Back in November, we wrote a piece on High Intensity Interval Training and the StairMaster® HIIT program in response to ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal releasing their “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends For 2018.” In the report, they ranked HIIT the number 1 trend for the coming year followed by group training, which came in second on the list. While the number two trend was not identified in our previous post, group training was consequently discussed because of how much group training and HIIT complement one another and because group training makes up a large portion of the StairMaster program.

The survey mentioned that, “group exercise training programs have been around for a long time and have appeared as a potential worldwide trend since this survey was originally constructed. However, it was only in 2017 that group exercise training made the top 20, appearing at number 6. None of the respondents could explain why group training has become popular, so it will be interesting to watch this trend in 2018 and beyond.”

One of our Master Instructors, Sonja Friend-Uhl, teaches a number of group training courses and had some insights that might help us better understand why group training has been growing in popularity.

“Group training has been one of my favorite coaching modalities throughout my career in the fitness industry,” explained Sonja. “There are a number of reasons why it works so well for so many. It offers accountability, affordability, and a team atmosphere; but for me it the appeal comes down to the unique collective ENERGY that is created when in a group atmosphere.

There is an incredible dynamic that naturally occurs when a group of people embark on a physical challenge together, even if only for a short time. While leading group sessions in nationally acclaimed programs like BoxMaster®, HumanSport®, and the StairMaster HIIT Mix classes, I have witnessed undeniable camaraderie, friendly competition, and pure enjoyment as a result of training in a group.

In a group environment, everyone strives for, and ultimately achieves, more!  It’s the ‘magic’ that you can’t quite define but you know it when you feel and see it in action.

In fact, as a coach I find I am often my most engaged and motivated when leading a group fitness class. The best part is that when the variety of abilities, personalities, and of course exercises are combined and channeled in the right way, RESULTS are guaranteed! Group training is much more than a trend, it is a vital coaching modality that is here to stay!”

We have a special love for group exercise at Core Health & Fitness and have created many great products and programs to be used for group training and group competition. It is a great way to stay active, committed, and enjoy your fitness routine. It might even help you stick to that new year’s resolution! Be sure to check back with us as we cover more trends to watch for in 2018.

Want to host your own group training? Contact us to find out how to schedule your own StairMaster HIIT Workshop.

Host A HIIT Training

Return to Blog