More Than a Workout: Why Group Fitness Is Brilliant for Your Social Life

When we talk about the benefits of exercise, the usual list appears; a stronger body, a healthier heart, better balance, more energy and a lift in mood. All very important — but it misses something rather lovely.

Group fitness is also a genuinely great low-key social activity. And our social wellbeing deserves some attention alongside cardio fitness, muscle strength and mobility.

Group exercise gives us movement and regular contact with other humans at the same time, without the awkwardness of an event where the sole purpose is to mingle. There’s no need to work the room, make dazzling conversation or remember what everybody does for a living. You can simply turn up, share the music, the movement and the occasional mildly indignant opinion about squats!

The underrated joy of familiar faces

Not every worthwhile social connection has to become a deep friendship. In reality, small connections count too. Sometimes there’s real comfort in simply walking into a room where people recognise you.

There’s the person who usually stands near the fan, the one who always remembers which weight they used last week and the person you once travelled confidently in the wrong direction with — so now you share a small but important bond for life!

Over time, familiar faces become people you say hello to. Hellos become brief chats. Sometimes those chats grow into friendships, but they don’t have to. Even the smaller connections we have with acquaintances can contribute to our sense of belonging and wellbeing.

In busy adult life, those little points of regular contact can easily disappear. People work from home, retire, change jobs, move house, care for family or simply find that their social circle has become smaller over time. A weekly class or two creates a reason to leave the house, see familiar people and be part of something — while also doing something useful for your body.

Sociable, without demanding constant sociability

For anyone who finds conversation-focused social events rather daunting, a fitness class offers a gentler way to spend time with people.

The activity provides the structure. You already have a reason to be there and something in common with everyone else in the room. If you want to chat, “Is this your first time?”, “Which weights are we using?” or “I have absolutely no idea which foot that was” will generally get things started.

If you don’t feel like chatting, that’s fine too. Once the music starts, you can simply follow along. Nobody expects fascinating small talk while you’re trying to hold a horse stance.

You can be quiet, outgoing or somewhere in between. You can arrive on your own, join in at your own level and gradually get to know people at a pace that feels comfortable to you. There’s no requirement to acquire a compulsory new best friend before the cool-down.

There’s something special about moving together

A class feels different from exercising alone. Everyone may be using different options and working at their own level, but you’re still sharing the same rhythm, challenge and moment.

You move to the same music. You reach the difficult bit together. You exchange a knowing look when the instructor cheerfully announces “a couple more” and everybody suspects this may not be a legally binding promise.

Dance fitness classes have their own particular magic because people are moving in time together. Strength, balance and fitness classes create it too: a sense that although each person is doing their own workout, nobody is doing it entirely alone.

There’s a difference between exercising in a room containing other people and feeling that you’re exercising with them.

That feeling of being part of a genuine group can make exercise more enjoyable. The workout still matters, of course, but so does the atmosphere around it: feeling welcome, being included and knowing there’s room for you in the group exactly as you are.

A gentle reason to keep turning up

Motivation is a temperamental little creature. Some weeks it bounds in enthusiastically; other weeks it appears to have put itself to bed.

This is where the social side of group fitness can quietly help.

Knowing there will be familiar faces in the room can sometimes turn “Shall I bother?” into “Go on then.” Once a class becomes part of your weekly rhythm, it’s no longer just a workout to complete. It’s somewhere you go and something you’re part of.

That should never become guilt or pressure. Nobody ought to feel responsible for somebody else’s workout, or obliged to attend when they’re unwell, injured or simply need a rest. But encouragement, shared laughs and the feeling that your presence matters can all make returning a little easier.

Social connection is part of our wellbeing

We’re very good at thinking about physical fitness in measurable terms; how heavy, how fast, how far and how many. Social wellbeing is less easy to count, but it still matters.

The World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection describes good-quality social connection as important to both physical and mental health. That doesn’t mean a fitness class is a magical cure for anything, or that everybody who comes to one is looking for a bigger social life. It simply recognises that regular, positive contact with other people can be a valuable part of feeling well.

For some people, a class becomes a genuine social highlight and friendships continue well beyond the studio. For others, it’s 30-45 minutes of shared music, a couple of hellos and the comfort of being among familiar people. Both are valid and valuable.

Come for the movement — and let the social bit grow naturally

At ’en Joy, our aim is simply to make moving with other people feel welcoming: plenty of shared energy and usually lots of laughs along the way.

Choose a class because the music appeals to you, because you want to feel stronger, because you enjoy dancing, or because your back has begun making noises when you put your socks on.

The social side may be your main reason for coming or it may be a lovely extra that sneaks up on you.

Sometimes progress looks like better balance, more stamina or a heavier kettlebell. Sometimes it looks like walking into a room and realising people are pleased to see you.