Group fitness classes are becoming more popular than training alone or one on one with a trainer. Group exercises used to mean step classes or aerobics, but today it includes aquatic fitness, yoga, boot camps and many more. Exercise classes provide a sense of camaraderie and support, something athletes are accustomed to and depend on. Other important benefits of belonging to a fitness class are accountability and cost effectiveness. A little friendly competition will make you work a little harder. Group classes are often divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced. However, classes do account for varying degrees of skill and ability.

Here's a list of group fitness classes for athletes:

• Cardio Challenge: A mix of low impact and basic step aerobics designed to get your heart rate up and challenge your muscles.
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: A self-defense martial art focusing on ground fighting and gaining dominance over your opponent.
• Fitness Training Camps: Designed for beginners to intermediate athletes, it involves 30-minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise followed by 20 minutes of strength training.
• Body Sculpting: Focuses on endurance and strength training using free weights or resistance bands.
• Iron Man Core: Focuses on cardiorespiratory fitness and core strength.
• Core Conditioning: Focuses on working the lower body and core muscles to prepare and strengthen the abdominals and lower back, improving posture.
• Indoor Group Cycling: Provides cardio workout good for all fitness levels and ages by manipulating pedaling speed and resistance.
• Pilates: Focuses on building endurance and strength in the core muscles, rebalancing the body.
• Thai Kickboxing: This includes blocking, punching and defense movements, as well as shadowboxing and pad striking.
• Strength Conditioning: Intense training designed to define major muscle groups.
• Meditation: Focuses on postures and breathing to open energy channels in the body and activating the flow of chi in the body.
• Premiere Hatha Yoga: This focuses on creating well being through gentle breathing, relaxation and posture.
• Zumba: Invented by a Colombian trainer named Beto Perez, this class focuses on the use of interval training. It is a fast paced, high-energy class performed to Latin music.

Taking part in a group fitness class is a good motivator if you need that extra kick to get started. By belonging to a group, you know that everyone else is striving toward the same goal and pushing to be their best. In addition, belonging to a group allows you to make new friends, who depend on you being there for their support, which gives you another reason for going. This form of fitness has changed a lot, so if you have never tried it or if it's been a long time since you have joined a group fitness class, give it another chance. You might be surprised.