The Benefits of Working Out With Others

Exercising with others is a great way to take your workouts to the next level. Whether you’re taking part in a group fitness class or working out with your friends, there are a wide range of benefits that can be gained from working out with others, including enhanced motivation, consistency and competitiveness.

At Echelon, community is at the heart of everything we do; we have seen first-hand the benefits that working out with others can have on individuals and our fitness community continues to connect likeminded people every day. In this article we are taking a closer look at the benefits that can be achieved through working out with others.

Boosted Motivation

For many people, staying motivated and consistent with workout routines is challenging, but working out as part of a group or with a partner provides the commitment and accountability that motivates you to turn up and workout. Working out with others can help to minimise the urges to skip a workout or quit altogether, as you are less likely to miss a fitness session if you know that others are relying on you. Echelon runs regular group challenges and classes, so you will get to know other riders on the Leaderboard!

Pushing Harder

As well motivating you to turn up to a class or training session, working out with others will also motivate you to work harder in each session, as individuals typically push their body harder, and for longer, when working out with people who are potentially fitter. This is based on the Köhler Theory, whereby it is human nature to not want to be the weakest link within a group setting.

A number of studies, including a study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, have found that those working out with a partner or as part of a group increased their performance compared to their solo workout output. Opting to work out in a group setting is a great way to help you push past your usual solo training threshold, helping you to work towards your fitness goals.

Increased Competitiveness

Closely linked to pushing ourselves harder, working out with others tends to spark our innate competitive streak. Group workouts often lead to positive competitiveness, where individuals look to outperform others in the group. A study at Kansas State University found that individuals who exercised with someone who they perceived as fitter as them increased their workout time and intensity by 200%, as a result of competitiveness. When it comes to working out, seeing what others are capable of can also inspire you to do more and push through mental barriers.

We encourage friendly competition amongst our members at Echelon, with our app featuring a performance Leaderboard which allows members to compete against each other for a spot on the board.

More Fun

Another great benefit of working out with other people is that you can have more fun during your workouts, as studies have found that people who work out with friends say they enjoyed the workout more than those who were working out alone. Enjoying your workouts is key to forming healthy fitness habits and will help you to stay motivated in the long run.

Build Relationships

Exercising with others is a great way to socialise, meet new people, and build relationships with people that share the same goals and interests as you. Working out with people you don’t know in a group setting provides an opportunity to build new friendships, and you will find that the people you see each week in your class, whether it’s in person or virtual, will eventually become your friends and you will look forward to interacting with them each session.

Together We Workout at Echelon

Finding others to workout with can be challenging, as you typically want to find individuals who share the same goals as you and will inspire you to work towards them. However, when you join the Echelon Fit app, you are joining the Echelon community, where you can interact with other members who are also working on their own fitness journeys.

Interested in finding new workout buddies? With our huge Black Friday savings, now is the perfect time to join the Echelon Fit app and start working out with thousands of other members.

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