##GroupFitness##

Tips for Choosing Best Group Fitness Class for You

With fitness resolutions at the top of the list for many of us this New Year, we find ourselves joining a new gym or group fitness class for the very first time. But deciding what is best can be hard with all the options – boot camp, Pilates, spin, yoga, and barre.  The group fitness instructors from Cincinnati Sports Club offer up some helpful tips to help you ease into things and find the right gym and group fitness class based upon your goals, fitness level, preferences, lifestyle and budget:

Variety of Offerings

There is a wide difference in the offerings of many gyms and boutique studios. Here are some general rules of thumb to help you get started in narrowing down the field:

• Clubs/Gyms usually offer a wider offering of classes, ranging from yoga to strength training to HIIT (high-intensity interval training), to Pilates and spinning, allowing you to sample a variety of classes to find out what you enjoy.
• Boutique studios often specialize in a particular type of workout (i.e. Pilates, yoga, barre or spinning), offering a more focused and tailored experience.
• Clubs/Gyms often have a wider variety of equipment and other amenities such as pools, saunas and personal training, so ask yourself, are these extras important to you?
• Club/Gym memberships can be more cost-effective, especially if you plan on using the various amenities and attending a variety of classes.  Boutique studios often require you to pay per class, and often offer discounts based upon the number of classes taken within a certain time period.
• Factor in the location of the facilities you are considering and ask yourself, how close am I to my home or workplace, and will the distance allow me to attend on a regular basis?  Remember that you want to set yourself up for success and create a lasting habit.

Group Fitness Goals

In terms of the Group Fitness Classes that are best suited to you:

• Ask yourself what you are trying to achieve. Is it cardio health? Consider spinning, aerobics or kickboxing. For strength training, try a body pump or circuit class. Yoga and Pilates are great for flexibility and core strength. A great way to keep it fresh, meet new friends and keep the boredom at bay, is to mix it up doing a different type of class each day of the week.
• Be realistic about your current fitness level, in order to set yourself up for success.
• If you are a beginner, start with a low-impact class, and work your way up to higher intensity classes. If you are more experienced, you might opt for some HIIT training, spinning or advanced yoga.
• If you have any injuries or health issues, chose a class that won’t exacerbate them. For example, if you have joint issues, choose a low-impact class such as aquacise or yoga.
• If you are new to a class, Show up 10 minutes early for class and introduce yourself to the instructor. Let them now that you are new to the class, and that you may need to modify accordingly if you are unable to do what the rest of the class does initially.
• Ask yourself, are the times of the group fitness classes being offered convenient for you, and will this timeslot work for me on a regular basis?
• And be sure to ask you are able to take a few trial classes as part of an introductory offer to see if you enjoy them.

With more 105 free Group Fitness Classes each week, the Cincinnati Sports Club has been continually evolving and growing to meet the changing needs of their members, across 16 sprawling acres, providing the best elements of a health club, social club, and medical wellness facility to fulfill the whole person. For more information, visit cincinnatisportsclub.com.

3950 Red Bank Road. Cincinnati, OH 45227     T: (513) 527-4000