Which is better, lifting weights or taking a fitness class? Well, I can take both sides on this one!! Weight training is a great exercise for the body and can help prevent so many injuries and future problems. Lifting weights has been proven to increase muscular strength and endurance, improve body composition and heart strength, increase bone density, improve flexibility and mobility, and improves sleep and energy levels as well. Lifting weights can also improve posture and postural imbalances.
Fitness classes, as in step aerobics or body pump, are also a great workout for the entire body. These classes are a great way to meet new people with common goals and interests and a great way to keep from becoming bored with your exercise. Fitness classes help increase your heart rate, which in turn, burns calories and sheds the inches. Some benefits consist of improving body composition, increasing muscle endurance, increasing heart strength, improving energy levels, and reducing stress levels. These are just a few of the benefits that you may experience while participating in fitness classes.
While weight training mainly focuses on isolating specific muscles groups, fitness classes usually focus on the entire body as a whole. I’m talking most, but not all. I recommend incorporating both into your workout regimens and getting the best of both worlds.
Happy Holidays! I agree that the fitness classes will offer exercises to tone, strengthen, and make the body more flexible. Of course the added benefit is being able to work in a group atmosphere, if that’s what you like, and to meet other people who may have the same goals as you. I participate in many types of fitness classes offered at the Y, so there is also a wide range of age groups. I don’t do weight training on my, though, but find that the weight work we do in some classes is sufficient for me. My aim is to tone and maintain what I have. The fitness classes I take are Spinning, Body Toning, and Boot Camp, of which some I repeat on different days. This gives variety to combat boredom and works on various muscles as well as cardio. Thanks for listening!
Mickie-
Thank you for your inspiration!! Keep up the good work, but try hitting the weights to target some of the smaller muscle groups that are missed in your fitness classes.