Fitness classes are great if they can help you keep yourself accountable and consistent.
Some people prefer going there too because of the social aspect of working out together in a group.
But are they well suited for someone who’s main objective is to get fit?
First we need to understand that being “fit” is a very vague term. What are you “fit” for exactly?
Fitness can be branched into multiple areas: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, musculoskeletal strength, flexibility, etc.
What most people want to achieve is an “ideal body composition” which makes them look “fit.” Sure, to achieve an ideal body composition, you do need to address the aforementioned areas but through a systematic, personalized and objective based approach.
Any individual wanting to get fit, needs to focus on learning and performing the correct movement patterns, with added resistance/load, for a considerable period of time. Furthermore, the same individual also needs to fuel their body appropriately with the right amount of protein, fats and carbs; as well as recover optimally through adequate sleep and stretching. Also adding some conditioning work (read: cardio) and then you’ve got yourself a recipe for success.
Think about what suits you better based on the following question and solution.
So the question is: can fitness classes help you get your ideal body composition?
The answer is: not really, especially if you’re just starting out. You’d be better suited for personalized fitness and nutrition programs and being personally coached rather than in a group, just like fitness classes where you have minimal exercise experience or supervision.
But if you are already experienced with weight training, moving correctly, being able to withstand high intensity interval training along with high impact activities AND you want to experience group based exercise activities, then sure you can go ahead and add that to your lifestyle with an enrollment in fitness classes.