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The Benefits of ‘Social Exercising’

The Benefits of Social Exercising

We all have different preferences when it comes to exercise, some prefer to workout solo in a gym or lap swimming, whereas others enjoy the social interaction of group exercise or small group training 

Whether you joined a gym with a friend or have made friends along the way, the benefits of working out with other people can be really important. It’s proven to be great for your mental health as well as your physical health, here are just some of the benefits that working out with others can bring:  

1. Accountability 

Exercising with your friend helps to keep you on track if you’re working towards a goal as you support each other to push further and make sure you keep to training schedules. We don’t like letting others down and therefore we’re more likely to do exercise even when we’re feeling like we can’t be bothered. We find that members who train with friends reach goals quicker and maintain momentum with their exercise. On those cold mornings it can be hard to get out of bed, but when you’ve committed to meeting a friend or workout buddy – then you make the effort to be there!  

2. Community  

As humans we love to feel like we belong and meeting like-minded people provides us with a sense of connection. At PARC many of our members love to meet new people and find casual friendships from the familiar faces they see each time they visit. Many friendships have formed from conversation during a group exercise class! When you join PARC you join our community and the PARC Fam!     

3. Motivation 

Training with a friend is a great motivator to keep going and to push yourself just that little bit harder, particularly with their encouragement. A positive training partner can completely shift your mindset by supporting you through the exercise and get your endorphins flowing quicker! You can also get even more out of your exercise with a bit of friendly competition between you.  

4. Enjoyment 

We thrive on social connection and exercising with a friend can make the whole experience just more enjoyable. Spending time together at the gym or in a group exercise class can be the perfect opportunity to catch up, particularly if you extend your session with a coffee at our Café, sometimes it’s just as much about the reward afterwards. Connecting with friends is great for our mood and energy levels ensuring we get the most out of every training session.  

At PARC, we’re about to launch our next 8 Week Challenge, which is part of our small group training membership. This membership was created due to the feedback we had about the social enjoyment of the challenges. Working out in a small group together our members formed friendships and attributed most of their successes to the community support they received throughout the challenge and wanted to continue this all year around.  

It’s not too late to reinvigorate your commitment to a Year of Health with our next 8 Week Challenge, which starts on Monday 2 May and is included for FREE as part of our Small Group Training Membership, available to PARC Full Access members at $28 per week.  

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Complete the form on our website and one of our team will be in touch, or send us an email at sgpt@peninsulaleisure.com.au.

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Registrations for the 2025 Birth Tree closing soon, Friday 31 January. 👶🌳

Did you or someone you know welcome a baby in 2025? Now is the time to get their name on the Frankston Birth Tree for 2025! 

Join Rotary Peninsula 2.0 BirthTree and Family Garden and help more children be safer around water. Join the Birth Tree for an investment of $50. For this, you will receive a timeless connection of your loved one in the form of a tree and plaque, but more importantly, these funds go back to PARC and PINES to help more children build confidence in the water. 

By participating in the Birth Tree, your contribution will go directly to funding baby swim programs. 
Be sure to get in before registrations close! Visit the link in our bio to register.
Expressions of Interest are open for our Can Swim Infant Water Familiarisation program 👶 

Participate together with your child and learn the fundamentals of water familiarisation to begin their swimming and water safety journey. This program equips parents with the skills and knowledge to practise in their own time and build essential, foundational skills with their child. 

Who: Children aged 6 months – 2 years 11 months (with a parent/carer in the water)
What: Learn water familiarisation fundamentals and build early safety skills together
When: Mon 23, Wed 25 & Fri 27 February 2026
Sessions: 30 mins at 8:30am or 11:10am
Cost: Fully subsidised

👉 How to apply: Submit an Expression of Interest via our website, open throughout January. Link in bio.

#CanSwim #PARCFrankston #PinesFrankston #WaterSafety #FrankstonCity #MorePeopleCanSwim
Last week of our school holiday program! 🏝️

Make sure you come and visit us before it ends! Book a session on Splash Island for a day of family fun, check out our raft waterslides, and aquatic playground. 

We can't wait to see you there 😎
Australia Day public holiday opening hours 

We're open Monday 26 January for the Australia Day public holiday. 

The Centre will be operating on reduced public holiday hours, 

- PARC Centre Hours 7am – 7pm 

- Waterslides open: 10am – 6pm 

- Cafe hours: 8am – 5pm 

- PARC Swim: No lessons on Monday 26 January but resume Tuesday 27 January 

- Group exercise: reduced timetable, see the Customer Portal for class details and to book in. 
 

To see what services are open on the day, visit our Service Availability Report on our website, via the link in our bio.
It’s party time 🎉 

PINES summer pool party is back in 2026, so gather your friends and break out the sunscreen, it’s time for some fun in the sun ☀️ 

Wednesday 21 Jan, 11am-2pm. 
☀️ Free sausage sizzle
🐯 Free Face Painting
🛹 Free mini skate clinics from the team at Frankston Skate Park
😎 Waterslide fun (weather dependant) 

Normal entry fees apply, with all activities included in entry fee. 

We look forward to seeing you there!
We are incredibly proud to announce that PARC has achieved Platinum Pool Status with Life Saving Victoria! 🥳

We received an outstanding Compliance Score of 100% and a Safety Score of 98.68%!
 
This annual assessment demonstrates our commitment to the Platinum Pool Program, which recognises aquatic facilities that meet the highest standards in aquatic safety and risk management.

Participation in this program is a mark of excellence within our industry, and achieving these scores reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team. 

A huge congratulations to our incredible Asset and Facilities team who work hard, year round to provide our members with the best experience at PARC.
Giveaway winners! 🙌 

We are excited to announce the two winners of our recent giveaway. Each winner will receive one complimentary entry into the Frankston Swim Classic. 

The winners are @cpatrick27 and @domi_lia 

Congratulations! 🥳
How you can get your 30-20-2 at PARC 💪

Our theme for this year is 30 or 20 plus 2, a simple formula to help you move more and reach the National Physical Activity Guidelines.

Everyone’s fitness journey is different, and at PARC there are so many different ways you can achieve 30-20-2.

➡️ Moderate activity: enjoy a walk on the treadmill, try a Tai Chi or Yoga Class, or jump into the pool for some gentle lap swimming.

➡️ Vigorous activity: Join a HIIT class, try an interval session on the treadmill or bike, or get moving with Zumba.

➡️ Strength session: Complete a body weight workout, enjoy weight lifting or try a Reformer Strength class.

These are just a few fantastic options that you can choose from at PARC. This year we want to support you moving in a way that suits you. Chat to one of our friendly gym floor team members or trainers to see how you can get your 30-20-2.

#PARCfrankston #30-20-2 #movemorein2026 #frankstongym #groupexercise aquafitness reformerpilatesstudio lesmillsclasses groupfitness

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