This Exercise Hack Can Help You Stick to Any Fitness Program
Taylor Swift isn’t the only one with #SquadGoals. Create your own crew to make fitness fun—and keep you committed to your goals.
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Even with the best of intentions, we all bail on workouts from time to time. Work, a lack of motivation, and—let’s be real—shorter, darker days have a way of keeping us on the couch instead of at that yoga class.
Fortunately, workout squads—groups of people who exercise together—are popping up all over the country. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine’s worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2017 identified bothgroup fitness and group personal training as emerging fields.
Having a group of people to move with has real perks. “I have found that my ‘regulars’ in classes notice when their friends have missed a class or two,” says Becca Lucas, owner ofBarre & Anchor, a barre studio in Weston, MA. “Sometimes, that little bit of pressure can give you the motivation you need to attend your workout and can make you proud of yourself for attending.”
Plus, healthy habits are contagious, she says. Working out with others can also transform a workout from boring to fun. “There is nothing better than laughing while sweating. Having a supportive movement squad will help your workouts fly by, keeping things light,” says Allison English, a yoga instructor in Chicago.
But forming a workout crew isn’talwaysas simple as grabbing your closest girlfriends. Here, how to form a squad that will help you meet your goals—and even have you looking forward to exercise.
Assemble your squad
Margaret Harrison, an instructor at Boston-based indoor cycling studioThe Handle Bar, says that if you’re interested in creating a workout crew, start by joining a gym or studio that works with your schedule and aligns with your fitness priorities. “Convenience is key. If the physical activity doesn’t work with your schedule, it won’t become a hobby.”
Then, try attending the same classes each week. “By becoming a ‘regular,’ you’ll start to notice other regulars,” she says. Introduce yourself and relationships are likely to transpire naturally.
Alternatively, start online, posting onsocial media sitesand encouraging friends to share your idea with others who might be interested, notes Lucas. “By using your social media sites, you can reach more people in a short amount of time.” Sites likeMeetup.comalso list free fitness events where you can get together with likeminded people.
Look beyond your friends, urges English: “Sometimes friends are enemies to your workout routines. They might have the same blind spots that you do or encourage you to slack off and socialize.”