Announcement
August 27, 2024
It's well known that exercise improves heart health, but did you know regular exercise can increase your life span by an average of three years? Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of multiple diseases, and have improved moods.
One great way to incorporate exercise into your healthy lifestyle is participating in group fitness classes. Attending scheduled group exercise classes keeps participants accountable while providing a fun, social environment that requires no previous knowledge or experience. With the guidance of an expert instructor, participants can safely practice new skills without the guesswork of starting a solo exercise routine.
Aerobic Exercise
When we think of group fitness, high-impact, fast-paced classes come to mind. Exercise that increases your heart rate and breathing through brisk movements is known as aerobic exercise. Increasing the heart rate 30 minutes a day, five days a week lowers blood pressure and heartrate long-term. The heart beats all day, every day, meaning the only break it ever gets is the brief instant between contractions. A lower heart rate allows your heart longer breaks which keep it healthy and efficient.
Aerobic exercise isn't the only way to incorporate fitness into your life. Resistance training can turn excess fat into lean muscle while reducing bad cholesterol. Stretching, flexibility, and balance work aid in musculoskeletal health. Combining these three categories, all of which are proven to be effective ways to increase fitness, creates a well-balanced fitness regimen that reaches all body systems.
Resistance Training
Resistance training classes involve bodyweight training exercises and/or optional weights. Strength training improves bone density and increases muscle mass, flexibility, and balance. This is especially important for active agers as the body becomes more prone to falls and bone fractures. As little as three 20-minute strength training sessions a week can yield positive fitness results. Group fitness classes such as Tone & Tighten, Step & Strength, and Cardio Strength are great options for combining aerobic exercise with resistance training.
Stretching, Flexibility, and Balance
Stretching, flexibility, and balance work improve muscle tone and reduce the risk of injury. An example of this is yoga, which has become increasingly popular in recent years. Its popularity can be attributed to its low-impact nature and assistance in reducing stress by focusing on breathing and relaxation. For this style of exercise, The Bridge offers classes including Gentle Yoga and Dynamic Yoga. Certain forms of yoga, such as Power Yoga, provide a more athletic practice.
Get active!
Thinking of adding group fitness to your wellness routine? The Bridge offers a wide variety of fitness classes six days a week with certified instructors. These classes are available to platinum members or visitors who purchase a day pass.
