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The fast paced lifestyle of today; with our increasing reliance on junk food to satisfy our nutritional requirements, our high stress jobs which leave little room for relaxation or exercise, ensures a quicker path to the grave, en route to the hospital, of course! Yet, enrolling in a group fitness program can reduce the impact of unhealthy lifestyle choices, to a large extent.

For instance, joining a group fitness program can reduce the chances of individuals contracting heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers, such as liver cancer, cancer of the kidneys, cancer of the breast and uterus, and gallbladder cancer, amongst numerous others.  This is because exercise is known to reduce elevated cholesterol levels and lower high blood pressure, too. Exercise can also improve blood sugar metabolism; whilst it is essential in the control of obesity (which is thought to play a contributory role in myriad illnesses).

Exercise can be considered a two pronged tool, in the fight against disease. This is because, on one hand, it largely prevents the onslaught of serious illnesses, before it even begins; whilst at another level, it is said to improve the survival rates of those who are already afflicted with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and such like diseases.

As is readily apparent, regular exercise is, indeed, beneficial to the health of all. So, without undue delay, enrol in a group fitness program and enjoy the benefits it brings, physically, mentally and socially, too. After all, your health is not a plaything, which can be compromised.

Many people get bored when doing exercises alone. Unless you are super focused on attaining a certain level of fitness, you will get bored after a few sessions, mostly because you are on your own. Even if you are under the supervision of a professional personal trainer, nothing can give you the thrill and fun of doing group exercise. Group exercises not only give relief to the body but also a variety to the mind.

Factoring in the satisfaction of mind can be a novel experience, even for those of you who have been in personal training for a long time. When doing group exercises, good mental health is automatically obtained in many ways. As opposed to exercising alone, group exercising involves social interaction, which is one of our most basic requirements for the sanity of the mind. You will have a whole group of people supporting you in your weaknesses and cheering on you in your achievements, bringing in immense mental satisfaction.

If you are a first timer to working out under a personal trainer, it is fair to have some jitters beforehand. What if the personal training program is too tough on me? What if I cannot do the exercises prescribed by my trainer? These are some of the questions which run through a person’s head before starting an individual workout session. If you become a part of a beginner’s group exercise programs, you will be spared all the mental worry as you will be in the same fitness level as your companions.

In addition to strenuous exercises, methodologies such as yoga, aerobics, and dancing, also bring forth a highly relaxed mind in addition to the workout.

Are you one of those people who hate the thought of being cooped up in a gym; yet have joined one, for the benefits it offers, in terms of a healthier lifestyle? Well, this is one instance where (contrary to popular belief) you can have your cake and eat it, too; as enrolling in an outdoor fitness program will enable you to enjoy the peace of nature whilst working out.

There are numerous benefits that an outdoor fitness program can bring about. Firstly, you breathe cleaner air. This can, indeed, be refreshing and invigorating. When exercising outdoors, you also get a healthy dose of vitamin D, without the aid of artificial supplements and without the incurrence of any additional cost (although it may be prudent to apply some sunscreen, too, if stepping out in the heat of the afternoon sun).

Exercising outdoors, also, helps boost the immune system. This fact is re-iterated, by certain research findings, which state that people who engage in a moderate work-out, outdoors; are 20% to 30% less likely to catch colds, than others.

When you enrol in an outdoor fitness program, you also offer your mind some healthy stimulation. This is because nature is endowed with changing terrain, and it offers a break from the rigid monotony of a cold, hard gym floor.

As is clearly evident, enrolling in an outdoor fitness program can be a life changing experience. Who knows; – after a few such sessions, you may feel like you can take on the world, and be confident enough to even consider participating in the Olympics!

Being obese is not just unattractive; it can be unhealthy, too. Grim statistics highlight this fact. For instance, sources state that around thirty thousand deaths per year can be attributed to be obesity, directly or indirectly. Scary, isn’t it? But it is not too farfetched, when you consider the fact that diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancer, can be linked to individuals being overweight.

So if you are overweight, it is time to get off the couch. A well-balanced diet and a steady exercise regimen will certainly pave the way for a healthier lifestyle.

However, the drawback of following dietary trends or popular exercise routines is the fact that such fads may not suit your personality, taste or lifestyle. So, what do you do? Consulting a qualified nutritionist or an experienced dietician would go a long way in ensuring that you have a well-balanced dietary plan, which is ideal for you. Similarly, obtaining the services of a personal trainer would be ideal when formulating a tailor-made exercise regimen that is made with your every requirement in mind.

A personal trainer can be counted on as a great ally in your fight against flab. He/she will have the relevant knowledge to guide you in your weight loss journey, with enough experience to know what works and what doesn’t. A personal trainer would also provide encouragement when you are discouraged, and motivate you when you simply want to pack it all up and quit.

With all these resources at hand, there is certainly no excuse for being fat, anymore. So make up your mind and shed those unwanted kilos, fast.

Do you like the thought of exercising outdoors? Yet, does jogging alone, carry little appeal to you? Well, by engaging in outdoor personal training, you can exercise outdoors, under the guidance of a personal trainer who will have your best interests at heart.

The concept of outdoor personal training, certainly, seems to be catching on, fast. Small wonder, considering the innumerable benefits, such programs have on offer. For instance, exercising outdoors helps the body to boost its natural immune system. Another benefit of exercising outdoors is that it helps people steer away from indoor pollutants, by providing them with easy access to crisp, clean air. Also, exposure to sunlight provides absorption of vitamin D; whilst mental stimulation, too, can be sought, when exercising outdoors.

The benefits of personal training too, are many. Firstly, it is a fitness regime that incorporates your personal needs and goals. The next step would be the achievement of these goals. Here, too, a personal trainer will be invaluable; as he/she will help you optimize each work out, by ensuring that the fitness targets set out at the beginning are met, within a stipulated time frame. A personal trainer will also, provide encouragement when necessary (especially when you are hankering for morale boost) and be a driving force in your pursuit of fitness.

Combine the benefits of personal training with the advantages of exercising outdoors, and voila! You have a winner! After experiencing the benefits outdoor personal training; in all probability, you will never renew your gym membership again!

Admittedly, exercising alone, can be boring. So, the obvious answer seems to be, (no, not the avoidance of exercise!) enrolment in a group exercise program. Whether the group exercise program is formulated to incorporate exercising with your partner, a group of friends or your family; the benefits derived from it, can be numerous. Five such benefits are listed below, for easy reference.

1) Group exercise is a structured activity. This helps people work to a plan and master certain techniques, which in turn, will help them maximize results and give their confidence a much needed boost.

2) A group exercise program creates a sense of accountability, in its participants. To elaborate further, this means that should a person feel like backing off or calling it quits, he/she needs to consider not just the personal implications of such a decision, but its impact on the group as a whole, too.

3) In any activity, we need motivation, to keep going forward. Exercise is no different, and group exercise provides that motivation; as it has, at its very core, like-minded people all pursuing a single goal.

4) Group exercise programs also help people improve their relationships with each other. Bonding over a common interest, has proven to be an effective tool in relationship building; and what better way to do this, than over exercise?

5) Most importantly, perhaps, group exercise can be fun. A few goof ups, a few laughs and a few shared jokes, will make this an activity that everyone is bound to enjoy.

Therefore, as can be clearly seen, the benefits of group exercise, is not confined to physical fitness, alone. It has social and emotional advantages too, which many indeed, find hard to resist.

Spending hour after hour on a machine in a gym or at home is what puts most people off exercises for good. At present, most people are under the impression, that in order to get a good workout, it is essential to do exercise on some sort of a machine. People tend to go for expensive machines and equipment, in order to achieve fitness when what they need is right under their noses. The outdoors is one of the best places to get exercise and enjoy it too.

Walking or jogging can be considered as the most basic and simple form of exercise. Jogging or walking can be done either on a treadmill at home, at the gym, or it can be done outdoors. If you take a vote, may people would prefer to walk or jog outdoors but are reluctant to do so because they are under the misconception that machines somehow will give them a better workout.

There are many advantages of outdoor fitness as compared to machines. When working out at a gym, you will be doing your routines with a lot of other people. A feeling of crowdedness can result from this. Outdoor fitness on the other hand gives you plenty of fresh air and peace of mind, which are important when it comes to mind-body balance.

Outdoor fitness programs are getting popular in almost all the areas of fitness exercises. Opting for working out outdoors means that you also have to have proper sports clothing. Make sure that you grab suitable clothing before you begin your outdoor fitness program.

The entertainment industry has taken a lot of our time and partly because of it, people are becoming increasingly unhealthy. It is wise to question what exactly we are getting, other than obesity and lethargy, from TV shows, video games, and other usual forms of entertainment. Many people are addicted to soap operas, realty TV shows, and video games, which do not give them anything productive in return. Incorporating fitness programs into the entertainment can make a world of difference in the lives of the general public.

The revolution of combining entertainment and fitness has already begun in the form of interactive fitness technology. Instead of sitting slack-jawed in front of the television or watching some person in a realty show rock climbing, you too can get a similar experience thanks to modern technology. There are gyms at present where you can get visual stimulation while working out on machines so that your fitness program seems more fun and entertaining. Rather than your child playing video games all day, you can give him a 3D fitness experience at a gym where there are 3D visuals running along with exercising machines.

If you cannot afford a gym with 3D visual stimulation, there are other forms of entertainment which can be incorporated into your fitness program. Instead of simply running on a treadmill, you can have a visually motivating video in front of you. Instead of simply watching your everyday TV shows, you can tune onto a fitness channel and actually follow the fitness programs on it. Investing in an iPod or a portable CD player will also increase your fun while working out.

Though many people think that self training is the best way to achieve a higher level of fitness, this is not always true. It is tested and proven that group fitness programs can be more effective when it comes to losing or gaining weight as compared to self training.

The first plus point is the social interaction when it comes to group fitness programs. You are exercising with a group of people who wish to achieve pretty much the same goal as you are. In self training exercise programs, you are practically on your own and do not have anyone to compare your progress with. When exercising with a group of people, you have a whole group of people to encourage you and there is also the added perk of meeting new people.

Another advantage of going for group fitness programs is the cost effectiveness. If you are self training, you will have to buy the necessary equipment in order to get good results. More often than not, buying expensive exercising equipment does not happen and therefore the effectiveness of the workout is relatively less. When you join a group fitness program, you will have the privilege of using all the modern exercising equipment, at a much reduced cost.

Unlike when doing self training and exercises, in most group fitness programs there will be a personal trainer in charge. He will give individual attention to each member of the group and will make sure that all the people in his group are making progress towards their goals.

The old adage states that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But with all the inorganic fertilizer and pesticides that are frequently used in fruit cultivation now, this may not ring wholly true, anymore. Therefore with the changing times, I feel, the equivalent new adage should be, “group fitness training a day keeps the doctor away”.

Amusing as that statement may seem, on the surface; it is founded on reality. This is because exercise acts as a deterrent against numerous illnesses ranging from heart disease to blood pressure to diabetes. Morbid obesity or even being a mere few pounds overweight, is thought to increase the chances of an individual contracting cancer; and here too, exercise plays a pivotal role in reducing those extra kilos and thereby reducing the chance of individuals contracting obesity-related diseases.

Group fitness training is also good for recuperation. This is because moderate exercise helps boost the body’s immune system. Therefore sufferers of serious diseases are frequently advised to engage in a regular fitness regimen to boost their chances of survival.

Exercise is not only beneficial to physical health, but it has been found to have a positive impact on mental health, too. This is because exercise is known to relieve stress; and it also helps release chemicals such as Serotonin and Dopamine which are thought to help in the fight against depression and certain other mental health problems.

So, the fact that group fitness helps reduce illness, is indeed, not too far from the truth.  After all, with regular exercise, visits to the doctor can be kept to a minimum, other factors being equal, of course.