Brittany McIntosh

Professor Ashlyn C. Walden

English 1102-031
18 March 2014
Assignment 2: Group Fitness
Introduction:
Have you ever passed a group of people working out together outside or in a fitness class at the
gym? The instructor is easy to spot, giving out instructions, tips and yelling out motivational
slurs. Well these are group exercise classes and they benefit people in more ways than just
increasing physical fitness levels. I have researched these benefits through readings, videos,
interviews, surveys and personal observations. Throughout this paper we will discuss
implications of group fitness and how it is more fun, rewarding, and lends physical, emotional,
and social rewards; however it can also hinder these same aspects of physical and emotional
fitness.
Group fitness classes are usually held in a gym setting whether a multipurpose room, dance
room, cycle studio, swimming pool or outdoor track. There are classes for people who want to
increase their cardio, muscle strength, overall fitness levels and or lose weight and gain lean
muscle mass. There is a class that will match up to everyones needs, you just have to research
the descriptions and find the one(s) that best suit your preferences and goals. The instructors of
the class must be certified by the American Council on Exercise to teach the classes. The
certification ensures you are getting correct and safe instruction.
Being a member of the YMCA since middle school has given me ample opportunity to benefit
from all kinds of group fitness programs. I have taken aerobics in high school all four years and
Commented [BM1]: Add Page Numbers

Commented [BM2]: Personal Note: To get a higher grade
come up with more cleaver titles/headings to the parts of
the paper. Only one that needs to stay the same is the
Literacy Review. Or write Clever Title: Literacy Review.
Examples: Conclusion/ So What? Maybe do Cool Down: So
What? Introduction: Warm Up
Commented [BM3]: Check citations, you need the year
after the authors name.
Commented [BM4]: Maybe get help redoing thesis
statement to say something about how people may not like
working in groups/exercising in groups for multiple reasons.
Maybe like to work out on their own time. (Everyone may
not originally be drawn to group fitness but it can be
beneficial to everyone.
attended group fitness classes at East Carolina University. This may make me bias to the benefits
of group fitness but I like to see it as I can give personal experience and proof to the subject. Ive
taken a class in just about every avenue and participated in well over twenty different group
fitness activities/classes.
Literacy Review:
Choosing a Class: Choosing an exercise class should be based on your personal interests for
maximum benefit. According to Dolans article in American College of Sports Medicine website
she explains that a lot of people struggle with time constraints when it comes to exercise. But this
problem can be eliminated when you choose to participate in an exercise class because the
majority of them only last about 35 to 45 minutes. Dolan and Wolfe make the point that exercise
classes appeal to a diverse crowd of people because you can choose the class that best lines up
with your fitness level and future goals. Frost agrees with Dolan in stating you should, choose a
group exercise class that matches your workout personality for the greatest benefits. If you
enjoy a fast paced workout and loud motivational music you should choose a Zumba or Step
Aerobics Class. If you would rather stay calm and relaxed you may be interested in Pilates or
Yoga. If your goal is cardiovascular improvement and weight loss then dance aerobics, indoor
cycling, kickboxing, or step class are great choices for you to consider (Wolfe). You should
read the descriptions of the different classes to see which one is right for you (Schlosberg and
Neporent). Some of the classes will be more aerobic, others may be meditation and yoga, and
others will be more about strength training a weights. It is all up to your personal preference
what class you are most interested based on the outcomes you wish to achieve. Finally to find
the right class you need to look for an inspiring instructor, a feel-good vibe, a tight community
and a super workout (Wagner).
Commented [BM5]: Add definitions of important terms.
For Zumba, step aerobics, fitness, Cross fit, Yoga, circuit
training. Maybe not all the classes just the ones that are
IMPORTANT to the research. Use parenthetical citations for
definitions.
Commented [BM6R5]:
Commented [BM7]: Good organization in literacy review,
covers a lot of information.
Safety:
Exercise classes are good for people with limited knowledge about fitness and working with
equipment (Dolan). Wells and Porcari agree with Dolan that it is safer to work out with a
certified professional managing your workout plan. Workout instructors must pass tests to gain
their certification to teach the classes so they prove their knowledge in the field. When you work
out alone you are more likely to hurt yourself than if you are under the supervision of a certified
instructor (Dolan). The instructors are educated on how to use equipment safely which is
important so you can benefit from the exercises. Having a certified instructor monitor your
workout, decreases your risk of physical injury, in turn increasing your potential for success in
whatever your fitness goal happens to be (Wells and Porcari).
Social and Emotional Benefits:
The social and emotional benefits to working out in a group setting fit together, as Wagner
states; social interaction in general is good for your emotional health, so when you add it to
exercise there is a win-win outcome. When evaluating benefits of group fitness, Cheskin says,
A group approach to weight loss typically benefits everyone involved and working out with
friends provides a level of accountability, which helps you carry through on your commitment to
enhance your fitness and health. When people group together sharing the same goals they can
encourage each other in the fitness arena. Wolf agrees that by attending group classes you will be
surrounded by people with similar life styles and fitness goals thus encouraging you to make
friends. Humans thrive on social interaction and so we are more likely to have fun exercising in
a group than working out on your own (Wolf). Group fitness offers social companionship that
solo training doesnt (Wagner). Schlosberg and Neporent say an advantage socially is that, you
meet interesting people of all ages and from all walks of life whom you may not have had the
pleasure of knowing otherwise. Becoming a part of a new fitness activity is a great way to
widen your social circle and you will find you have things in common with people you may
have never realized. Frost agrees classes or working out with a partner may, serve as a
foundation for long-lasting friendships or a stronger bond with people you already know that are
going into the same group exercise situation. A lot of people these days are strapped for time, so
combining exercise and social interaction is beneficial to emotional health. Overall exercising
and socializing are both important to humans emotional health, another words group fitness is a
way to integrate the two together. And in the busy world we live in any chance to kill two birds
with one stone is valuable.
Entering the Conversation:
There is an immense amount of research about how exercising in a group is beneficial to people
emotionally, socially, physically. It has also been proven working with others, humans
motivation and commitment increases on average versus working solo. However I must address
the population who may feel inferior in a large group if they are new to exercising. Some people
would rather work out alone because they feel uncomfortable because they do not know the
steps, or how to use certain equipment or they feel self-conscious about their bodies. I have
several ideas how to solve these issues so everyone feels comfortable and can reap the benefits of
working out in groups.
People uncomfortable in large groups could choose to work out under a personal trainer with
only one other person. You would still have an instructor to oversee your workout and keep you
as safe as possible. Plus the cost of the personal trainer can be split at most gyms which is always
positive. Some people feel self-conscious in group settings so making the group smaller in this
case would help them ease into working out with other people and build their confidence. To
Commented [BM8]: Add why you personally think it is
better to workout in a group. Bring it into your personal
views and not just cited proof. You CAN share your opinion
in this part.
Commented [BM9]: You may want to add a source or
conduct an interview with someone who is not interested in
group fitness. Just getting a different point of view with a
source to back it up would be helpful.
Commented [BM10]: People who are uncomfortable..
avoid these issues at a gym the instructors could offer smaller classes for beginners. This would
enable people to get used to the group dynamic and they would have more one on one
instructional time with the teacher. In these small group classes the instructor can focus on the
basics of the class and work at a slower pace to include all the members. It would be easier for
people to get to know each other in a smaller setting and to build friendships. Once they have
learned the basics and are ready to move up in the classes they will already know people in the
class. This will make them more comfortable entering a larger class.
Another idea for people who are unsure about working out in groups is to do individual activities
as a group. The instructor could hold a class where there is circuit training so there is less
organized instruction but the group elements are still present.
Motivation and Commitment:
So What?/ Conclusion:
Everyone can find a class to get involved in depending on their interests and fitness goals. I have
recorded examples of what classes you should take depending on what you are interested in. As
for people who are not interested in group fitness for whatever reason Ive given ways they can
try it out. Making smaller beginner classes or sharing a personal trainer are two good ways to
ease people into group fitness. Through my research of the benefits to group fitness I am
confident people will enjoy working in groups if they give it a try. There is such a wide range of
classes to attend it makes it easier for everyone to be included. From people who want extreme
competition like in cycle class or Cross Fit, to people who want to work out in the dim lights and
calm environment of a Yoga class. As a global community working with other people is an
Commented [BM11]: Elaborate and give more ideas than
just one to get people involved/interested in exercising in a
group.
Commented [BM12]: Copy and pasted from literacy
review and need to add motivation and commitment.
Commented [BM13R12]: Copy and pasted from literacy
review and forgot that part! Add ASAP to help with low
word count.
extremely important and something everyone has to learn to do in professional settings. Learning
to prosper in group settings will help you become successful in all aspects of life.
Through this research paper I have explored the benefits and potential drawbacks to group
fitness. I found it is both socially and emotionally beneficial, important for safety, motivational
and physically beneficial. I personally love group fitness which is why I choose to observe and
research the different facets of it throughout this semester.

Personal Note: In literacy review include information about structure/order of a workout class.
Warm up/stretch, workout, climax/heart rate increase, cool down. Find a creative way to
integrate these into my titles to make the research paper different and to steer away from using
Ashlyns example as a template.
Commented [BM14]: Too short need more elaboration,
higher word count.
Commented [BM18]: Add works cited page and
annotated bibliography

Commented [BM17]:
Commented [BM15]:
Commented [BM16R15]: