Group exercise may be even better for you than solo workouts – here's why

• Social exercise provides a sense of autonomy, making us feel more self-reliant.
• It increases connectedness with others and promotes better mental health.
• It makes the process easy and habit-forming, with your friends becoming both your cue and your reward for your actions.
• When one sees others sweating hard, it provides a raw motivation and renewed confidence, making you go the extra mile. This would not be possible alone.
• Friends provide reminders and regular doses of encouragement, helping us stay on track.
• It is easier and more fun to travel with friends to the gym.
• Friendly challenges and competition boost the intensity of our effort.
• Exercising can become a life-long habit due to the social aspects.
• Social exercising results in people attending regular sessions, coming on time and not dropping out in between.

The pandemic has severely affected social exercising, but there are few ways out. Several yoga classes have participants at safe distance from each other, and there are many running clubs where people wear masks.

Virtual classes for Yoga or aerobics are the next-best thing and offer several new benefits like flexibility of schedule and connecting with people all over the world.