Community, Social Connections and Improved Well-being

A sense of community and of a shared identity, is good for our health. A feeling of simply belonging and being part of a peer group fosters good emotional well-being, meaning we’re less likely to experience loneliness, anxiety, stress and depression, which can also mean better physical health.

But how do we find somewhere to fit in? Could small group fitness classes be at least part of the answer? I think so. But before we explore why, and how Run Fit Fordingbridge can help you feel more connected, lets dig a little deeper into the science of how social connection improves mental and physical health.

What the Studies Say

The link between community and improved emotional well-being has been extensively studied, and the results are impressive. Studies demonstrate that those with community connections and a good support network report fewer mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, loneliness and stress.

Researchers think there’s two main reasons for this – strong social connections and healthy physical social networks actually help to protect against poor mental health, and for those who are struggling, support from a like-minded community helps to make them feel less isolated and better able to manage their symptoms.

If we have better mental health, better physical health and overall well-being may follow. Physical and mental health work in a virtuous cycle. If we’re not feeling anxious or depressed, we’re more likely to have the energy and motivation to exercise, make healthy food and lifestyle choices and get better sleep and we’re less likely to rely on crutches such as alcohol and ultra-processed food.

So, how does exercise fit into all of this? How are community and well-being linked by exercise?

How Run Fit Fordingbridge Can Help

Exercise makes us feel good, that much is clear from the endorphin-induced high we feel when we’ve finished a workout. But did you know that working out in a small, like minded, friendly group helps to build a sense of community and social cohesion that can lead to better mental well-being?

At Run Fit Fordingbridge, that’s exactly what we do.We specialise in boutique gym classes with a maximum of seven people per session. I see with my own eyes, the genuine bonds being created between women that I don’t see in large, impersonal fitness classes and gyms. Here, people know each other’s’ names and celebrate each other’s wins. We mark birthdays and anniversaries. We ask about holidays, children and grandchildren. We know when someone needs an extra push. We notice when someone’s having a tough time.

My small group fitness classes in Fordingbridge encourage friendships to naturally form. There’s nothing quite like a shared sense of achievement of getting to the end of a satisfyingly challenging workout for making friends!

But it isn’t just high intensity workouts and weight training sessions that build community spirit. We encourage well-being and social connections through small group yoga and Purestretch classes (both perfect for recovery). We also have regular sound bath and gong meditation sessions. An immersive sound experience while lying, eyes closed in a relaxed or meditative state might sound like a solo experience – but it’s a shared one, too.

The beauty of a boutique training studio is that we can organise other events as well. We have regular social activities including quiz nights, bingo nights, social runs and basic life support training sessions. So we’re not just about meeting up in our gym gear! All of these things build communities and connections that extend beyond the exercise studio and into everyday life.

Your Local Fitness Community Welcomes You!

Having a shared sense of community through fitness, somewhere to fit in and celebrate your wins, and others, is what my women’s fitness studio is all about. Feeling good and positive soon spills over into other areas of our lives. From our relationships, parenting journeys and careers to our personal self-esteem and confidence levels.

So, as we near the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s come together and celebrate small group fitness classes playing an important role in the power of community spirit.