Exercise, whether done alone or with a group, is beneficial for a person’s health. But what is more appealing to you? Walking or running alone on the street, training in a gym solo, or joining fitness classes where everyone breathes, moves in sync, and shares a collective harmony? Whatever path you choose, it doesn’t really matter - physical activity is always beneficial. Exercise offers immense advantages for mental health: it improves sleep, lifts mood, boosts energy, and enhances focus. However, research shows that group exercise holds a unique edge and can provide even greater benefits.

Team Spirit vs. Solo Workouts

Researchers have studied how group workouts can help high-stress professions, such as medical staff. At the start of the study, the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of the participants was assessed. Observations were made for both individuals who exercised alone and those who exercised in groups, with follow-ups every four weeks.

Initially, all participants had almost identical mental health indicators. After 12 weeks, those engaging in group workouts showed improvement across all areas of life quality - mental, physical, and emotional.

In contrast, the medical staff who did not participate in any group exercise and only walked or cycled to work saw little to no change in stress levels or overall life quality.

It’s important to note that generalizing these results to all high-stress groups isn’t entirely appropriate. Several factors need to be considered: the study focused only on one professional field (medical staff), and the sample size was relatively small (only 69 participants). Nevertheless, the findings still point to the power of exercising together.

Exercising in Sync

Researchers also found that synchronized group exercises (for example, rowing together) are particularly effective for building social bonds, endurance, and athletic performance. They suggest that increased stamina may be linked to the release of “feel-good” hormones which is amplified during synchronized group activity. Similar effects can occur in other group settings, such as games, rituals, or dancing.

Overall, the “exercise context” plays a key role in determining how a workout affects a person’s life quality, social interactions, and physical endurance.

The more contact, support, and engagement during exercise, the greater the benefits. Group fitness sessions are most effective when there are clear goals, friendly competition, sharing of results, and a sense of belonging and identity among participants.

Studies also show that extroverts tend to prefer group and high-intensity workouts more than introverts.

Ultimately, being active is always better than a sedentary lifestyle.

Find a physical activity you love and stick with it - whether that’s fitness classes or solo hiking in the wild.