Group Workout Classes Offer Benefits for Students

Joining a group fitness class can provide motivation, guidance, and a fun atmosphere for busy students.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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This article explores the benefits of group workout classes for college students, who often struggle to find the time and motivation to exercise on their own. The author shares her personal experience trying a spin class at a local studio in Boston, and how the group setting, energetic instructors, and structured workouts helped her develop a new excitement for fitness.

Why it matters

Many students face challenges fitting exercise into their busy schedules, and group fitness classes can provide a supportive environment and professional guidance that makes working out feel less like a chore. These classes also allow students to try new types of workouts they may not have explored on their own.

The details

The author initially felt intimidated and self-conscious working out alone at the gym, but found that joining a spin class at The Handle Bar studio in Boston provided a much more motivating and enjoyable experience. The instructors curated the music, pace, and structure of the workouts, taking the pressure off the students to plan their own routines. Additionally, the group setting encouraged the author to push herself harder than she might have on her own, knowing her classmates were going through the same challenging workout together.

  • The author started taking spin classes at The Handle Bar in the spring of the previous year.
  • The Handle Bar has recently expanded its class offerings to include pilates-based workouts in addition to spin.

The players

The Handle Bar

A local chain of spin class studios in Boston.

Classpass

A service that offers discounted rates for group fitness classes at various studios.

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What they’re saying

“When you work out with an instructor, they are the ones choosing the music, setting the pace, and planning the roadmap of the workout. This itself can take the pressure of having to plan out your workouts.”

— Maddy Caldwell, Student Writer (Her Campus)

“Nothing truly beats the way that working out makes someone feel. And doing it in a fun and inclusive atmosphere makes it even better and seems a bit less like a chore.”

— Maddy Caldwell, Student Writer (Her Campus)

What’s next

The author plans to continue exploring different group fitness class options at The Handle Bar and other local studios to find workouts that she enjoys.

The takeaway

Group workout classes can provide college students with the motivation, guidance, and sense of community that makes exercise feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable part of their routine. While these classes may cost more than using a campus gym, the benefits they offer in terms of instruction, camaraderie, and trying new fitness activities can make them a worthwhile investment for busy students.