Абстрактная иллюстрация
Article review 2 April 2026

Сьюзи Пиледжи Павельски: Почему совместные тренировки делают нас счастливее одиночных занятий спортом

Suzy Pileggi Pawelski: Why Working Out Together Makes Us Happier Than Exercising Alone

Suzy Pileggi Pawelski: Por qué entrenar juntos nos hace más felices que hacerlo solos

Suzy Pileggi Pawelski: Why Working Out Together Makes Us Happier Than Exercising Alone

Almost everyone knows that physical exercise benefits both body and mind. It strengthens the heart, reduces anxiety, improves sleep and mood. Yet when we combine physical activity with social interaction, we not only train our muscles but also satisfy the deep human need for connection with others. Despite the popularity and convenience of solo runs or individual gym sessions, an exclusively individual approach to fitness may deprive us of crucial psychological advantages.

Fresh scientific evidence confirms the powerful therapeutic effect of exercising together. A large-scale 2026 meta-analysis encompassing nearly 80,000 participants showed that group exercise is associated with the most pronounced reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety. Similar studies among students demonstrate that team sports and community fitness classes help manage stress more effectively, boost self-confidence and even alleviate feelings of inadequacy by naturally facilitating the formation of friendships.

The reasons for this phenomenon lie in our evolutionary past. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that excessive focus on the self is often an obstacle to happiness, and to achieve the highest level of flourishing we need to periodically lose ourselves in collective experience. Haidt describes this through what he calls the “hive hypothesis”. Throughout history people have felt a deep pull toward synchronised movement — through dance, rituals and marches. These shared experiences strengthened social bonds, fostering harmony within tribes and helping groups act in concert for survival.

Today science continues to explore the magic of synchrony. Stanford psychologists confirm: performing simultaneous actions with others — whether matching steps, clapping or moving together in a yoga class — significantly increases cooperation within a group. In such moments we may enter a state of deep inspiration, vitality and shared purpose. The outstanding psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called this “group flow”, when personal anxieties dissolve into a profound sense of belonging to something greater.

In today’s world, dominated by individualism and hurry, we often forget the healing power of moving together. Certainly, solo workouts are effective and fit a busy schedule well. But by applying the principles of “hive psychology” through group fitness, yoga or dance, we can multiply the sense of joy and gain the social support our minds vitally need. Next time you plan a workout, consider how the rhythmic movement of your body might resonate with that of others — transforming ordinary sport into a powerful tool for achieving psychological well-being.

Suzy Pileggi Pawelski

Positive psychology researcher

Suzy Pileggi Pawelski is an expert in the field of psychology and fitness, researching the impact of social interactions on psychological well-being.

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