Regular moderate or vigorous weekly physical activity helps prevent and manage chronic health conditions. It also promotes weight loss, improves mental health, and enhances overall quality of life. Community fitness centers are a great place to build a supportive community where failure is not discouraged, but pushing oneself to reach workout goals is celebrated.
Flexibility
Many people leave flexibility exercises on the sidelines to build muscle and lose weight. However, research suggests that stretching and other flexibility-building activities can help people improve a range of health markers.
Community centers like the JCC Denver often provide yoga, Zumba, and pool fitness classes focusing on flexibility. They also can host events like nutrition workshops. Research suggests promoting the program and tailoring classes to neighborhood residents increases participation. Similarly, a health system partnered with a community fitness center to offer classes for its employees and the local population.
Strength Training
Strength training, also known as resistance or weight training, increases muscle strength and endurance. This exercise can help prevent the natural loss of lean muscle mass that occurs with aging and may benefit people with certain health conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.
A strong community culture means that the owner and instructors of a fitness studio have an invested interest in their customers’ success. It requires regular communication and a supportive environment.
Studies show that exercise programs for different populations and physical abilities improve women’s aerobic health, strength, and pregnancy outcomes. And disease-specific exercise programs, like Pedaling for Parkinson’s, can enhance participants’ quality of life.
Cardiovascular Exercise
Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise involves large muscles moving over a prolonged period while elevating the heart rate. It strengthens the lungs and cardiovascular system to deliver oxygen to the body’s cells, improves blood sugar regulation, and lowers anxiety and stress levels.
It also increases metabolism, which aids in weight loss and weight management. Research suggests it benefits mental health, mood regulation, and gut microbiota composition.
Weight Loss
People who feel supported by their community may be likelier to stick with their exercise program. They might also make better choices in their daily lives—choosing the healthier options at a restaurant or pushing through a tough workout when tired.
A fitness center focusing on community health helps its members lose weight, reduce their blood pressure, and even control their diabetes. The goal is to prevent mild problems like joint pain or pre-diabetes from turning into serious diseases. Exercise never goes out of style, but techniques and fads come and go. That’s why having a supportive community is crucial when trying to achieve new fitness levels.
Stress Management
Stress is a part of life, but too much can affect health. It is a normal reaction to challenging situations, but when it becomes long-term, it can lead to depression, weight gain, and physical symptoms like headaches and heart palpitations.
It can also cause problems with thinking, memory, and emotional stability. When a person experiences these symptoms, it’s important to find healthy ways to deal with them. This can include exercising, setting priorities, and counseling. Many community fitness centers offer stress management classes and workshops. These classes can help individuals identify and avoid stressful situations in the future.
Social Interaction
A strong community can help you push yourself harder, stay committed to your fitness goals, and even overcome barriers that might keep you from exercising. For example, creating cycling routes and bike-sharing programs can make reaching parks and community centers offering exercise classes easier.
Group exercise classes are not just for breaking a sweat; they can also boost social interaction and camaraderie. Studies show that people who work out with others experience greater health benefits than those who work out alone.
Effective communication is key to building and nourishing a healthy community within an underground fitness center. This can be accomplished by leveraging digital signage and other innovative communication tools to foster connections, encourage accountability, and inspire members to achieve their fitness goals.
