Rows of treadmills and the clank of solo lifting can make the gym a lonely place, especially when you are new. Group classes change that completely. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced athlete, the benefits of group fitness classes come down to the same things: people who expect you to turn up, an instructor who pushes you, variety that keeps you interested and a sense of fun that makes the hard work feel lighter. Here are the five biggest, and how to pick your first class at Hammer’s Gym in Nunawading.
1. Community and accountability
The hardest part of exercise is usually showing up. In a class you are part of a team: your fellow members notice when you are missing, and the high-fives after a brutal finisher are worth turning up for. Training with others is the single most reliable way to stay consistent, and most of the friendships at Hammer’s started in a class. Read why gym community beats solo training.
2. An instructor who keeps you honest
Some days your inner motivation takes a break. A coach is your external motivation: they set the pace, push you just past your comfort zone and remind you that you are capable of more. Those extra squats you would have skipped alone somehow get done. It is also why classes suit people who struggle with self-directed training; see live coaches vs screen workouts.
3. Variety that beats boredom
Boredom kills consistency. With a class timetable spanning boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, HF45 strength, HIIT, spin, yoga and Reformer Pilates, there is a session for every mood and level, and your body is constantly challenged in new ways. No more staring at the same treadmill display. Browse the timetable.
4. Built-in technique coaching
Feel lost on the weights floor? Classes come with guidance. Instructors watch and correct your form, so you get more from every rep and avoid injuries, and watching experienced members is a surprisingly fast way to learn. It is the safest possible introduction to kettlebells, barbells and combat sports. See our Muay Thai for beginners guide for what a first martial arts class looks like.
5. It is actually fun
Working out is not always a joy, but a room full of people sharing the same struggle turns it into something closer to a party. The music, the shared groans at the last round and the laughter afterwards are why people who do classes stick with fitness longer. Enjoyment is the most underrated training variable there is.
Which class should you start with?
- Complete beginner: HF45 or a strength fundamentals class to learn the basics with a coach.
- Want to burn energy and learn a skill: BoxFit or a beginner Muay Thai class.
- Prefer low impact: Reformer Pilates or yoga.
- Short on time: a 30 or 45-minute HIIT session.
- Love a challenge: BJJ fundamentals; nothing humbles and hooks people faster.
Nervous? Everyone starts somewhere. Embrace the wobbly legs and the shaky squats; our tips for reducing gym anxiety will help, and coaches are used to first-timers.
Join a class at Hammer’s Gym
Ditch the lonely treadmill and find your people. Hammer’s runs coached group classes every day across fitness and martial arts, all included in membership, with beginner-friendly options in every discipline. Claim a free one-day trial, try a class and see how different training feels with a team around you. We are in Nunawading, minutes from Mitcham, Blackburn, Box Hill and Doncaster.