I was talking with a friend over the weekend who said she hurt her hip doing yoga. I tend to do the same thing when I work out with a group – I push things past where I should, and always end up with an achy something.

That discussion got me thinking about the pros of working out with a group v. working out on your own.

Pros to working out with a group

• You have a set schedule.
• It’s social – you go to work out but you also go to see your friends.
• You’re working out with a trained teacher.
• Most group exercise is inside so you can work out despite the weather.
• You pay in bulk for most group classes so you have extra incentive to go!

Pros to working out on your own

• You run/lift/swim/dance at your own pace. If you’re feeling tired, you slow down for the day and are less likely to injure yourself.
• You learn self-discipline.
• You can make last-minute decisions about what you’re doing for the day, i.e. where you’re going to run.
• You can work out wherever you travel – you’re not tied to a specific place.
• You’re less distracted by the social-side of group exercise – you can concentrate on what you’re doing.

Exercising on a regular basis is the best way I know to keep your head clear which helps you do your best work. And the best form of exercise is whatever you’ll do on a regular basis.

If you look at each list, which is more appealing? Which are you more likely to stick with?

We’re all motivated by different things. What works best for you?

We have a huge wind storm blowing through tonight. The good thing is that it made us put away the front porch swing and chairs. We’re ready for the wind – and the first snow which may soon follow! In the meantime, fall is gorgeous in Maine. See pix below from Massacre Pond in Scarborough. Photo by the wonderful Tracy Carroll.

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I welcome your thoughts and suggestions for future posts!