Do Teams Exercise Better Together?

Have you ever been told that exercise is good for you? Most likely all the time. Have you noticed that exercise seems like more fun when you don’t have to do it alone? Perhaps it’s more fun to play with friends rather than simply go to the gym? Or cycling is more fun when you go out with a group of friends rather than simply on your own?

Now there’s scientific proof to support this feeling. Researchers at the American Osteopathic Association conducted a study to check the behavior of group exercise participants. The three parameters of health studied were mental, physical and emotional. It was found that people who exercised with a group regularly showed a marked improvement in all three parameters of health.

This was contrasted with individuals who did the same set of exercises, at the same duration but without a group. These solo exercising individuals got the same physical workout but did not show any improvement in the three parameters of health as perceived by themselves.

Those who exercised in a group shows significant drop in stress levels as well, while the individuals who went for solo exercise workouts did not. The writing is on the wall with this science experiment. If you really want to exercise and accrue it’s benefits start hanging out with a like minded group.