Fitness Class Groupies
Zumba, Cycle Zone, Aqua Fit, Yoga, and Step Aerobics. These are but a few of the many group exercise classes that all of us have participated in at some point in our lives. Some of us never workout in fitness classes while some of us religiously attend the same fitness class once a week. This blog is dedicated to those fitness junkies who either regularly or every once in a while engage in group exercise classes.
When it comes to group fitness classes the type of ambiance in the room and the persona of the fitness class instructor are key factors that determine how you will feel about yourself after class (Martin & Fox, 2001). To explain why these two characteristics are so important let me tell you about the adventures of my first Zumba class.
The very first time that I attended a Zumba class I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My mom had guiltily convinced me to attend class with her at LA Fitness and when I walked into the studio my stereotypical expectations of what Zumba classes were like instantly were proved wrong. First of all, I was the youngest exerciser of the bunch that day because everyone else in that class ranged from their early 50’s to their late 70’s. Despite this age difference these exercisers were very nice and enthusiastic about Zumba and exercising in general. Slowly I had begun to actually think that this Zumba class would be fun.
Well then the instructor walks in, says hello, and the class begins. The pace at first is normal and the moves are easy, but then the pace gets faster and the moves get more complicated. Thinking that this fast pace would be difficult for the older women in the class to follow, I was proven wrong again because little did I know these women religiously attended this Zumba class once a week with the same instructor. These women had every single dance move that correlated to the specific song that was being played memorized and replicated these moves with such passion and confidence as if they were twenty-two again.
As someone who is very athletic, I began to feel extremely anxious at the fact that I, a nineteen-year-old woman, is embarrassing myself trying to do the same moves that these mature elderly women were performing effortlessly.
As if feeling anxiety about not being able to keep up was bad enough, the instructor that I had that day caused my anxiety to increase even more. His persona in class was very plain and boring. He didn’t talk once during the session, only used hand motions assuming as if everyone knew what he meant when he did the gesture, and the only songs playing throughout the class were different cover band versions of annoying pop songs.
The class eventually came to an end and I finally had time to register what had just happened. I realized that being in that overall class environment caused my social physique anxiety to increase. The reason for why I ended up feeling somewhat disappointed in myself after this Zumba class is explained perfectly by an article written by a Canadian and American researcher who studied how one’s social fitness context, in this case the types of environments present within group aerobics classes, can affect the level of an individual’s social physique anxiety (Martin & Fox, 2001). These two researchers conducted a study that required them to observe and analyze how variability in styles of group ambiance and class teacher style contribute to how individual’s felt while exercising (Martin & Fox, 2001). They found that when individuals are encompassed in a work out environment that is surrounded by other people who are energetic and interactive these individuals are more likely to experience high levels of social physique anxiety compared to individuals who are surrounded by dull and impersonal people in their fitness classes (Martin & Fox, 2001). Similarly, individuals who engage in a work out class with a teacher that is very negative, blunt, or uninterested are more likely to experience high levels of social physique anxiety in contrast to those who engage in a work out class with a teacher who is very enthusiastic and supportive (Martin & Fox, 2001).
So my cardio bunnies and Muscle Milk bros I recommend that you always surround yourself by people and teachers who make you feel comfortable with who you are regardless of the social physique anxiety that you maybe experiencing.
