Exercise class, so much more than planks: Added benefits to fitness groups include afternoon tea and (healthy) cake!

Unexpected benefit of fitness class, teatime, hosted by fellow classmates and attended by our instructor.

In the barrage of news stories that fill my daily on-line media scroll, a recent headline made me not only pause and smile, but offer an audible affirmation to no one but my laptop. The bold text, above the  article from The Atlantic (November, 2024), read: "A Ridiculous, Perfect Way to Make Friends:  Group fitness classes aren't just about exercise". 

The author of the article, Mikala Jamison, who is both an indoor cyclist instructor and attendee of other exercise classes, asserts that making friends is an unexpected byproduct of attending group workouts. She observed relationships developing in fitness classes from romantic dating to post-Pilates coffees. Jamison also saw personal changes: in class she was a "better version of [her]self, warm, welcoming and encouraging." In her mid-thirties, she's made many good friends in these group active-focused activities and, found that "research . . . suggests that the glow of exercise's feel-good chemicals has interpersonal benefits."

Rosemary, classmate, afternoon tea host

Rosemary, Pam among the tea fare creators

Like Jamison, I, too, have found that exercise class is more than just yoga poses and planks (although, with regards to the latter, on the balance sheet of activity, I'm running a bit in the "red" on those), but I had a head start in the buddy connection. My "best-tea", Pam, invited me to join her exercise class a year and a half ago. My main motivation was nothing more than to keep active. I wasn't focused on weight loss (though that's debatable as to whether that should be) or training for a marathon. I just wanted to flex and stretch within my limits in order to maintain a somewhat mobile lifestyle. Aside from succumbing to the always looming allure of our cushy recliners, my husband and I walk regularly and, depending on the season and locale, we also golf, ski and snowshoe. And, no matter how mediocre I fare in each, I enjoy participating, and want to keep doing, as many as I can.

Exercise classmates and fellow snowbirds.

So, that was my state of mind when I joined Tend, an exercise class with the motto: "strengthen, sculpt, connect." Lead by owner, Patti McGowan, a tour de force of energy, charm and encouragement in a  petite frame, the sessions emphasize stretching, mobility and setting challenges, but all within ability. The heart of the class is encouragement and community. It makes one want to come back.

In the past, I've done self-directed gym workouts, adding a year with a personal trainer, as well as home sessions with vintage Jane Fonda videos and, more recently, YouTube sessions. But, I never looked forward to any of them, and, perhaps, that's why they fizzled out.

BTS Tea at Troy Historic Village, our instructor, standing, far right

With Tend, I have not only accountability, but now, as a regular, I have a cohort. Some of the same folks who I "cow and cat" pose with in the studio, I also join for dinner, golf and, yes, afternoon tea.

In one class, I met Cheryl, who, although we'd lived in the same neighborhood for years, had never crossed paths. Our introduction at Tend, lead to not only golf, but a visit in Florida while our snow birding travels overlapped in January.

Another great connection through class is with Rosemary. We found we had a shared passion for afternoon tea that put us on the path of a "Southern-themed" tea time last summer, hosted and catered by Rosemary with the incredible assistance of, and inspiration from, her sister and Pam.  And, Patti was there, too.

Patti's support goes beyond the gym and studio, having invited us to her home as well as attending our outside interests. At one of Barb's Tea Service's tea talks at the Troy Historic Village, she was there to greet Pam and I before, during and after.

Tend's mission is real and, without a doubt, there's a lot of emphasis on "connect". 

In addition to Jamison's article, I looked for other resources on the topic of unexpected benefits to be found in community fitness groups. I came upon a succinct synopsis from Planet Fitness. And, while it may be self-serving to its business, I found it hit many of my "truths". Here's their top five:

5 Social benefits of exercise that might surprise you

1. It makes you more reliable
2. It helps you find people you like
3. It improves your memory
4. It makes you a happier friend
5. It can help you adjust to new surroundings

    Important add to the above, Planet Fitness states: please always consult with a physician prior to beginning any exercise program. 

Another Venn diagram of people and activities (and, you know, tea time is always one of my circles!), there's an overlap of tea, golf, neighbors and exercise friends.  

Healthy cake, unexpected and more fun than planks.

With all the stated unexpected benefits of exercise class, I must also add, the individual, deliciously healthy, cake that Patti gifts us on our birthday. 

So, yes, fitness sessions can be so much more than planks . . . thank goodness!