A new study from the University of England finds that exercising in groups reduces stress levels and improves quality of life significantly more than solo workouts.

In the course of the study, the researchers discovered that exercising in a group may reduce stress by 26% in some people compared to those who prefer exercising alone.

Dr. Dayna Yorks of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine says: “The communal benefits of coming together with friends and colleagues and doing something difficult, while encouraging one another, pays dividends beyond exercising alone. The findings support the concept of a mental, physical and emotional approach to health that is necessary for student doctors and physicians.”