How to choose the right group fitness class for your level and your goals?
Yoga, Zumba, Cycling, Strength Training, Aquafit… With so many options available, it isn't alw matches ays easy to know which group class to pick, especially when you are just starting out or getting back into physical activity.
Should you go by your level, your goal, or simply by what you enjoy?
To help you decide, we put the question to Jenny Nannas, Coordinator of Physical Activities, Group Fitness Classes and the Fitness Centre at the YMCA Cartierville.
Here is her advice for finding a class that your level, your goals and, above all, what you actually feel like doing.
To develop your muscle strengthening
Strength training classes are an excellent option. They are suitable for everyone and contribute in particular to maintaining good bone health. It is the intensity that adjusts, based on each person's starting fitness level and experience.
If you are new to exercise or haven't been active in a while, Jenny suggests starting with a gentle toning class instead. That way you can ease back in before moving on to a higher intensity.
To improve your cardiovascular endurance
To work on your cardiovascular endurance, Jenny recommends Zumba, if you enjoy dancing and moving to music. Even though the class is dynamic, everyone can adapt the movements and go at their own pace, without having to follow the instructor's choreography exactly.
Looking to push yourself? Cycling is easy to follow, has no choreography, and is an excellent opportunity to challenge yourself.
On the YMCA Group Fitness Classes page, you can filter classes by the intensity level you are looking for: low, moderate or high. The level is also listed on each class page, so you can choose an activity that fits your preferences and your level.
To improve your flexibility and mobility
Stretching, Yoga and Pilates classes all help you work on flexibility and mobility. These different approaches let you move, work through a fuller range of motion, and build more mobility into your physical activity routine.
To move while reducing stress
If your main goal is to move, unwind and choose something less demanding, go for low-intensity classes.
Gentle yoga, regular yoga and stretching classes are all good options. Jenny also recommends chair yoga, depending on each person's needs and preferences.
The length of the class can make a difference too. A 45-minute class may feel more manageable than a 60-minute one when you are easing back into physical activity.
In short, which class should you explore based on your goal?
Still not sure?
Here are a few starting points to guide your choice, based on what you are looking for.
| Your goal | Classes to explore |
|---|---|
| Build muscular strength | Total Sculpt, HIIT, Circuit Tranning, Bootcamp |
| Improve your cardiovascular endurance | Zumba, Cycling, Cardio-Dance, Cardio Box, HIIT, Circuit Trainning, Bootcamp |
| Work on your flexibility and mobility | Yoga, Pilates, Stretching |
| Move at a lower intensity | Gentle classes |
These suggestions are a starting point: the intensity level, the length of the class and your personal preferences are also worth considering.
Which group fitness class should you choose when you are just starting out?
When you are new to physical activity, the important thing is to go gradually and find a class where you feel comfortable. Jenny's first piece of advice is to try an activity in order to discover what you enjoy and what suits your pace.
At the YMCA, classes labelled "gentle" are especially worth considering when you are getting started.
Zumba is suitable for people of all levels. Even though the class keeps you moving, you can adapt the movements and the intensity to your own pace.
Intensity, duration, type of class: look beyond the name
The name of a class doesn't always tell you whether it matches your level. Before signing up, Jenny recommends checking the type of activity, its intensity level and its duration.
In the YMCA schedule, you can filter activities by low, moderate or high intensity and consult each class page to learn more.
Pay attention to the length as well. Some classes run 45 minutes, others 60 minutes. When you are starting out or getting back into physical activity, this can also help you make your choice.
How do you choose a group fitness class you will want to stick with?
For Jenny, choosing a class that matches your goal is important, but enjoyment counts just as much when it comes to maintaining a routine.
The person leading the class can also make a big difference. Their energy, their teaching style and their ability to motivate the group can all add to the pleasure of coming back week after week.
So Jenny suggests asking yourself a few very simple questions: Am I enjoying myself during the class? Do I want to come back? Or does it feel more like a chore?
Jenny still sees several people in her classes who have been coming since the YMCA Cartierville first opened.
What if you lose your routine?
Vacations, family commitments, a schedule change… it is perfectly normal for a routine to be interrupted from time to time.
After a break, Jenny recommends easing back in, for example with a gentle class.
The important thing is not to treat a break as going back to square one. As Jenny likes to tell members who are getting back into it: "Muscles never forget."
Give yourself time to find the class that suits you
Should you try several different activities in the first few weeks? Not necessarily.
To begin with, Jenny suggests sticking to a single class, twice a week, for three to four weeks. That gives you enough time to really get to know the activity and see whether it suits you.
If it doesn't, try something different. A more dynamic class may be a better fit for you than an activity focused on relaxation, or the other way around.
Above all, give yourself time: results don't happen overnight.
Why choose a group fitness class over training on your own?
Beyond the physical activity itself, group classes offer one important advantage in Jenny's eyes: the social side.
In a class, you move alongside other people, you chat, and you feed off the group's energy. At the YMCA, that dimension also comes through in the small everyday interactions.
“Here, we know our members by name and we know which classes they come to. At home, no one is there to cheer you on. Here, we cheer you on.”
For some people, that sense of belonging and encouragement can become an added motivation to keep a routine going.
Cycling, Pilates, Zumba, yoga and much more: explore the group fitness classes offered at the YMCA and find an activity that matches what you feel like doing and your level.
Jenny Nannas
Physical Activities, Group Fitness Classes and Workout Room Coordinator at YMCA Cartierville
Jenny Nannas has over 25 years of experience with the YMCAs of Québec. She first became a member at the YMCA Saint-Laurent and later became a volunteer instructor after obtaining her YMCA F.I.T. group fitness certification. She went on to complete several certifications in aquafit, cardio-strength training, indoor cycling and personal training.
Throughout her career, Jenny moved into supervisory and coordination roles in physical activities. She has been with YMCA Cartierville since 2010, where she now coordinates the group fitness and training room teams.
Her hands-on experience allows her to support members in choosing activities that are suited to their fitness level, goals and interests.
