Fitness classes get hearts racing

Move over Tinder: Auckland students are turning to group fitness classes to find dates.

Young gym-goers say a group exercise environment helps them gain the confidence they need to connect with classmates.

AUT fitness instructor, Sebastian Batts, said he believed this to be because a group environment often lends itself to socialising.

“Some people that go to fitness classes find it easier to get motivated when they train with other people and they’re more open with everyone. It’s loud and everyone’s having a good time,” Mr Batts said.

Student Josh Rodger, 18, agreed with Mr Batts, and said the social environment helped him approach his current partner.

“In a group you don’t feel so judged, you can be loose and just have a laugh at yourself. Your true personality comes out,” Mr Rodger said.

For Mr Rodger, Zumba classes in particular proved fruitful due to the unequal ratio of men to women, and specific movement involved.

“One week I did a spin and as I did it, I thought I’d check her out,” said Mr Rodger of his girlfriend.

“She was obviously checking me out the whole time I was doing my grinding and that, Zumba’s got a lot of grinding involved,” he said.

Fellow student Matthew Clay, 19, said regular weekly classes are a surefire way to ensure repeat encounters with “appealing” classmates.

“I kept going because I knew she’d be there,” said Mr Clay, of a love interest he met in a class.

Fewer inhibitions about physical appearance during a group fitness class could also be advantageous, he added.

“There’s no need to be self-conscious because you’re probably both thinking you look like shit,” said Mr Clay.

“[The girl I asked out] said she was all red like a tomato, so I said [at least she was] a cute tomato.”

Mr Batts said AUT has had an increase in interest for group classes since the start of the semester, prompting a need for additional sessions in some cases.