Research Finds Group Exercise Increases "Happy" Hormones

I was very excited to see that researchers at Oxford University's Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology found that when people exercise together, they increase their levels of "happy" hormones. These hormones help to increase pain tolerance & help create that post workout high.

In the study they found when comparing a workout that was done in a group vs. as an individual, that was performed at the same level of exertion, that the group people were able to tolerate more pain. I see this all the time with clients. When people have their coach & their teammates they push themselves past their limit, have fun, & feel great after. Next time you workout bring a friend or take a boot camp class.

I know for myself that has always been true. I workout harder and feel better when I train in groups & with a coach. I have done two fitness camps, PHAT Camp with two time Ms. Fitness Olympia Jen Hendershott & I also did two time Ms. Figure Olympia Jenny Lynn's Camp. Talk about being motivated by a coach and a bunch of fit women. It was so hard, but so much Fun! I am actually laughing in one of those pics.

At Sweat I train my clients like they are on a team. They all have their own workouts & areas to focus on, but they train together in groups of two. I have seen this to have many benefits including increasing the intensity of workouts, making gym time fun, camaraderie, motivation/competition, & helped with consistency of training for the long term.