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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThere are so many benefits. Mental health is actually the No. 1 reason people now join a gym, and 40 percent of all our members have told us that\u2019s a reason they\u2019re here. Group fitness is among the best ways to connect and build community.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also literally a class for everyone \u2014 from cardio, step, circuit, boot camp and group cycling to yoga, hot yoga, Pilates, barre and kickboxing. There also are signature GreatLIFE classes and a full lineup of aqua and dance-based workouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my favorite things is the diversity we see in our classes. I\u2019ve had moments where three generations \u2014 a grandmother, mother and daughter \u2014 were working out together,\u201d said Gail Flaa, group fitness team lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s powerful and reminds me that movement truly is for every age, every body and every stage of life. And with so many formats, times and locations, it\u2019s easy for members to find something that fits their goals, schedule and personality.\u201d<\/p>\n Wondering where to begin or looking for ways to connect? Here\u2019s just a sampling of what you\u2019ll discover:<\/p>\n Ready to take on your first class?<\/p>\n There\u2019s no need to be intimidated if you\u2019ve never taken a group fitness class.<\/p>\n Some great options for beginners include Gentle Yoga, All-Levels Yoga, Pilates Mat and Functional Body Movement.<\/p>\n \u201cThose are really great for first-timers,\u201d Flaa said. \u201cThey will focus on mobility, flexibility and balance in a friendly, supportive environment.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, \u201cwe have about 80 instructors, and they teach to all levels, so you can feel comfortable anywhere,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Looking to reduce stress?<\/p>\n It\u2019s an especially busy time of year, but making space for fitness can reduce your stress.<\/p>\n Some especially helpful classes for that include \u201cany of our hot yoga classes, which are available for a small additional charge, as well as tai chi,\u201d Flaa said. \u201cThose are great classes to help members reduce stress and promote mental well-being through movement, music and mindfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n She also suggests Sol Fusion, which is similar to Payo as a blend of Pilates and yoga, also incorporating weights, and kickboxing \u2014 a productive outlet for relieving stress.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing is that no matter which class you choose, you\u2019re going to start building a sense of connection,\u201d Flaa said. \u201cThat alone helps your mental health and is why members often say their class or classes are the best hour of their week.\u201d<\/p>\n Connect with fellow seniors<\/p>\n Several GreatLIFE classes are designed for older adults. Flaa suggests checking out the Senior Fitness class, as well as Growing Stronger and Strength & Balance.<\/p>\n \u201cThese\u00a0classes improve stability, coordination and overall strength in a supportive and social setting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI instruct Senior Fitness at Woodlake and teach to all levels. You know how your body feels, and you\u2019re not going to hurt my feelings if you tone it down or take it up a notch. I tell people in all my classes I want you working out the next 30 years \u2014 not the next 30 minutes until you are injured.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior Fitness and related classes are offered at several GreatLIFE locations, so there\u2019s likely one close to where you live.<\/p>\n Work out to your own beat<\/p>\n You\u2019ll definitely be motivated to get moving at Drum Core class \u2014 a fun, music-driven workout that combines drumming rhythms with core strengthening.<\/p>\n Find it at GreatLIFE Avera Fitness Center.<\/p>\n \u201cOur instructor started by teaching Pound, which is a class where they use drumsticks and a mat and you\u2019re pounding the floor and back up again, and it\u2019s a lot of squatting, and up and down,\u201d Flaa said.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom there, she created Drum Core using a large stability ball set up for drumming, so you don\u2019t lean over as far to pound on the floor, and they do cardio with it. So there\u2019s a focus on the core, but you also get cardio, and we find people can\u2019t\u00a0wait to go to that class and say the time goes by so fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Need to feel uplifted \u2014 or even spiritual?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a hidden fitness class gem: Aqua Praise, a Wednesday night class in the pool at Woodlake Athletic Club where members move to uplifting praise music.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s joyful, inspiring and especially meaningful since it falls on a traditional church night,\u201d Flaa said. \u201cWe just started this class, and I\u2019ve wanted to do things like that, and we got the OK to do it, and they\u2019re just loving it.\u201d<\/p>\n Cycle studios<\/p>\n GreatLIFE cycling classes also recently expanded with a praise-themed class, plus there are several other options if you enjoy making cycling part of your workout.<\/p>\n Within GreatLIFE, there are two cycling studios: one at Avera and one at Woodlake.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of our cyclers are the type out doing RAGBRAI, they\u2019re the road bikers and trail riders, so these workouts involve hills, sprints and long roads, but we do have some instructors who include rhythmic riding in their classes as well,\u201d Flaa said.<\/p>\n GreatLIFE also recently brought RPM monitors to the bikes at Woodlake, \u201cso we\u2019re excited for that upgrade,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Signature classes<\/p>\n Some classes you\u2019ll find only at GreatLIFE \u2014 like signature classes from Les Mills, including Body Pump and Strength Development.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are licensed to offer these classes, and as far as I know, there\u2019s nowhere else in town you can attend them,\u201d Flaa said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something about Les Mills routines and their music that\u2019s absolutely phenomenal, so if you\u2019ve not tried a class yet, these are great ones to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n Pilates, barre \u2014 and child care<\/p>\n Some of GreatLIFE\u2019s most popular classes involve Pilates and barre workouts at multiple locations, offering options for a variety of schedules.<\/p>\n \u201cOur instructors are so talented and have so much passion and dedication,\u201d Flaa said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re looking for this type of fitness, you can have an amazing experience as a GreatLIFE member and access all the other benefits available to GreatLIFE members, including child care at our Performance Center. We see a lot of young moms who appreciate that.\u201d<\/p>\n Water fitness<\/p>\n Aqua aerobics classes are a great way to fit in a workout and make new friends. They\u2019re offered at Avera, Woodlake and downtown at EmBe as a GreatLIFE satellite option.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n