Happy New Year! For today, we are all on the same page, day 1! With most reflecting on that year that’s now behind us, and the fresh days ahead, it’s hard not to be hopeful. A quick google search shows most people are hopeful for healthier, happier and easier days ahead! The best news is we all have the same opportunity to be the nix, or be the fix, in 2026.
It’s telling that year after year more people are still yearning to feel healthier and happier, proving that it’s harder than it seems to be our own solution to the problem. Yet, what has also grown in the past years is a loneliness epidemic. Loneliness and isolation have only perpetuated the poor health and well-being of many people. Human beings were never meant to heal, move, play, create, or live in isolation. One of the most powerful ways to improve health, well-being, and your overall quality of life is through shared group experiences. Here at The Wellness Center, we have known this for almost 44 years, and North Country Hospital (NCH)has been investing in this because it knows the importance this makes on the health and wellbeing of a community.
NCH’s The Wellness Center knows participation in shared group experiences can change lives, because it’s been seeing these transformations for decades. We know it to be especially true for those rooted in consistent movement. Group fitness classes like Zumba®, Drums Alive®, Yoga and all our other classes do far more than burn calories, they address many of the root issues people struggle with today: loneliness, stress, grief, fatigue, low confidence, and declining health. Clinically and psychologically, this is well supported. According to the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org), regular/consistent physical activity helps reduce anxiety and depression, improves mood, boosts energy, supports better sleep, and increases self-confidence. What’s even more compelling is that studies cited by the Mayo Clinic show that exercise combined with social interaction amplifies these benefits, improving adherence and long-term outcomes.
“Movement is medicine, but movement together is transformative,” says Dr. Edward Laskowski, an emeritus specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, emphasizing that all activity, even in small amounts, is beneficial for health, but even more beneficial when done in group experiences. He also talks about seniors or those who worry about injury and reassures “… the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks. A systematic meta-analysis (that’s a lot of research) concluded that adults 60 and older who were physically active had reduced the risk of many health conditions…Much of this was also true for adults who replaced sedentary behavior with more active lifestyles. “Imagine the benefits for those under 60? Remember, the leading medical professionals are saying, “the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks.” If you are concerned about risks, talk to your medical provider for reassurance.
This matters, because when people move to music together, laugh together, and share the same rhythm, the brain releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, the very chemicals responsible for joy, motivation, and emotional regulation – it makes the difference. Research published by Harvard Health and the National Institutes of Health shows that social connection itself is a major predictor of longevity and resilience. Loneliness, on the other hand, is now considered a serious public health risk. You cannot replicate this on your own or even just with a gym bestie. Many people hold themselves back from these benefits by their own thoughts or concerns, without asking their medical provider for their suggestions.
For those who feel lonely or disconnected, group classes offer instant community. For those who are grieving or heartbroken, rhythmic movement helps regulate the nervous system and process emotion in ways words often cannot. For people who feel tired, sluggish, or stuck, consistent movement almost immediately improves energy levels. For those who feel uncomfortable in their bodies or lack confidence, supportive group environments rebuild trust and pride from the inside out.
The Wellness Center and group classes aren’t just for people who are “struggling.” Take it from some of today’s highest-performing individuals – entrepreneurs, artists, and public figures, who regularly prioritize fitness and group classes as part of their success. America’s #1 podcast and leading author Mel Robbins openly credits daily movement for mental clarity and emotional strength. Talking about her journey with somatic movement, weight training and Pilates. Performers like Sabrina Carpenter share in almost every interview, how they train and move consistently to sustain energy, confidence, and resilience, taking group classes whenever they can. Business leaders across industries from tech innovators to global executives schedule workouts the same way they schedule meetings. If the rich and famous can make movement a non-negotiable event when they’ve already “achieved it all,” why can’t we?
Today, on the first day of the new year, we can reclaim responsibility that we are the fix, or we are the nix. We make choices every day to repeat the same story, or to change the plot. To stay stuck in cycles of exhaustion, isolation, excuses and blaming or to step into connection, freedom and possibility. At The Wellness Center, you don’t just work out, you build a better life. This can happen by just showing up. If not here, find another place this year to connect, to give and receive, and invest in better life day by day, because we know that we can’t do it alone. Let’s work together more this year. Be the fix in ‘26!