So, the other day a colleague said, “wouldn’t it be great if we were able to look at some key measures to determine quality of life. And, what if we could determine how these were affected by exercise”. And this was a very valid general query, but also a very personal one for those who have their quality of life impacted by the effects of stress.
As luck would have it, a group of scientists have done exactly that. They identified these quality of life measures as: boosting mental well-being, physical fitness and emotional stability. And in this spirit went about testing the effects of exercise on these measures in a group of medical students; a group known to be statistically over-represented in the effects of intense psychological distress often resulting in depression, anxiety, burnout, increased alcohol use, fatigue, and generally… low quality of life.
The thing is, this study went a tad further, it actually determined the effects of group exercise versus individual exercise, and for many it won’t come as a shock that group exercise came up trumps! Like, over 25% more effective in comparison. But what might be surprising is that although there were clear differences in the quality of life measures between the two, the results were not dependant on the intensity of the exercise. As it happens, this study, as well as a few since have shown that individual exercise is often more rigorous and yet scored low in improved quality of life measures.
Dr Dayna Yorks, Lead Researcher at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine sums this up nicely.
“The communal benefits of coming together with friends and colleagues, and doing something difficult, while encouraging one another, pays dividends beyond exercising alone.”
Now we can’t disregard the benefits of working out individually or with a personal trainer, but the effect of group exercise is significant. And as with all that appears in the fitness industry, the devil lies in the detail. Because not all group fitness classes are created equal. At NZKM we offer small classes focussing on individual attention ensuring good form and technique. A sound system of proven methods to help you achieve your goals and above all a fun environment with just the right balance of, well … quality of life measures. This is where you make that decision. Call us now.