FIND YOUR FITNESS TRIBE
AND MAKE 2017 YOUR PERSONAL BEST
Sources : ExperienceLife . com
Forget trying to find the latest fitness craze on Instagram or investing in wearable technology to track the number of crunches you do in a minute – 2017 is all about finding your fitness tribe . Sticking to your fitness goals is hard , especially when you are trying to do it alone , but there is a way to achieve that personal best while improving your overall wellbeing and growing your social circle , and that ’ s by taking a collective approach to exercise . Countless research supports the idea that working out in pairs , groups or as part of a ‘ tribe ’ can significantly boost your performance , dramatically reduce stress , and increase your chances of sticking to a regime . Research published in The Psychology of Sport and Exercise in 2011 revealed that the exercise habits of others have a positive impact on your own , while a separate study confirmed that those who work out alone had a 43 % drop out rate compared to those who had a workout buddy ( which was as low as 6 %). Having someone else invested in your fitness journey means having someone to motivate you on days when hitting the gym is the last thing you want to do , plus it gives you accountability as someone else is relying on you to be there for them – that means not ditching them when a run in the rain isn ’ t your most appealing offer of the night . Gym buddies and fitness families also make great support networks , cheering you on to reach that next goal and celebrating with you when another achievement is ticked off . Despite modern life becoming increasingly isolating and stressful for many , humans are naturally social creatures who thrive on the opportunity to connect with others who share a common goal , which in this case revolves around fitness . If you want to one day run a marathon , find someone who shares that same dream . If you want to learn a new sport , find a local team and join their beginner ’ s class . The odds are you ’ ll be much more likely to succeed in your new endeavour than if you tried to go it alone . As you and your tribe grow , research shows that you will develop a shared emotional connection that blooms when one or all of you achieve something new . Think about it ; how amazing would it be to finally bench-press your chosen weight or complete a 10k run and have a whole team of supporters sharing in your joy ? It ’ s much better than a celebratory solo smoothie on the way home .
ISSUE # 03 | 2017 | SkinHealthMagazine . com 21