by: Kevin Vachon, Health & Fitness Specialist
My beginnings with group exercise classes started way back in the day when I was still a Karate blue belt. As a way to help out at the dojo, I taught a mixed group of people Cardio Kickboxing, an hour long class with some shadow boxing, heavy bag work and a bit of body weight exercises. Plenty of guys showed up to this class.
Years later, I became a member of the Pulse Generator team
and resumed teaching group classes. These classes attract a lot of regulars.
The kicker, of the classes I currently teach, only two participants are men.
Good for you guys. This got me thinking lately as to why I had such a diverse
group back then and not so much now.
Some men will argue that they do not have time for classes
or that the PG class schedule does not work for them. These reasons have merit,
but the same reasons/excuses apply to women as well. Why then are there so many
ladies in these classes and so few men?
FEAR: Perhaps fear of showing up to a class for the first time and feeling like you have no idea what you are doing is holding some guys back. This could be said for the women who do classes as well. Of course nobody wants to feel like they are out of place, yet somehow the women get over themselves and put their trust in the leadership of the group instructor. When you do this, you might just have a fun time, while learning something in the process.
|THRIFTY: I am about as frugal as they come so take it from me, we guys like a bargain. Why would we spend a few dollars on a class, when we can just do our regular workout at no charge? Truthfully, we can do our own workouts, but are they as effective as they could be? Paying for a class is an investment in your time. My observation for many of our members, who workout on their own, is that there is often a bit too much time socializing or time spent contemplating problems at work or the mysteries of life. Many times it could be argued that “I am resting between sets”. These lengthy workouts are much like watching cable television where half of the allotted time is commercials. Time to PVR your workouts and be more efficient with your rest periods or let us do it for you when you join a class. The well thought out programming of a class will push you to a new intensity and will deliver better results.
I DON’T DANCE: The times have changed, and exercise classes are NOT all some sort of dance aerobics. Do a little research and you will see that the type of classes available have evolved immensely and there are many non-dance style classes out there. The current PG schedule only has a single dance style class. I bet we offer something that would be great for you.
OK guys (and gals), complete the following statement. I have
had the same routine for the last (your number here) years? Ever wonder
why you have tight body parts and you are out of alignment? Mixing things up
every now and again will remind you of the body parts you have not been using
for a while. Classes can combine many elements of a complete workout resulting
in better lifts and more endurance. This is great for everyday life and sport
performance. Did you hear that guys? BETTER LIFTS & MORE ENDURANCE. Who
doesn’t want that?
CHANGE: For most it is not comfortable. This is true for all people, but change in many cases can be a good thing. Joining a group class will be one of those good things. Creating a sense of community in our classes and having others around you to push you in friendly competition can be a real bonus for those not so motivated days. Networking while in class may also be a secondary bonus of showing up to get your sweat on.
So back to the question: Why do we see so few of our male
members in fitness classes at the PG? I have brought up a few points, but I am
sure there are more reasons. If you are a guy and you agree or disagree, we
would love to hear your feedback. Ladies, what are your thoughts on guys
joining you in classes? Maybe it is time for everyone to take a good look at
your current routine. A change in the way you look at your approach to fitness
may shift your perspective about group classes and may be just what you need to
get started on a new path. If you are intimidated by the thought of joining a
group class and do not know where to start, we are here to help. We have many options
to choose from and will surely welcome you. See you in class ladies…and
gentleman.
