowering about sweating and pushing yourself along side other women and observing their results in addition to your own.
Group fitness is my FAVORITE. I love having an “appointment” to be at the gym and having someone encouraging me to pick up the intensity – plus I tend to work harder than if I was just on a machine. When I first started going I was also very overweight and self conscious but after the first class it didn’t matter. I do miss Body Step, after I changed gyms though!
I used to love taking dance classes, but since having kids, I haven’t had the time or the money. So my workouts are done at home or in our neighborhood at 5 am so that I can get it in before getting everyone to school and getting myself to work.
I haven’t done dance since I was a wee child of about 8. I got into group sports about then and never went back. I do love to dance though, so this may be something I could join in on once we have a little more expendable cash in the cash drawer.
I do group fitness alone. 🙂 Well, I mean I do fitness DVDs and a lot of them use group fitness workouts like step aerobics and kickboxing. The only time I’ve actually done real group fitness in the past few years is when I went on a Cathe Friedrich Road Trip (she’s a DVD instructor) and did several classes with a bunch of other DVD fans. I’d do it more often if it weren’t more convenient to work out at home.
I never did dance as athletic as swing dancing, but I was in a show choir in high school–singing and dancing and jazz hands!
I love love love group fitness! I no longer have a gym membership, but I do attend the group fitness classes at work, one of which is Zumba. I am the first to admit that I am not a dancer, but I’d love to learn!
Ive never taken a dance class as a workout, but if i did I owuld imagine Id need to test drive it at home, before i embarassed myself.
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
I usually enjoy working out at home. It’s free and I can fit in a work out around my kids schedule. Working out with others helps keep me motivated so I guess I like a little of both.
I love aerobics classes! (except for step- OMG, I thought my cousin’s class would kill me) I grew up in ballet classes, so I have no problem flopping around and sweating in front of people, even without cute clothes. But I am seriously schedule-challenged, and my couple of lame attempts to commit to particular times and days of the week in the past few years have not met with success for very long.
My daughter would love love love this video, and we could get our own class going whenever we felt like it.
[It just started snowing. I knew all that wind and the dark sky meant something. Just a shower, but cool.]
I would love to do a group fitness class but finances, kids, and time won’t allow it right now. =(
When I watched the Core video just now, I thought “I could never do that” but the longer I watched the more fun I thought it would be. And lord knows I’ve got enough hips to make that action look killah!
I really liked the “old” high impact aerobics. This new trend looks like we are headed to the past in a very good way!
Save one dance for me, Charlotte
🙂
Good morning Char!!! Happy New Year to you!!!
I think you know how I feel about group fitness. I was one of the crazies with you for midnight Turbo/HHH and was LOVING it!! With my fitness goal just in my reach, being certified in TurboKick and Hip Hop Hustle and looking forward to being certified through the Y so I can start teaching, I have grown to LOVE group fitness! When I first joined the Y on Jan 29, 2004, I was a “tourist”. When I entered the locker room, I said to another member, “WOW! This place is packed!” She said, give it another month or two and they will be gone. I still see that member even 5 years from the day we talked!! When I first started, my friend and I would do the machines. Often we would hear this siren and I would say what the heck is that??, not knowing that I was missing the best class ever, TurboKick!!! My friend has stopped going to the gym and I’m relying on myself and my Gym Buddies to keep me going! With working at the Y, I get a free membership. I’ve become a supervisor and have love for each family member that enters my doors. I can’t give props to Jennie enough for dragging me into her web of poppin’ and shaking what our momma’s gave us!!
I LOVE group fitness!! Sure beats being by yourself with the iPod on a treadmill!
I went from team sport oriented fitness when I was high school age, to solo fitness I was in university due to my schedule not allowing me to commit to teams.
However, ove rthe past couple of years I’m back on the sports wagon and have realized that I’m FAR more energized and consistent when I’m with a group. Since that realisation, I’ve joined more group fitness activities.
I’m currently in love with my bootcamp group that meet at 5:30AM. If it wasn’t for them, there’s no way I’d get my butt out of bed that early.
And I have to say, give-aways aside, I’m loving your reviews, Charlotte. Whether I win or not, I think some of your recommendations are going to make their way to my house.
I’ve only participated in two group fitness classes – 1/4 of a step class (I had to leave after being completely lost for a good, embarrassing 10 minutes), and also a beginner yoga class.
I did rock the yoga class, so that makes up for the failed step attempt. It was just me and two older women, whom were regulars. I felt kind-of bad because I was able to do all the poses really well, whereas you could tell some were a challenge for them. I guess it paid off to try all the yoga moves my million of fitness mags suggest from time to time…!
I would love to get into dancing, though. I don’t belong to a formal gym with classes, so it’s not possible right now. I learn slow (even after years of cheering), but once I know it, I KNOW IT and rock it! I would love to have these DVDS for at home!
Last time I was in a group fitness class, I left on crutches! (Totally my fault – arrived late, not an adequate warmup, pushed too hard….hello, torn muscle!)
The problem with group classes is, you have to attend on their time, and of course, one of the benefits of DVD fitness – you exercise on YOUR time.
Would love to have these DVD’s to use in my home workouts!
loathe group fitness.
Im so so very uncoordinated.
very.
I dont even care about what others think—I just dont usually get a workout!
(and loved these dvds :))
I loved group fitness in college. It was a huge Tae Bo class and it was intense. Now though, I like to do my fitness at home.
I’m coming over right now to go dancing with you:)
That dvd sounds so awesome. When I was in Costa Rica I took salsa lessons and I adored it. Latin dancing is beautiful.
I like group fitness, mostly because I’m competitive. So when I’ve got a group of other people there, I’ll try to line myself up with the fastest/strongest etc person there and push myself to match them. Friendly competition is a fantastic way to get into shape!
Also I find that I’m way less self conscious in a group of strangers. I think if I took a friend to a group class I’d feel more self conscious and maybe hold back a little- but when its all strangers I want to prove myself and there’s no one to feel embarrassed in front of so I push myself that much harder.
Wow, so cool with the different views for that DVD! I hate DVDs where the cameraman has NO idea what we look for in a DVD and decides to focus on the instructor’s face or something instead of the move they’re demonstrating.
I absolutely love group fitness classes, but my gym has really bad ones that a) aren’t fun b) are at extremely inconvenient times and c) aren’t challenging. I have a growing collection of fitness DVDs but I find it hard to get motivated to do those – classes are so much better!
I’ve been to 2 fitness classes and I liked them but not enough to go back. I don’t like staring at myself working out for an hour. not cool.
I think dancing is one of the best exercises you can do without “feeling” like your exercising. You’re often having so much fun, time just kind of flies by. I used to participate in Swing Dancing (East Coast and Lindy Hop), and I think I’m going to try something else in the new year. Maybe Salsa? We’ll see.
– Dave
What about simply being anti-social? When I’m working out (or riding) it’s time away from a computer, time away from other people, time for meditation.
I even like to mountain bike alone, which supposedly is the sign of a very sick mind. But I like the sounds the outdoors makes, and I can’t hear it if I’m chatting with someone.
I love the group fitness. I just won’t do it on my own, and don’t like to have to think about it to make sure I’m hitting all the right body parts. I do step, kickboxing, body sculpt/pump, yoga. I don’t like pilates or spinning or boot campy things. I also love hiking with just the dog, but don’t run anywhere (with the occasional exception of catching a bus)
And I am mostly not very self-conscious, though I am often the biggest in class. Since I’ve been going to many of the same classes week after week, month after month, we get to know each other. Some woman told me a few weeks ago that my shape was really changing. It’s nice that somebody noticed!
PS Sariqd, what a horrible instructor. I’ve never seen any of them behave like that. Maybe that’s the advantage of going to a large gym that only wants your money, and packs us in like sweaty sardines.
Oh my goodness, this sounds great. The fiance and I keep saying we want to take dance classes together but we haven’t taken the plunge (being that it’s a luxury and we’re trying to save money). I could totally see putting this on in the living room and gettin’ hippy.
I normally think of myself as a solitary sweat-er, but I have enjoyed group fitness in the past. This year, that might be something I’m going to work my way back into doing…
I LOVE group fit. All time favorite is Pole Dancing or LeMode Spinning classes
I’m a fan of group fitness. And dancing. Although I hate it when people text during group fitness.
I like group classes when there are plenty of people … I always feel a little awkward when there is only one other person, or only a few!
But I love hip hop, step and more.
Katy
sillytatertot.blogspot.com
Charlotte, aside from my kids, you are the cutest thing EVER!!!! Especially when dancing!!!!!
OK, just had to say that.
As a group fitness instructor (and the fact that I am one is still hard for me to believe!), I LOVE having a big group show up to my classes. It’s fun, and a bit of an ego boost.
As a participant, there are certain types of exercise that I prefer to do in a group. Spinning and yoga come to mind. There’s just something about being with other folks that makes it more enjoyable than practicing yoga at home or (yawn) riding a stationary bike by myself.
When it comes to certain types of dancing, however, it’s best for the safety of the general public that I flail around in my living room.
I’ve always been afraid to try group fitness because I am horrible at keeping up with the moves and I’m afraid of going left when they go right and knocking someone down.
I love love love dancing. Was on our high school ballroom team back in the day. That clip was cool looking. The glistening abdomen on the back screen was rather mesmerizing though- heee.
I enjoy group classes and the vibe with a good teacher and hard working class. I also really love to workout at home and run by myself. I do what works with my schedule 🙂
Is it just me, or does anyone else find the huge torso screen in the back a bit freaky?
Charlotte, I would dance with you anytime. My question is would you dance with me in public even though I dance like Elaine from Seinfeld?
I would LOVE to go dancing with you anytime, but stand back! I am all legs, and in high school aerobics I was always accidentally kicking the sweet German exchange student who was the only one brave enough to join me in my uncoordinated corner! I love group classes. I often make faces at myself in the mirror and usually make friends that way, or people just stare at me like I’m retarded. I dread going to the classes for the first time, and I would rather make a fool of myself in the privacy of my own home, but either way, it’s fun.
oh yeah, the outdoors. I heard about that place. I hear there is some good ambiance there…;-)
Look at you flying in the air! That’s so cool. Right now I’m symbolically flying.
Your blog is a gift my dear! Happy New Year!
I tend to avoid group fitness like the plague for all the same excuses you listed. I’m easily confused, so instead of getting a workout, I’m the one in the back of the room staring at the instructor with a “do what now?” look on my face.
That video looks insane! How does she do that and talk at the same time!?
-Laura
selah(at)ku(dot)edu
I work out at home but my new years res is to start group fitness. After reading your blog, you have convinced me that it is fun and worth the drive. I found a Womens gym near enough that offers a Zumba class that sounds fun and I sure hope to make some friends that like fitness.
I have to say that the no-armed body in the background of the video totally freaks me out. That being said, I totally LOVE group fitness. I have no motivation to hit a treadmill. I’ve always needed the push from “competitors”. I know we aren’t really competing, but if I see someone working really hard in class, I want to step it up….Usually that’s trying to keep up with you, Charlotte!
The only ‘group’ fitness I’ve participated in is going to Curves – which I totally enjoyed…but that is not really a ‘group’.
I live 1/2 hr out of a small town – time to drive to and from town is a drawback from participating in any group sessions or even a gym membership.
Working out at home just fits into my schedule better – I think I’d enjoy the social aspect of group fitness, though – as well as the motivation to push myself more than I would on my own.
I’ve always wanted to learn to dance and think that would be the ultimate fun group fitness.
well, you know i love to shake my money maker, and it doesn’t even have to be in a class setting! (example being today in front of kid’s stuff…maybe slightly inappropriate). anyway, i’m a fan of group fitness. it’s what got me started at the y, before i met my crazy gym buddies. a long run by myself is needed sometimes, but i love sweatin’ it out in a class.
Depends. I like alone but in winter that can get isolating—it can be good to see other people sometimes.
I like working out alone for the most part, but I also enjoy spinning class, which is technically a group exercise. Except the spinning class that I go to is in a dark room without lights, so it’s almost like working out alone… with good music 😀
I loved Zumba- I wish there were something like that out here. I think its great when men brave a class like step or kick boxing and get “surprised” that they break a sweat.
i got into the group exercise dance classes a few years ago as well as tried spinning, but they’re always during the busiest gym times (that is, the times i try to avoid the gym). i enjoyed the dance ones and even became marginally coordinated.
i would love to actually learn how to dance. brandon and i actually talked about taking one in the future … if we can figure out how to work it around both our work schedules.
I prefer the privacy of my own home with a few mirrors to watch while I workout and room to move without fear of bumping into anyone.
Honestly? I think the last time I did “group fitness” was in high school P.E… (ugh the memories! *shudder*) I am pretty self-conscious, but I’m sure some kind of class would be good for me and I’d end up enjoying myself…except I currently can’t afford it. 🙁 BUT, I’ve been wanting to get some good DVDs to use at home. This one looks good – and fun! (Although I must admit it IS a little weird with that headless, undulating abdomen in the background… ;)) I DO like the option of different views though – very cool idea.
I never thought I would say it, but I’ve grown to love group fitness. My dad used to drag me to his gym at 6 in the morning for a step class…which was about the extent of my experience until this past year.
I ran into a friend of mine while leaving the Y after my daughter’s swim class. She said we should come to the Turbo Kick class with her and her husband. “Really?” I asked her. “Look at you,” I held my hands about two inches apart, indicating her petite figure. “And look at me,” I spread my hands to emphasize my much more robust figure. “We’re not exactly in the same shape.”
Still, she emailed me about it the next day and I said I would ask the Hubster, knowing he would say no. Of course, he said, “Sounds like fun, let’s do it.” and I was STUCK.
I never dreamed I would love it so much. I’ve tried a few other classes now, too, dragging friends and family with me, but Turbo is like this deep, dark secret love I never knew I had. Even when I’m tired and complain all day about going…five minutes into class, I’m laughing at how much fun I’m having.
The great part about group fitness is that you can’t fast forward through parts you don’t like or that are too hard. Heck, I’ve got videos where I can mimic word for word for an hour exactly what the instructor will say…but you know as well as I do that we never know what will come out of Jennie’s mouth!
I enjoy both solo workouts and group fitness. I think classes are a great way to switch up your workout and push yoursef. It’s also kind of hard to walk out in the middle, so you commit to at least an hour of exercise! I make a point of trying all different classes… even when I have no idea what I’m doing. One of the most memorable was when my gym first introduced Zumba classes. I am SO uncoordinated that it was ugly… I slowly grapevined my way right out of the room! I need the Core Rhythms DVDs so I can finally show my face in group fitness danced-based classes again 🙂
I love group fitness, it was pretty much all I did in college, and then i stopped, and now i’m trying to lose weight. Hmmmm…connection? I think so. I just saw the infomercial for the DVDs the other day and I was thiiiis close to ordering, I love dance and these look so fun!
My few group classes have been frustrating because I need more time than average to catch on. On the positive side, I’ve caused some classmates to laugh out loud. So I can think of myself as spreading joy through klutziness.
As an Australian, the class I love is BodyJam!!!
I’m guessing it’s similar to the aerobic dance classes you do in the USA. It’s basically a few tracks each of Latin, hip-hop, disco, house, modern rock (jazz ballet, club…the list goes on! I’ve even done The Charleston, line dancing and Bollywood in this class!
Dancing is my favourite form of exercise! Because I have to concentrate on the steps and really feel the music cues, it never gets boring and I always want to push myself to get it perfect!
I usually do T-Tapp stuff in my house because I don’ t have the money for groupfit or the time. I can tapp first thing and am good to go.
I LOVE James and Janna Kunitz. One of my favorite professional latin dancers from several years ago. Thanks for reminding me of this workout!