Summer is on us and the numbers in the gym are growing. Summer is always a big incentive for people to get into fitness mode, what with no bulky sweaters and jackets to hide under, the days are longer too, and sunshine generally puts people into a sunny, active disposition.

If you belong to the category who is yet undecided between a gym membership, dance class or getting a stationary bike at home, or if you have just not been able to find an exercise you absolutely love to do, or you have tried it all and hated it… you aren’t alone. It also doesn’t mean that there isn’t an exercise out there for you. What you probably need though is a friend to workout with. Sometimes having a support system keeps us moving. Try joining a group class to find out.

There are big advantages to joining a group class — it’s a whole lot more fun than sweating it out by yourself. When you join a group, people look out for you, motivate you and help you stay accountable. There are different elements to a group class — right from the atmosphere to the music and the energy in the room. The energy of many makes exercise fun, motivating and inspiring. Working out with others also ensures that we push ourselves a little more.

Ensure that you are training in a reputed place which offers classes from professionally certified trainers. Classes should be a minimum of 45 minutes. A group exercise class offers a workout for all levels ranging from beginner to advanced. A structured exercise class is especially beneficial for those with limited knowledge about safe and effective exercise programming. Group classes also offer adequate warm up and cool down sessions. If you are struggling, the instructor should guide you through modified version of the exercise.

Being part of a group class ensures that you have committed a specific time to exercise and are less likely to deviate. Group Classes tend to emphasise on variety and with the growing number of class types, you’ll always have something to look forward to. Additionally instructors vary from session to session and even an identical class will be

different depending on who is teaching.

Stop thinking and start exercising. Eventually you will know what works best for you — individual workouts or group sessions. The important thing is to incorporate organised exercise into your lifestyle at least 30 to 45 minutes, four days a week.

The author is a certified professional fitness instructor, founder and master trainer at Rage Fitness and a fitness columnist who specialises in mixed martial arts