group fitness classes

Working out solo can be more convenient, peaceful, and a great time for self-reflection but those reasons won't do anything to increase your calorie burn. If weight loss and toning up is your main goal, here are some reasons you might want to find a group to sweat along with.

Variety: When we exercise alone, we tend to get in a workout rut, doing the same exact biking loop or toning the same muscles in the same old strength-training routine. When you work out with other people, they open your eyes to exciting ways to sweat it out like new routes you can hike, or more effective ways to tone your glutes. Using your muscles in different ways challenges them more, offering you a better burn while also preventing the dreaded workout plateau.

Friendly competition: If you've ever gotten a taste of rivalry, either from a team sport or seeing if you can do more push-ups than some stranger you see at the gym, you know it's a powerful fuel that can make you work more intensely than you could alone. You can compete openly with a buddy, like seeing who can sprint the fastest to the telephone pole, or you can pick a random person in your Body Pump class and see if you can do more squats than them. Pushing yourself gets your heart pumping faster, your muscles working harder, and in turn burns more calories.

Longer workouts: We've all been on a solo run with the incessant thought, "I just want to be done!" When you're on your own, it's easy to hop off the treadmill whenever you want, but when you're chugging along with other people, throwing in the towel doesn't seem like an option (you wouldn't want to give up in front of everyone!). You're not only more likely to do a full workout when exercising with others, but if they're really serious, you're bound to work out even longer than you would on your own, burning more calories.

Excitement about working out: Solo workouts can get lonely (even with Macklemore pumping in your ear), making you bored and not as energetic to give it your all (or to give it at all). Finding others to sweat with can breathe new life into your workouts because nothing beats the power of working out in a group. You feed off everyone's strength and energy, which inspires you to push harder, and you have fun doing it. And you remember that feeling, which inspires you to slip on that sports bra again and again. You'll end up burning more calories per workout, and if you're motivated to work out more often, you'll in turn burn more calories per week.

When it comes to taking your first Zumba class, no one may know better about the anxieties students face than someone who's taught thousands around the world — the inventor of Zumba himself, Beto Perez. "Sometimes people see the class through the window and they feel a little intimidated because they see the coordination. . . [and] think that they need to know choreography before," he says. "In Zumba we don't have levels; we don't have beginners, intermediate, or advanced. We prepare the instructors in a way that anybody can do it." Convinced? Here are Beto's five expert tips for making your first Zumba class a success.

1. Choose the right class: Any Zumba class will offer something for beginners, but Beto especially recommends the newest offering, Zumba Sentao, which uses a chair as your "dance partner" to help you work out. Having that anchor point can help beginners feel more comfortable when they try a class, Beto suggests.
2. Get there early: If you're new to Zumba, rushing in late is not an option if you don't want to feel disoriented and discouraged. "You need to be at the beginning of the class because the warmup is one of the most important parts of the class," advises Beto. And after the 10-minute warmup, the instructor starts you out with simple steps using an easy rhythm like merengue or cha cha cha, which is why "it's so important you start at the beginning of the class," he says.

Keep reading for three more expert tips.

I love a good gym class for forcing me to push myself during a workout, and nothing beats a personal training session to keep my form in check. Sports Club/LA's BLITZ class is a bit like having the best of both worlds — here's why I can't wait to sweat it out at another one.

BLITZ is a high-intensity conditioning class that promises to help you step up your goals and reach your next fitness level. Since each class is limited to just four or five students, it's an excellent option if you're looking to improve your fitness while staying safe. There's no back of the room here; your instructor sees all and will correct your form as necessary. Each hour-long class is structured similarly — the instructor writes the day's workout on a board in front of the class, and after completing the 15-minute warmup circuit, 30 minutes is put on the clock and the countdown begins. All the equipment you need is ready and waiting for you, from barbells to medicine balls to TRX straps. You goal is to complete as many sets of the circuit that your trainer recommends before the clock hits zero. Afterward, there's a 15-minute cooldown session that includes core exercises followed by stretches. Having the workout on the board in front of you means you can exercise at your own pace, but you can still use a little friendly competition to push yourself to keep up with your fellow students.

Each class has a specific goal based on what you are working on — either endurance, power, or strength — so your reps and sets will vary. Endurance classes, for example, are more like a traditional cardio workout so you do more reps with less recovery time, while strength classes feature exercises that aim to fatigue your muscles. Power classes focus on exercises that require a full range of motion to improve your body's agility, balance, and speed. In general, however, you can expect high-intensity exercises like walking dumbbell lunges, box jumps, deadlifts, TRX chest presses, sled pushes, ball smashes, and power snatches. Basically, you're sweating the whole way through.

Keep reading for more on why I love BLITZ and where to find the class.

If you've been searching for a high-spirited cardio class, BUTI could be your new favorite class. LA-based founder Bizzie Gold created BUTI to be a fierce and feminine workout that combines elements of her favorite ways to get in shape: yoga and CrossFit. Dance, yoga, and plyometrics all meld to create this crazy heart-pumping class.

Even actress Jennifer Love Hewitt is a BUTI believer, which she shares in the latest issue of Shape: "BUTI has given my arms and shoulders definition and helped lift my butt too . . . and even though it's very challenging, it's so much fun!" And after taking Michelle Opperman's class at Crunch, I too am hooked.

The class starts off with a quick warmup and a fast-paced yoga flow. Then it moves through a sequence of common yoga positions (such as Chair, Warrior 1, and Downward Dog). Unlike a traditional yoga flow, instead of holding for a few breaths before moving to the next pose, you hold each position for at least eight breaths, but dancing, gyrating, and pulsing while doing so. This sequencing is broken up with spurts of dancing that help you let loose and kick your heart rate up — by far my favorite part of the class. There was also strength work that included moves like push-ups, burpees, and mountain climbers, all classic conditioning moves — just given a BUTI-ful twist.

Keep reading for my class concerns and where you can take BUTI.

Time is important — especially when it comes to exercise. And nothing beats a workout that does it all in as little time as possible. Stacked, one of the latest class offerings from Equinox, is just that and has quickly become a lunchtime staple during my week. My entire body is challenged in less than an hour, and I leave the gym feeling energized and the good kind of sore. Best of all, there is nothing boring about this class.

Each class consists of two circuits that contain six different exercises. At the most recent class, we started with an eight-minute dynamic warmup that elevated the heart rate and warmed up the muscles through simple cardio, stretch, and strength moves. Then we jumped right into the first exercise of the circuit (triceps dips) for 30 seconds; once finished, we completed a 30-second active recovery (plank) before stacking the second exercise onto the circuit (one-legged squats with bicep curls) for another 30 seconds. But before we could even get to the squats, we had to go back to the beginning and start again with the triceps dips. When we finished that round, we added the next exercise from the list (box jumps), but again, we first had to complete a 30-second active recovery (plank jumping jacks) and start over from the beginning of the list and complete the triceps dips and one-legged squats with bicep curls. This cycle continued until we finished the sixth and final exercise on the list, resulting in a circuit that was right around 15 minutes. After running through the second 15-minute circuit, we cooled down for about eight minutes with some light cardio, stretches, and yoga poses.

Learn more about why I love Equinox's Stacked after the break!

Certain dance or hip-hop classes might seem intimidating, but Zumba attempts to alleviate any trepidations. If you've ever wanted to try a dance class but feel like you have two left feet, Zumba is a great intro into the world of dance cardio, and best of all it's a fun way to sweat and let loose while burning calories.

The choreography isn't (too) complicated: Most dance workout classes take the traditional add-on choreography approach, but Zumba is different. If there's a tune you're not loving or a move you just can't seem to master, that section of the class will be over in a few minutes. You start all over again with a new song and a brand-new set of steps. The constant change keeps things feeling new and exciting, and there's always a chance to start fresh.

You'll build coordination: Past dance classes may have left you feeling defeated at your lack of innate dancing skills. At the start of Zumba, you'll often hear instructors yelling "just keep moving!" In Zumba, as long as you're continuing to move, you're doing the workout right. There's no emphasis placed on who has the best grasp of technique; effort is everything. And the more you go to class, you'll find that your coordination and balance continue to improve — testing these skills will only make them stronger.

It's easy to go at your own pace: Depending on your body's needs, you can make Zumba a high-impact or low-impact workout. Hardcore dancers can keep up and stay challenged by quick, sharp movements and extra jumps, while beginners can move at whatever pace they can handle. At the end of each song, you're free to grab water, wipe off with a towel, or take a quick breather. Zumba's premise is all about feeling good, working hard, and taking care of yourself.

You'll leave feeling refreshed: After a tough cardio workout, sometimes you leave feeling wiped out and ready to hop back into bed. While Zumba is challenging, I always leave feeling energized, light, and ready to tackle the rest of the day with a positive perspective. It truly lives up to the "fitness party" hype.

Do you arrive at your fitness class and head straight to the same spot without even thinking? Having a special spot can make you feel more comfortable in class, but if you give it a chance, placing your mat in a different location might help you get more out of the class. Check out how each area of the room can bring something new to your workout.

• Front and center: If others easily distract you, there are usually less people in the front row. This is also a good place to be if you're a beginner since you'll be closest to the teacher. It will allow you to hear instructions better, ask quick questions, and have an unobstructed view of the teacher doing each move.
• All the way in the back: If you're shy or self-conscious, setting up in the back of the room is the spot for you. You have a view of everyone else in the class, which helps in following along, but without the worry of all eyes being on you. If you're feeling tired or depressed, being in the back is a great place to feed off the uplifting energy of the group. And, if you have to make a quick getaway, being in the back will cause the least disturbance when you have to leave early.
• By a wall: If you need a little assistance with balancing, a wall can offer help without having to rely on the teacher. It's also a good choice if you're easily distracted — less people on that side to disturb you. Being off to the side of the room can also prevent you from distracting others if you like to stray a little from the teacher's instructions.
• By a mirror: If you're unsure about your form, watching your reflection in a mirror helps tremendously. Plus it can be inspirational to see how strong and fit you look!
• By a speaker or window: If you're especially stressed, feeling down, or need a little extra inspiration, set up near the speakers or by an open window to help you zone out and just be in the moment.

If you've dreamed of channeling your inner rock star into a fitness plan, it's time to POUND.

Created by two female drummers, the POUND workout fuses cardio interval training with drumming to provide a challenging, heart-pumping workout. After taking classes at my local Crunch gym, I'm hooked. Anyone who thrives off the group fitness environment or needs loud music to stay motivated needs try this class ASAP.

It moves fast: From start to finish, lively, heart-pumping movements and upbeat tunes keep the workout feeling fresh. There's no holding an uncomfortable pose for an extended period of time; the class is always moving, always changing, and always pushing the body to its limits. Plus, the time flies by! It moves from warmup to cooldown in just 45 minutes.

It's a full-body workout: While certain group fitness classes tend to target particular areas of the body, POUND offers a full-body workout and targets common trouble spots. A huge part of the class is performed in a squat position. The constant up-and-down drumming targets your inner and outer thighs, butt, and core. And those drumsticks aren't just for show; at one-fourth pound per stick and a little shorter than the standard length, they're perfectly designed to maximize your arm workout.

You'll blow off steam: After a long day, there are few things more exhilarating than grabbing a pair of drumsticks and being able to POUND out your stress. Whether you're sitting down doing mat work or up on your feet jumping to a new track, everything seems more tolerable — and more fun! — when you're banging on the floor a pair of neon green drumsticks.

If you're ready to try out POUND for yourself, find a class in your area. For those who don't live in one of the 11 states where it's offered, you can try the POUND workout at home. Online classes (aka a Backstage Pass) are now available for the first time.

We don't want to be too critical; group classes are fun. But when you grow bored of your instructor, it's easy to get distracted. They might be having an off day or running out of motivation themselves, so just make sure their energy isn't affecting you. Here are some quick tips to stay motivated all hour long and ward off the day dreaming. Since you are there to work out, keep your eye on the prize and don't lose that excitement.

• Focus on the music: While your instructor's cues are important for staying on tempo, choose your own breaks to focus on the music for motivation. For instance, if your teacher is counting down the reps or repeating the same cue over and over again, take a break from listening to them and open your ears to the lyrics to pump yourself up.
• Look at others: Your instructor should be demonstrating, but if they aren't, look at other strong students in class. Sometimes witnessing someone else's strength will make you step up your game and even correct yourself based on their excellent form. Take note of the advanced women around you and raise your bar a little.
• Zone in: When boredom strikes, think about the reason you're there. It helps to concentrate on your trouble areas in class to remind yourself to keep them engaged. There are mirrors everywhere in the studio, so use them to your advantage. Choose one muscle group per class that you want to make a change with and challenge it throughout the entire class.
• Set a date: Goals are fun. When you grow bored of your teacher and can't muster the energy to listen anymore, just think about an upcoming event you want to look good at. Having an end goal in mind will help you keep your head in the game and carry your workout to the best of your ability. Stay focused and stay engaged.

If you're truly bored, try a new class! Do you ever come across boring instructors? Share your motivation tips with us!