This Girl Can launches new low intensity group exercise classes

This Girl Can is launching a new range of group exercise classes powered by the award-winning campaign.

Sport England's national campaign, which encourages women to be active in any way that works for them, has teamed up with EMD UK – the national governing body for group exercise – to offer lower intensity, fun and supportive sessions for women who may otherwise not feel comfortable attending group exercise classes.

More than 1,500 people have registered their interest to train as class instructors and, with 21 major leisure operators already signed up – including Places Leisure and Mytime Active – there will be more This Girl Can classes available across the country in 2022.

The classes, that call on women to "Come and do your worst", were also designed to be able to be used as part of social prescribing schemes in the future.

Group exercise classes are highly popular with women. They make up 84% of attendees in a leisure environment and fitness is the second most popular activity after walking for women to take part in.

However, research by EMD UK reveals that less active women often express fears of being judged in gym classes, of looking "stupid", of not being able to keep up, fear of what others will think and being out of their depth in a group exercise setting.

Furthermore, a This Girl Can survey of more than 1,000 women earlier this year found that more than a third (38%) of women worry about not being fit enough, 28% worry about showing their body and almost a quarter (24%) worry that they aren't good enough.

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has also made it more difficult for women to be active, with our latest Active Lives Adult Survey highlighting that women have been slower to return to activities since restrictions started to ease.

This Girl Can classes are designed to tackle these barriers, by offering a blended taster of different types of exercise and activities each week, such as dance fitness, boxing, and yoga-inspired stretch. The classes are gentle and low-intensity so that all women feel able to take part, which supports women to decide what they enjoy and what style of activity works best for them, regardless of fitness levels and experience.

Class instructors are trained to create a warm, fun and non-judgemental environment and build confidence to help women move onto other classes when they feel they're ready.

This means that This Girl Can classes continue to be for women who are new to getting active and want similar things from a class experience.

Find out more about the classes here.

Source: Sport England