If you want a social side to your workouts, picking fitness classes can feel like guesswork. Every gym says it has community. This article gives you a few things to look for and ask about, whatever options you’re comparing in Jackson, and it uses how we run things at Rivalry CrossFit as the example.
Start With What “Community” Means to You
When someone says they’re looking for community, a lot of times what they want is someone friendly and welcoming. From there, people build friendships. They get to know each other, find things they have in common, and share details about their lives.
Often that friendship starts to extend outside of the gym. Members begin doing things together outside of class and keep building a true friendship. So before you look at any schedule, ask yourself what you actually want: someone to train with, a friendly face when you walk in, or friends outside the gym.
Questions to Ask About the Energy in Fitness Classes
The first couple of minutes tell you a lot. At Rivalry, a new person is greeted by name by a staff member and welcomed. Within the next couple of minutes, they’re introduced to the rest of the class, and we start getting to know them a little better.
The members help too. They encourage new people and help with finding equipment or showing them where things are in the gym. We put a lot of effort into lowering the nervousness of anyone new. Once you meet everybody, you’ll see that everyone else is doing the same thing, just trying to improve their fitness.
So when you visit anywhere, ask yourself: Did someone greet me by name? Was I introduced to the room? Did anyone help me find my way around?
What to Notice About the Coaching
In a group class, good coaching starts with using names, explaining every movement, and demoing everything. When the workout is briefed, the coach lists scaling options and may point to a member and say, today you are doing this because it’s appropriate for your ability level.
With every movement, the coach observes, cues, and corrects, then keeps the class moving. Confusion gets cleared up as fast as possible, and the coach stays supportive while doing it.
Watch for those things during a visit: names, demos, scaling options, and coaches who actually watch people move.
Does Class Size Help or Get in the Way?
Our typical class has about 5 to 12 people. That still allows a very intimate experience while providing high-level coaching. Every class, is coach-led.
Classes also have their own feel by time of day. The 5 a.m. class tends to spend a little more time stretching and warming up, since people have just woken up. The 4:30 p.m. class is always high energy and ready to go. If you can, ask which time slot fits your style.
Small Signs a Class Is Welcoming
One of the first things to notice is members walking up and introducing themselves. At Rivalry, all members are expected to introduce themselves to new people, and the coach brings it together by going around the room for introductions.
Partner workouts are another clue. Some people have preferred partners, but we try to be inclusive and mix it up. Athletes who want to push the pace can pair up together, but most people are just happy to work out with a familiar, friendly face.
The end of class matters too. Once the workout is done, everybody helps everybody clean up and put away equipment.
How to Try a Class in Jackson Before You Commit
How you start depends on how you found us. If you come through friends, we can get you signed up and you’ll know where to go because they told you. If you find us through the website, you fill out a form and a staff member personally reaches out to schedule a call. The idea is to get to know you before you ever walk in the door and make sure we’re a good fit.
That consultation is free. It tells us who you are and what you’re looking for. After that, we can offer a complimentary trial class where you meet a coach, get a tour of the gym, meet the members, and get a good workout in.
A Short Checklist to Bring With You
Here are questions worth bringing to any class visit.
- What if I’m not able to do this? The coach will put you at ease and find an appropriate option for where you are right now.
- Do I have to be in shape to start? No. We meet you exactly where you are and adjust the workout to meet the target workout time, so you can keep improving.
- Do I need to bring anything for my first workout? Wear appropriate workout clothes and bring a bottle for water.
- How many days a week do I have to come? I’d love to see you at least four days a week. It builds a good pattern of consistency and can help you have a better relationship with working out.
If you’re curious about Rivalry, fill out the form on our website and a staff member will reach out to set up a free consultation. No rush, and you can ask all of the questions above.
