The hottest new trend in fitness is actually really old

There’s nothing new about exercising in a group. And yet, group training consistently tops lists for hottest new trends in the industry. 

Which begs the question: Why?

Maybe because we’re getting better at studying the positive effects. Recent studies have confirmed what our ancestors already knew: exercising with other people is really good for you. Better, in fact, than exercising by yourself. (It also happens to be quite profitable, but more on that later.) 

Here at Motosumo, we’re obsessed with group fitness, and we wanted to see how this so-called trend got started. So, we delved into the history and tried to pinpoint the physical, mental, and financial benefits it has for us today.

Disclaimer: If you don’t care about the history of group fitness (and, hey, unless you’re some kind of nerd, why would you?) scroll down to see how group fitness can get you more members and make you more money. 

Prehistoric Fitness

Human beings are not, by nature, lazy. For most of our existence we’ve had a biological imperative to stay fit. In around 10,00 BCE, humans were hunter-gatherer and had to be fit enough to spend hours, sometimes days, collecting food and tracking down prey. This was done in groups. We were probably super ripped back then. But also, constantly hungry and terrified.

Ancient Greece

Much of how we think about exercise today comes from the ancient Greeks. For them, a healthy mind could not exist without a healthy body. They were also very into physical beauty. Obsessed with it, in fact. Like us, they exercised for both health and aesthetic reasons. They invented the gymnasium. Quite similar to the modern gym or wellness center. 

These open-air spaces were for exercise and socializing. There were various activities, including running, jumping, wrestling and boxing, all backed by rhythmic music. They even had personal trainers. And once you finished a workout, you could get a massage. However, to enjoy the gymnasium, you had to be a man. Oh, and you had to work out in the nude (gymnasium comes from the Greek word for naked, gymnos).

Ancient Rome

The Romans weren’t much better at gender equality. They valued exercise and fitness but mostly for the purpose of warfare. As the empire expanded, they needed lots of strong, fit men to throw spears and bash people over the head. Once their empire was established, the Romans got lazy. Lazy and overweight. 

After several generations of overindulgence, they were overrun by the Barbarians, who were still living an active, nomadic lifestyle. That was the beginning of the end for the Ancient world. And when it died, so did the Greek obsession with physical fitness.

Fitness in the New World

Group fitness as we know it today started in America. There were a few precursors to the fitness crazes of the 20th century. In the 1800s, Catharine Beecher, an American educator, came up with a program of calisthenics which looked a lot like modern aerobics. 

Similar programs popped up all over the country. They were all about raising the collective health of the community, and, by extension, the nation. America was asserting itself, trying to find its own identity. And that identity was all about being strong and fit. But society was changing, and the collective health of the public was about to take a nosedive.

The industrial revolution

The industrial revolution completely changed the way we live. In the West, it meant mass migration to cities, where life wasn’t as physically strenuous. People moved around a lot less, and humans became more sedentary. Advances in medicine meant that certain life-threatening diseases were dying out. New problems emerged. Things like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Much like in Ancient Rome, prosperity brought about a decline in public health. By the 1960s, heart disease had become one of the leading causes of death. Something had to be done.

Soon, the link between exercise and good health became ingrained in the public consciousness, thanks in part to the work of people like Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, whose books inspired millions to pursue a more active lifestyle. There was a renewed interest in fitness, but city life had changed the dynamics of social relationships. We became more isolated, more individualistic. For a while, group fitness gave way to the cult of the individual.

The death (and rebirth) of group fitness

Even though group fitness never really disappeared in the 20th century, our ideas about fitness certainly changed. Several fitness trends, like the 70s and 80s obsession with jogging, redefined exercise as something private. Something personal. Rather than work out with a group of strangers, we wanted to plug our earphones in, press play on our Walkmans, and drown out the world for a bit. Yet we couldn’t shake the impulse to work out with others.

TV instructors like Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda sold millions of VHS tapes. These kitschy workouts gave people the feeling of exercising in a group, from the comfort of their living rooms. In the following decades, group fitness exploded. There were a million different fads. And a few that have become mainstays in gyms all over the world. Things like Jazzercise®, Zumba®, and indoor cycling.

Today, group fitness is ubiquitous. And all but the most basic gyms offer some kind of group activity. Its popularity has exceeded all other trends. Including an endless torrent of gadgets and tech novelties. 

Group fitness isn’t just a fad; it’s here to stay. And we can now pinpoint why it’s so good for us.

The benefits of group fitness

It really isn’t rocket science. Humans are social animals. Interacting with other people does something to our brain chemistry. We feel happier, more fulfilled, better understood. And in case you had any doubts, it’s all backed up by numbers. EMD UK, a British governing body for group exercise, recently published a white paper on the subject. And the findings are startling. 

Group fitness increases motivation

Motivation is everything. And if we’re looking for a source of motivation, we need look no further than other people. Especially when it comes to fitness. Studies show that we’re substantially more likely to stick with an exercise regimen if we make friends. Gym members who attend group classes are 26% less likely to quit the gym. Great news for those of us looking a helping hand getting fit. Great news, too, for gym owners looking for ways to increase member retention.

It helps you lose weight more efficiently

According to one study, we’re more likely to lose weight when we work out with others. The study followed participants of a weight-loss program. 95% of those who went with a friend completed the program. Of those who went alone, only 76% made it to the end. And the first group were almost twice as likely to keep the weight off.

It's healthier than exercising alone

Research shows that group fitness is more effective than exercising alone. It enhances all the good stuff: weight loss, lower blood pressure, and a reduction in disease factors. It can also lead to improved mental health. One study showed that working out in a group was 26% more effective at lowering stress than working out alone. Which makes sense. The simple act of being around others, sharing a positive activity, smiling and interacting, helps us feel like we belong. It mitigates feelings of loneliness. It’s a big part of what makes us human and what makes us happy.

It's more profitable

It’s a simple question of space. Or rather, how best to use it. Think of it this way: You have a certain number of square feet in your gym. If you dedicate most of that to weights and machines, there simply isn’t the same potential for turnover. Dedicating an area group fitness means more people working out per square meter. This is especially true with shorter, more intense activities, like HIIT. And it also opens you up to a much wider market of potential gym-goers.

Gym operators agree

Operators all over the world are seeing the advantages. Steve Pirt is director of franchise operations at UFC Gym. He sees the benefits of group fitness in action every day and agrees with all of the above. “It’s true,” he says. “Individuals are more motivated in a group setting compared to those that exercise alone. There's a boost in motivation and exertion, leading to increased attendance. And members who spend more time in their club stay members for longer and refer friends at a higher rate.”

He also has a few more benefits to add to the list: “Accountability, efficiency, community, mentoring, inspiration, diversity, competition, fun and results,” he says enthusiastically. And community might be the most important of all. “Group fitness has this amazing ability to create real community experiences. And that’s what underpins every successful fitness brand.”

Community

And therein lies the secret to the recent obsession with group fitness. “Joining a group class lets even the most novice exerciser gain a comfortable level of understanding really quickly,” says Steve. “And people tend to be welcomed into a group instantly and without judgement. Which is so important. It gets rid of all that apprehension that the typical gymgoer experiences.”

Motosumo totally agrees. Our app is all about community fitness. It’s the whole reason we got into the fitness game. And everything we do, from adding a new instructor feature, or developing a fun new game for an indoor cycling class, is about building communities. The fact that group fitness is profitable is an added bonus. After all, the ancients weren't exercising together in order to make money. They did it because relationships and social interactions were, and always will be, fundamental.

It’s a sentiment that our friend Steve sums up perfectly, and one that can be applied to our lives today. “Ultimately it comes down to building relationships. And creating healthy, fun, family-friendly environments that are adapted to our hectic, modern-day way of life.”

Looking for an affordable way to update your gym's group fitness classes? Book a FREE five-minute demo.