Canton exercise group keeping each other honest about workouts

CANTON, Mich. – Long before the sun rises in Canton, a group of people is finding its way to the Summit on the Park in Canton.

"I just learned to love to get it done with early," said Kathy Bryden, a fitness instructor.

Bryden teaches the half and half class that begins at 5:45 a.m.  The class is a half cardio, half strength workout.

Her students have trained themselves to wake up and get moving.   

"It take a few days to make it a habit, but once it becomes a habit, you wouldn't want it any other way," said Prabah Bhat.   

Bhat has taken the early morning fitness class for the past four years.

"You have to be together here as a group as a family at this time of day, but when we're done you hear us cheering and we can start our day," said Kristie Smith.

Smith has taken the class for a year.

"This group in particular is self motivated because they get up at this crazy hour and they just, I think, thrive on each other and get motivated, not only by themselves getting up in the morning, but as a group, they find all kinds of energy and get it done early as well," said Bryden.

According to the YMCA there are four benefits to group fitness classes.  
1. People are more likely to show up.
2. Working out with an instructor helps ensure people are exercising correctly.
3. Participants can be more challenged and pushed to the next level.
4. The classes can be fun.

"We hold each other accountable and we challenge each other, so that makes me look forward to waking up in the morning to come to class," Bhat said. "If I don't come for a day or two, for whatever reason, I get a call or a text saying 'Hey we missed you, what happened?' So it makes me (feel) 'Oh, somebody cares about, cares that I don't come to class.' So it makes it more accountable."

For these workout partners, hearing about why they were not at a class, can motivate them.  Deb Honsowetz has taken the class for four years and recalls what it was like to get that first call about what happened when she missed a class.

"I felt like somebody cared about me. It was a great feeling, and I felt like that was the nice little kick in the butt i needed,' Honsowetz said.

Honsowetz said while exercise is a priority for her, some mornings can be challenging.

"We all have our mornings that it's tough to get going and when you get here and you see a friendly face it makes it so much easier," Honsowetz said.

Betty McLeod has taken this class for 15 years and serves as a big inspiration to everyone else in attendance.

"She is absolutely an inspiration," said Honsowetz about McLeod.  "A lot of times I'll look around in the class and we may be struggling or moaning and complaining and you look over at Betty and she is there, she is doing it."

McLeod recently turned 85, and the class helped her celebrate.

"I'm an early riser, I always have been," said McLeod.

"I just don't want to quit, I just keep on keeping on, so that's what I tell everybody they should do, keep on keeping on," McLeod said.

The members of this particular class say they have a core group of about 15 that show up regularly.  They check in on each other when one of them misses a class.  It is helping them develop healthy habits and is fueling friendship too.

For more information on the Summit on the Park and the activities it offers, click here.