Getting to the gym is hard, we admit it. Whether it’s setting your alarm before 6 a.m. to get an effective sweat in before your eight hour work day, or trying to find the willpower to head there right after you put your time in at the office, it’s never easy to carve out time for the gym in an already hectic schedule. The thought of mindlessly pounding the treadmill or pumping out repetitive weight exercises isn’t very appealing before or after a long day of exhausting your brain, either.

But a promising trend in the fitness scene reveals a move away from the once-popular gym rat scene and towards boutique fitness. What exactly do I mean by that? I mean that people are getting sick of plugging in their headphones and absent-mindedly pedaling away on the elliptical for 45 minutes and are instead opting for small, focused classes. If you’re in need of a fitness routine makeover, read on to find out why niche group classes might be a great idea for you.
Accountability

We’re realizing that it’s the small group aspect that people love about boutique fitness centers— for one thing, you’re held more accountable when you get to participate in an activity with a friend or two instead of just heading to the gym by yourself. In these smaller, focused classes— especially ones that require you to reserve your space online before the class begins— you’re more motivated to show up and actually get your workout in instead of opting for happy hour after a grueling day at the office.

Not to mention, when you have an instructor leading a group class, your workout becomes more interactive — and therefore more social. In our opinion, it’s so much better getting instant feedback from a group leader instead of constantly glancing down at the electronic stats on your machine (and wondering when it’s going to end.) Photo Courtesy of Hemera/Thinkstock
Social Aspect

Picture this: you’ve found a great spinning class that is both energizing and effective. Get your best friend to go with you, or make it a point to get friendly with other regulars in the class. By having your friend there, or even just having the presence of others around you, you’ll be more motivated to actually go to the class and keep up with the group. And if the workout is actually lot harder than you initially thought it would be, at the very least, you know there are other people suffering right along with you. So make your sweat sesh a date and reward yourselves with a coffee or lunch afterwards. Better yet? Make it a weekly thing! Photo Courtesy of iStockphoto/Thinkstock
Extra Benefits

Aside from the core reasons above, there are a lot of reasons why fitness fanatics choose to take certain classes. While programs like Crossfit and cycling offer participants friendly competition, Zumba and dance classes are fun and allow you to move (or shake) around. People want to have fun while they’re working out, and a high-energy class with good music and good camaraderie is a great way to get people moving and burning calories. Yoga, on the other hand, is great for connecting the mind, body, and spirit— a welcome benefit for the large amount of people in our society suffering from stress and anxiety.

So what are you waiting for? Decide what you could use a little more of in your life and do some research to find the best boutique fitness centers near you. Happy sweating! Photo Courtesy of iStockphoto/Thinkstock