Welcome to another great Wild Workout Wednesday Link Up where Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama, Angelena Marie from Angelena Marie: Happy, Healthy & Balanced, Michelle at Fruition Fitness and I bring you workout ideas, motivation, inspiration and recipes to try. Join us each week by reading along, linking up and grab the button to proudly display on your blog/in your posts!
So you're looking to start a new workout routine. You thought about hiring a trainer, but you can't seem to find a good one or perhaps the one-on-one vibes just aren't your style. You've taken a few group classes, and while you get a good workout, they just seem so impersonal. Working out on your own never seems to stick, so you're stuck in this place of wanting something personal but not too personal.
Instead of personal training or group classes, why not give group training a try?
Group training means pretty much what the name implies: training with a group. How does this differ from group classes, you ask?
In group classes, you go in with 30 other people. You follow the instructor. You sweat. You leave. You come back the following week and do virtually the same workout.
In group training, you workout with a much smaller group of people (6-12ish). The instructor comes around to give you personal modifications, progressions and encouragement. The workouts evolve each week to help you progress and get stronger. In a nutshell, here are 5 quick reasons why you should try group training.
- It's Personal
As I mentioned, when you're in a group training session, the instructor will come around and give you personal adjustments, modifications, feedback and progressions. You'll start to get to know your instructor as if he/she is your personal trainer. - It's Social
Along with getting to know your instructor, you'll also get to know the other people in your workout. They'll become your workout buddies and your own little sweaty community. - It's About Accountability
Because you'll likely have the same instructor and the same people in your group each week, there is a sense of accountability. If you skip a workout, they'll notice your absence. You don't want to let down your new workout community, let alone back out of the commitment you made to yourself. - It's Motivating
Not wanting to let your group down is great motivation, but you'll also have motivation in the form of wanting to progress. Since group training will help you keep track of what you're lifting or how much resistance you can pull off on an assault bike, each week you'll be able to come in a push yourself a little more. - It's Encouraging
Having your little community and an instructor that really knows you and your abilities is very encouraging. You'll be pushed through an awesome workout, but you'll also get little customized modifications to keep things from becoming too intimidating. Group training will really feel like a community vs. a cult.
I know, you're totally sold on the group training thing. Now the question becomes, where can you find group training?
CrossFit is a great option. You'll get to know everyone in your box, you'll form relationships with the other people in your class, you'll get to know your coaches, they'll get to know you and there is a program in place to help you scale and progress your workouts on a personal level.
If CrossFit isn't your thing, there are some great boutique fitness studios that are now offering group training, and a few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to try one of them.
Titan Fitness Studios in NYC opened in 2011 as a personal training studio, but they have recently expanded and are now offering Titan Total Body group training, a class that combines free weights, cardio drills, powerful calisthenics and in-class fitness tracking for a one-hour, no-nonsense workout designed to get you leaner, stronger and faster. Class attendance is capped at 12, so you get feedback on your form and constant encouragement to push beyond your comfort zone.
Before the class, I was given a quick tour of the new studio. It's beautiful! The top level is dedicated to personal training, while the lower level is for their new group training classes.
Our trainer for the session, Cliff, split us into groups of two and had us move around to different workout stations throughout the workout. I started rowing and air squatting, then moved to an air assault bike followed by walking lunches, then did some shadow boxing paired with wall sits and finished up with jump rope and pushups. Cliff was constantly walking around the room providing personal feedback and offering up modifications to help us feel comfortable yet challenged.
After working up a sweat, we were treated to some delicious Paleo food from Kettlebell Kitchen and this adorable cake!
I got to chatting with the owner, Wally Oldham after the class. He is so passionate about fitness and Titan and is really excited about the new group training option. He also told me about his goals to start a barbell-focused group training class, as well as a lunch-break workout class where attendees would get a quick workout and leave with a healthy lunch from Kettlebell Kitchen. Uhhh, yes please!
I'm excited to see how Titan Fitness Studios evolves, and if you're in NYC or are planning on visiting, definitely check them out. You can find their new class schedule here.
Alright, Wild Workout Wednesday-ers, let's see those Wild Workout Wednesday Posts! Be sure to hop around to some other blogs in the link up and give them some sweaty love, and check out the full link up rules here.
Oh! And don't forget about the PROBAR GIVEAWAY!
Let's Chat:
Do you enjoy working out with others?
Have you ever tried a form of group training?
