We all know that success in fitness involves working out, eating right, managing stress and getting proper rest. What I bet you didn’t know is that one of the most overlooked indicators of physical wellness is a strong sense of community.
The desire for community and connection are hardwired in us from birth. This longing is why we find comfort with our families, seek to belong among our friends, try out for teams, join clubs, get drinks with our co-workers afterwork and spend our hard-earned money at concerts, clubs and cinemas. It’s all about community. And community is about connecting.
Ok, but what does all of that have to do with fitness? We’re getting there. I promise.
To truly understand the impact community has on our wellbeing we can look at its role in longevity. Have you ever heard of Blue Zones? They are documented locations across the world where people purportedly live longer, happier and healthier lives than the rest of us. Researchers have discovered nine commonalities that exist in each of these zones that suggest why this is the case. Not only do these people move more, eat well and limit their stress, but they are also found to have a strong sense of purpose, put their families first AND “were born into social circles that supported healthy behaviour”.
And there is the crux of it all. The communities we are a part of either help support or hinder healthy behaviour.
Let’s breakdown how:
Community has the power to reinforce positive habits
Accountability. If nothing else, community (be it group training, a personal trainer or workout buddy) provides accountability to our goals. When someone is waiting for you to show up and do your workout, you’re more likely to do it. If someone is looking at your food log, you are more likely to follow through and write down everything you eat. When someone else is looking over your shoulder, you are more likely to stick to your plan because your goals go beyond yourself. There is a need not to disappoint those in our community that encourages us to do and be better not just for ourselves, but for others.
There is a reason group training facilities like F45 and OrangeTheory do so well. When we commit to our goals in front of a group of people it becomes a whole lot harder to renege.
Community has the power to eliminate bad habits
Yep, just as community has the power to instill positive habits, it also has the ability to eliminate bad. A community, especially a fitness community, is like a panopticon–a circular prison with cells arranged around a central well, from which prisoners could at all times be observed. The idea behind the panopticon is that even though it’s physically impossible for one guard to watch all prisoners at once, there is the possibility that you are being observed at any given time. Thus, prisoners behave as if they are always being watched.
It’s much less appealing shovelling a pint of Häagen-Dazs down after dinner every night when you know you may need to explain yourself at your next weigh in. You’re less likely to go out for pizza two nights in a row if there’s a chance you could run into one of your gym mates. And it’s much harder to skip workouts when you know there’s a group of people waiting for you to begin. When there is constantly someone watching and assessing your habits, you’re much more likely to be on your best behaviour.
Community provides a sense of Competition
It’s been proven time and time again that working out with a partner is more effective than working out alone. When exercising with a buddy, a group or a trainer you are more likely to push yourself harder, workout longer and have more fun. It’s a primal drive we all share: this desire to be the strongest, fastest, best. (And if not that, then as least not the weakest or slowest left at the watering hole.)
If your goal is to increase strength, gain muscle, be quicker, lose weight, improve flexibility, there is no faster way to do it than by introducing a bit of healthy competition into your community. It’s why we all love a 21-Day Challenge.
A Sense of Community Improves Mental Health, Reduces Stress & Improves Cardiovascular Health
Not only can a sense of community and belonging help you stay on track, but it has been proven to have physical benefits as well. “Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.”
Feeling like you are part of a community can eliminate the negative impact caused by loneliness. It can also help restore hormonal balance, which improves our ability to achieve physical goals.
So, what does all of this mean in the long run?
It means that when you’re joining a gym the culture can make or break your progress. While group workouts have been proven, in many cases, to provide more effective workouts that require less time and more fun, you don’t necessarily need to join an F45 or OrangeTheory to get those group benefits.
You want to look for a gym that fosters a culture of support and community for its members. What does that look like? Well, do you know the people who work there? Do they know you? Are you comfortable asking employees or other members for assistance or clarification, if you need it? Do you feel safe? Do you feel welcome? Do you feel like your success, health and wellness matter?
If the answer to any of the above questions is no, then you might need to look for a new gym or community that has your well-being truly at heart.
Become a part of our community by following us on Instagram or Facebook. You can also reach out with any questions or to book your consultation today, here.
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References:
Buettner, D. (2021, October 6). Reverse Engineering Longevity. Blue Zones. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.bluezones.com/2016/11/power-9/
Cohut, M. (2017, October 30). Getting fit with friends May Boost Life Quality. Medical News Today. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319914
Cook, G. (2013, October 22). Why we are wired to connect. Scientific American. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-are-wired-to-connect/
Kisner, K. (2022, April 15). The Benefits of Being Social. VIDA Fitness. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://vidafitness.com/the-benefits-of-being-social/
Stevens, M., Lieschke, J., Cruwys, T., Cárdenas, D., Platow, M. J., & Reynolds, K. J. (2021). Better together: How group-based physical activity protects against depression. Social Science & Medicine, 286, 114337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114337
Yorks, D. M., Frothingham, C. A., & Schuenke, M. D. (2017, November 1). Effects of group fitness classes on stress and quality of life of medical students. De Gruyter. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2017.140/html
