Since the start of this pandemic, we have realized the extent to which social interactions face-to-face are important to humans.
Of course, everyone is eager.
Can't wait to meet around a table not big enough for dinner.
Looking forward to welcoming someone with a kiss.
Can't wait to shake hands with a stranger (it'll be weird the first time around but hey).
Can't wait to be in a group to (re) play soccer, baseball or run!
For now, it's on hold. No problem, we'll run alone.
But are there any benefits to practicing group sports?
It seems so.
Moving in a group has a strong effect on mental health
Last week I attended a presentation of the Dr. Isabelle Doré, Assistant professor at the University of Montreal on the subject of physical activity and mental health.
I found one slide particularly striking: it mentioned that physical activity has a significant beneficial effect on mental health. So far, nothing very surprising.
Except that I found it particularly interesting that the impact was higher in those who engaged in physical activity in informal groups, such as friends who meet for a run once a week or bump into each other at the gym. . The impact was even greater for people who engage in physical activity in formal groups, such as soccer or hockey teams.
What explains this impact of physical activity performed in a group? First of all, those who train in groups move more. In addition, they benefit from more support from those around them.
Moving in a group is more stimulating for the brain
Recently I listened to an interview with the doctor Sonia lupien, scientific director of the Center for Studies on Human Stress, who mentioned that physical exercise has an effect on neurogenesis.
What is Neurogenesis
It is the birth of new neurons in our brain.
When I did my baccalaureate in kinesiology, however, we learned that neurogenesis was reserved for the developing brain, therefore for children and adolescents. Since that time, different research studies have been published and it seems more and more likely that neurogenesis also occurs in adults, under certain conditions.
It seems that in mice, the most physically active produce more new neurons in their brains and this would be even more true in mice which are active in groups. This is the subject that Dr Sonia Lupien tackles in this interview with Pénélope McQuade.
And since neurogenesis could have a preventive effect on various psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, these results seem even more important.
How to move together during a pandemic?
To my knowledge, there are no studies yet on the benefits of being active with other people on Zoom or Facebook Live for example. We are therefore unable to say whether moving together at a distance has a positive impact on mental health.
Still, I think it feels good and it's nice to feel like you're part of a community.
How do you feel this effect?
- We had an example in the 42-Day Workplace Challenge, in which several companies have recently participated. The participants revived each other on the internal communication channels of companies. Moreover, 87% of participants mentioned that the Challenge had a positive impact on their mood, their quality of life and their joie de vivre;
- Nathalie Bisson conducts training "alone but all together" on her page The Pace of Happiness;
- In a few weeks, we will be launching a Challenge to be performed in groups but at a distance with dumbbells made from recycled material, Altterre, our new baby!
Do you know of other initiatives to move as a group despite the pandemic? Mention them in the comments and we'll mention them in the article.
Hi Daniel thank you for this nice article. I witness this beneficial effect of group training on the girls I train every week. I'm lucky to be in an orange zone and our Bootcamp-style training takes place outside. In five years I have never had so many repeat customers who are grateful to meet once or twice a week. We were supposed to finish the session last week but we are continuing. I can't let go for her as much as for me
Super Article Daniel, Bravo !!!