ALMINE & HER FRIEND, TARA, at "Oregon CrossFit," 2009
We all love our solitude. My job is very people-oriented. Sometimes I just feel the need to clear my head, be alone, and experience the silence of a trail-run...
If you're a "solo exerciser," a recent study found, however, that it may not be a bad idea to expand your horizons. Researchers at Oxford University found that rowers get a bigger surge of mood-boosting endorphins during a synchronized workout vs. when they row alone. Doing the same movements together is a bonding experience, which helps trigger the feel-good vibes, the study authors suspect. The endorphins seemed to be heightened when the group moved in unity, instead of merely just moving as a group. An example of this would be a troupe of dancers moving to the same choreography vs. a group of people hiking together.
So, it may not be a bad idea to take that dance class, or explore rowing in a boat with a group of others...find a synchonized group workout class and throw it in the mix of your "solo" exercise schedule 1-2x a week. The research indicates it can do nothing but make your more happy ;-}