Constance, training in groups and “the 1% rule”. Psychologist’s advice to get back in shape – Corriere.it

The diet? It always starts on Monday (next). In the gym? Better to sign up on the first day of the (next) month. Raise your hand if you haven’t procrastinated at least once, especially when it comes to the tiring journey back to sport after a break. Yet, we are well aware of the positive effects of physical activity on our psyche, as well as on our body. And we also know that the mind on the one hand can work against us, but on the other it can play a fundamental role in recovering from a period of inconstancy, low motivation and procrastination. Yeah, but how to make the most of it to change your lifestyle? The psychologist Luca Mazzucchelli and the trainers of Virgin Active, a leading company in the fitness sector with 40 clubs throughout Italy, are well aware of the mental processes that hinder constancy in sport. Here are their considerations and some advice to recover or set up a healthy routine after a break.

Reduce stress

The enemy among us. Indeed, within us. On closer inspection, in fact, the problem of a psychological nature and frustrating our good intentions is ourselves, continually put under pressure by the numerous inner conflicts that grip us. But if there is a way to try to solve them, this is constant training, as Mazzucchelli explains: Research shows that exercising regularly helps reduce anxiety and depression, improves sleep quality, and increases our levels of self-control and willpower, as well as other life challenges such as quitting smoking and avoiding junk foods.. In short, people who train consistently are happier, more satisfied and more optimistic; daily stresses have less impact on them. They have a stronger “sense of purpose,” feel more connected to others, and experience more gratitude, hope, and courage.

Sociality

Friends are out There Speaking of connections, it’s no secret that in a group motivation grows and results improve. Mazzucchelli highlights how training in company induces even greater benefits than solo training: Attending a gym where everything around us invites us to move our body and where the people around us are training, will have the effect of supporting our motivation. Even the socialization aspect, the fact of being part of a group or team context, makes training more fun, stimulating and motivating. Today there are real communities of people who, thanks also to social gratification, as well as increasingly captivating and engaging formats, are able to follow the courses offered more consistently.

Collective effervescence

With a view to shared workouts, the Virgin Active trainers underline how much the courses attended more consistently are those defined as more enjoyable such as, for example, the Cycle Spirit, a total body session that involves both the upper and lower limbs, inducing an important metabolic conditioning and a significant improvement in coordination. But that’s not all, because Mazzucchelli highlights another benefit of group activity: Our brain is wired to synchronize with the movements of other human beings: synchrony refers to activities of connection and cooperation with others, which have always been necessary to ensure the survival of the species. For this reason, if we move in unison with other people, as happens in group courses, the brain rewards us with a feeling of joy that neuroscientists have defined as collective effervescence.