Posts Tagged ‘harker heights weight loss’
Studies Prove Fitness Boot Camp Improves Mental And Physical Health
Exercise groups provide strength in numbers
January 19, 2009|Tammy Worth
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Everyone knows that exercise is good for the body. But there is a growing awareness among researchers and fitness professionals that working out in groups can provide additional benefits for some.
A March 2008 study in the journal Birth by University of Taiwan researchers reported that Taiwanese women taking part in an exercise support program were less likely to have postpartum depression than those who did not. An Ohio State University study reported in the June 2007 Journal of Cancer Survivorship found that group exercise programs improved the physical and psychological well-being of women being treated for early-stage breast cancer.
These studies point to specific individuals — but anyone interested in working out with others can reap rewards. It is difficult to ascertain whether the benefits of group exercise are derived from the activity or the social interaction, but experts agree that the support, variety and motivation a group provides can help improve physical and mental health and create lasting exercise routines.
“It is known that women tend to exercise more when they perceive high levels of social support in their lives,” says Cherilyn Hultquist, assistant professor in the department of health, physical education and sport science at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. “Seeing familiar faces each class makes it more than a stale exercise environment. It becomes a community with common goals.”
Social interaction in group exercise settings can be a vehicle of encouragement and motivation for many, says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that promotes physical fitness and creates certification programs for fitness professionals. Group classes also create an atmosphere of accountability.
“Individuals are more inclined to come to the session because of social interaction, but also to put forth better effort because of the group dynamic that occurs with others — a positive competition, in a sense,” Bryant says.
Another advantage to working out with a group is the addition of an instructor. “Many people enter a fitness facility and bounce around on equipment with little thought or direction about their workout,” Hultquist says. “This lack of balance can lead to injury, boredom or can limit results.” By having a trained professional lead a group, participants receive the full workout experience, including warm-up, workout, cool-down and stretching.
“The goal is to acquire a new positive habit: exercise,” Bryant says. “Research clearly shows that if you find something you deem enjoyable, you will stick with it.” <<end>>
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