When you are working to improve your athletic performance or overall wellness, no one can do the work for you. At the same time, you may be more likely to realize your highest potential with the help of others. Group environments can help people achieve better results faster because the presence of other people is motivating.
We all want someone to “get” us. When we feel genuinely listened to and understood, we get the support we need to try again. Group environments provide that kind of camaraderie. When you work in a group to improve athletic performance and/or health and wellness, you work with other people who “get” the work required, understand your challenges and support your efforts to reach your goals.
It is easy to put off doing the work it takes to become a better athlete or improve your health when no one else is involved. Even when you have a personal trainer, it’s easy to shrug off obligations with an “I’ll have to reschedule” text message. But when you work in a group, you have more people holding you accountable and more people counting on you. No one wants to be “that” person who lets a whole group down by not showing up.
Sometimes it’s hard to sustain enthusiasm all alone. In groups you don’t have to! You have multiple people “jazzed” and ready to tackle the challenges required to improve performance. Even when you’re having a low day, group energy can provide the pick-me-up you need to get out of your head and into the game.
Group dynamics themselves can be challenging, but that’s the kind of motivational challenge we’re talking about. Rather, we’re talking about the challenge and excitement that comes with having to adjust to difference. If you want to improve performance in a team sport, you know you have to be able to effectively work with a lot of different personalities, skills and styles. A group training environment gives you more practice and prevents you from “getting stuck in a rut” where your skills plateau.
Your goals and process are your own, but seeing how you stack up against others can help you better see how far you’ve come and how far you have to go. Having a “real life” yet low-stakes competitor spurs you to do your best without discouraging you when your day’s best was not THE best.
