Solidcore, SoulCycle, CorePower, Pure Barr, HotWorx, and Barry’s Boot Camp are just a few of the many different group fitness classes one can take in the metroplex.
Group workout classes are no new invention, but because of social media workout culture and the creation of nationwide fitness corporations, this format has seen a measurable increase in popularity.
“I was doing online school at the time, so I wasn’t really getting a lot of social aspects in my day-to-day life,” SoulCycle employee Claire Dwelle said. “I got to go to class and meet new people that are just so welcoming, and eager to chat and hear about how you are.”
Group fitness is a great way to get the same gratification from organized sports without the regimented practices and time commitments that may interfere with work schedules.
“I think after you graduate high school, you want to find that same team environment and that same kind of feeling of working towards something together,” Soul Cycle Instructor, Ava Windel said . “That’s what initially drew me to group fitness.”
Classes are led by one instructor who chooses the music and that day’s workout, and is responsible for ensuring safety while cultivating a unique vibe for their class.
“I really like how the workouts are paired with the music,” senior Abbie Carrell said. “Your flow goes along with the beat of the music, which makes it more fun.”
For people who may be hesitant to work out by themselves, this format makes fitness more accessible. Having an instructor to guide people through a predetermined workout removes decision paralysis that may arise when entering a regular gym.
“I’m more motivated by the people around me, and I’m a very competitive person, so if the person next to me is giving it their all, then it makes me want to match their energy,” Carrell said.
Though these different classes have become most popular among young people, there are no restrictions as to who can attend.
“Anyone can go and enjoy a class, which I feel like I’m very much proof of this, considering I went as someone who’s younger than a lot of the people I work with,” Dwelle said. “I have found such a good community filled with people who care the most about me.”
If the idea of getting on a bike or doing a workout in a 95 degree plus room sounds less than enjoyable, there are other options available for varying skill levels. Most local libraries offer Mommy and Me yoga classes, and the YMCA has classes like chair yoga to provide people of all mobility levels opportunities to build a fitness community.
”It turns into a happy hour after class. It turns into like, ‘okay, I’ll see you next week,'” Windel said. “Every Tuesday, Thursday, you see the same people and become used to seeing them and getting to know what’s going on in their lives outside of the actual 45 minutes that you spend together.”
Studios like SoulCycle, with over 60 studios nationwide, and CorePower, with over 220 locations across the country, allow the same sense of community to be transported across state lines.
“One thing about Soul Cycle is that the community goes beyond just Dallas and just this market,” Windel said. “I’m still connecting through Soul Cycle with people that I met three years ago, and I’m still connecting with people that I rode with at my old studio.”
Though classes are technically individual experiences, instructors work to build community by encouraging students to interact during breaks.
“I like to think about myself as a connector for people to meet each other,” Windel said. “Next time that they come to class, they’ll remember each other and begin to love this community even more.”
