The mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of exercise in recovery are well established. After treatment, however, finding what it takes within yourself to keep up a regular exercise routine can be very difficult on your own. Even if you started off great, eventually, you may reach a point where it just becomes too hard on your own. That is where the beauty of group fitness comes into play. Whether you just have a friend, partner, or a whole organized group of people to exercise with, there are many benefits of exercising together in addiction recovery.
#1 Motivation to Exercise
Even the most fitness-motivated people face days when finding the mental strength to do what they need to is difficult. Through your recovery from substance abuse, you are probably well versed with the vast number of days where your mental strength is running thin. Other than people for whom perhaps exercise represents a replacement addiction, the struggle to exercise regularly is real.
That is where group fitness becomes a strength. Exercising with others provides that extra motivation to get up, show up, and step up. Whether you join a walking group, a running club, a cycling group, or a group that trains regularly at a gym, exercising together can provide you with enough motivation to actually make it happen. Check your area and your group and facility resources for recovery-specific groups, as they can provide an added measure of support.
#2 Accountability Fosters Success
When you are exercising solely on your own, you are technically the primary source of accountability, too. How often do you tell yourself that running only 25 minutes instead of 30 is okay just for today? That becomes 15 minutes within a week, and soon you are “taking the day off.” Not that you should not work on your accountability and trust with yourself, but let’s face it, when others are involved, there is a much greater chance of truly being accountable.
When you do show up, whether it is for yourself, for others, or a combination of both, you feel successful, because you are successful. No matter what it is that gets you there, you got there. You came, you sweat, you conquered. That success just feels good, even with sore or tired muscles. Showing up simply has added meaning in recovery because for many, they are just learning to show up for themselves in their lives. Keeping yourself accountable, even with a group is still accountability and success.
#3 Social Benefits of Group Exercise
Isolation creates an increased risk of relapse, whereas being social offers some added safety against relapse. This means that when you exercise together with other people, you are doing two things to protect yourself against relapse, as well as hopefully having some fun.
Other social benefits include increasing friendships and increasing your support network. Exercising together can minimize some of the less pleasurable aspects of fitness activities while increasing the level of dopamine in your brain. In simple terms, it can be more fun to exercise together rather than alone.
#4 Scheduling and Prioritizing
Finding excuses is often a strength among those in active addiction, a strength that is not necessary to focus on in recovery. When you try to exercise solely on your own, it is so much easier to make an excuse for not doing it right now, or not doing it at all. In recovery, you will probably want to focus more on keeping commitments to both yourself and others and prioritizing the daily routines that will keep you sober.
This is another strength of group fitness. In order to exercise together, you must make and keep your scheduled time. Others will be looking for you, and you will be looking for other people as well. Involving other people in your exercise schedule helps you to make and keep regular fitness a priority, both on the good days and the not-so-good days.
#5 Completion of a Task Improves Mentality
Inherently, you know that when you follow through with something, it makes you feel better. Knowing that you have completed something you planned to do boosts your self-image and helps you to feel the benefits of success. Success improves your mentality; it can literally put a smile on your face.
Science also supports the concept of task completion. Depression and anxiety rates are lower amongst those who complete tasks. The same is also true of those who exercise, as they feel better mentally, physically, and spiritually. Group fitness is a double boost to your mentality each time you participate.
The added motivation and accountability that group fitness provides can be a great asset for someone in recovery. Getting your body moving, and socializing with others while doing it can bring added benefits beyond trying to do it solely on your own. By making exercise a priority and having a set schedule, working out with others can increase your success levels, and success just feels good. Rancho Milagro Recovery supports exercise as a healthy part of your recovery plan. Beginning in our residential treatment program, we offer yoga and plenty of trails for hiking as well as other fitness opportunities in a group setting. Our working ranch located in beautiful Southern California offers the perfect place to begin your recovery. Contact us at (951) 526-4582 to begin your process, or to talk to us about our alumni program. We encourage you to find your fitness throughout your recovery journey no matter how you decide to stay fit.