Fitness Longevity Tip: Train for Yourself, Not for Others
It is my belief and observation that people who join group exercise classes need that group support in order to be consistent with exercise and push themselves, for accountability — what will they say if I stop showing up? kind of thing. Not only is group exercise inferior to individualized training, because it issues out blanket training regimes (with few modifications, if offered) to the entire group, but group exercise often leads to injury. This is because the average person cannot effectively fight peer pressure. If everyone is lifting heavy (even if their form/execution is deplorable) they must lift heavy too. Group exercise is like a middle school gym class, often laughable, and headed by someone with a minor education in fitness.
Thanks to my education and experience as a personal trainer, it has always been very clear to me that the best way for anyone to take care of their body and reach their goals is through individualized training. So, avoid the injuries. Avoid the peer pressure. Avoid the hyped-up CrossFit and boot camp culture. Find an experienced and knowledgeable personal trainer who can write an individualized routine based on your current physical condition, health, and goals. Or, educate yourself as I have. As a broke single mom, I couldn’t afford a trainer, so I became my own. Look to professional institutions and professional coaches for educational material, and focus on individualized training — for your long-term fitness.
Individualized training > Group exercise
As an athlete for over 22 years and a broke single mom for most of that time, I created brokesinglemomfitness.com, now LLAFIT.com, to aid anyone who believes the road to fitness requires a lot of cash or time. In reality, the way to fitness is paved with knowledge and firm principles; teaching readers how to master both is the goal of this site. LLAFIT – Lifelong Applied Fitness