The last time I was in a fitness studio feels like a distant dream. Trying to remember the time where I couldn’t make it through a week without attending at least three sweat-filled spin sessions seems impossible. Nowadays, the very thought of entering a fitness studio is revolting to me; so many people together in the same room, all of them breathing heavily, all of the shared equipment— it’s a germaphobe’s nightmare. Despite this, my longing to return to the sense of community, which group fitness provides, is stronger than ever. So, this year I vowed to start taking group fitness classes again, from home.
At the beginning of these on and off lockdowns, I struggled every day with moving my body. I was continuously tired and unmotivated, but could not figure out why. Pre-pandemic, I had always felt so excited to workout, and that is when I realized that what I was missing most, was my group fitness community. It is so motivating to be working out alongside other people who are all hoping to achieve the same goal, not to mention the accountability that comes from having the instructor in the room with you. Online group fitness classes emulate the same shared fitness experience as their in-studio counterparts by encouraging participants to keep their cameras on (it’s a little embarrassing at first but it gets easier when you realize everyone is there for the same reason you are– to connect). I have also had instructors offer pre-class ‘socials’ where all of the participants join the Zoom a few minutes before class starts to check in with each other. If you forget the ‘Zoom’ of it all, these socials almost feel like walking into a real fitness studio.
Once I started taking group fitness classes again, everything fell back in place for me. Suddenly I was motivated to move again, I had something to look forward to, and I was able to make a few new friends. So far, I have taken online ballet-barre classes with the National Ballet of Canada, boxFIRE classes with the Ryerson Athletic Centre, and my favourite online class by far, yoga with OnLiving yoga! In all of these classes, the instructors have made it a top priority that classes are accessible to all bodies and all spaces (since not everyone has a home gym to practice from). Also, all of the classes are built to foster a sense of community. By offering consistent weekly schedules, I am guaranteed to see some of the same faces every week and I am reminded of what it was like to see a familiar face across the studio.
As the world (or at least Ontario) starts to open back up, I know in-person classes will start to resume. I sincerely hope that some studios and instructors will continue to host online classes because it is a safe and accessible form of fitness for everyone, no matter their situation. If you’re like me and are not 100% ready to leave the safety of your home, online group fitness is the perfect way to bring movement back into your life!