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Heart Health

The perks of group fitness classes

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Group exercise classes may offer certain benefits—such as motivation from fellow participants and trained instructors—that can help improve fitness. Classes that emphasize aerobic exercise, which boosts a person’s heart and breathing rate, include dancing, water aerobics, spinning, and kickboxing. Greater cardiorespiratory fitness lowers the risk of heart disease and may prolong life. Classes such as yoga and tai chi, which incorporate movement, breathing, and meditation, may also improve risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure.

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