A few years ago, I came across the concept of small group training. At the time I was working in a large corporate gym with the standard offerings of one-on-one personal training and large group exercise classes. I am not a shy person and can strike up a conversation if the time is right and I feel compelled to do so. And the idea of a large group exercise class never really appealed to me. On the other hand, one-on-one personal training sometimes felt a little unattainable and uncomfortable, too. So, what is the compromise? Small group training is the answer.
Small group training can be a group class with no more than 10 people in the class. It can also be small group personal training, where two to four participants schedule a specific session with the trainer instead of attending a larger class. Small group training gives both the participants and the trainer a win-win.
Sometimes the idea of one-on-one personal training can be just as intimidating as the large group exercise classes. I mean, I need accountability as much as the next person, but the idea of putting it all out there for evaluation and scrutiny can be overwhelming. Not to mention the cost of personal training may end up outside of the client’s monthly budget for all the sessions really needed to do to hit his or her fitness goals. If, on the other hand, the client can recruit a couple of friends to workout with her, everyone saves some money and doesn’t feel so intimidated by the face-to-face with the trainer.
Trainers get the win with small group personal training because unlike a class, there is accountability to show up for not only the trainer but the rest of the group. It’s hard on the trainer to get to the gym for a training session, only to be left hanging with no word from the client. This is rarely the case with small group personal training.
At B Fit, we offer group classes where you can come when you can, but with the small group personal training, you can come when it is your time without the fear of losing out on something you want to work on. When working with an expert personal trainer, small group personal training is an excellent way to stay motivated and get results. If you were to go a large big box gym with large group exercise classes, it is easy to get lost in the crowd.
If you are a personal trainer and have not yet tried adding small group personal training to your offerings, I suggest you start right away. It is extremely cost effective for the clients and the trainer. For the client, there is a significant savings. Personal training could cost upwards of $65 or more per session. This could get expensive in small rural communities if the client wants two or more sessions a week. With small group personal training, the client gets a savings for bringing in their friends to train with them; for example, the small group personal training might only cost $30 per session per client. The trainer makes more with three people in a small group personal training session in the same amount of time than she would if she just had one client for the hour. Additionally, the amount of time spent in the gym is significantly decreased but she still makes more per hour. It’s a win-win.
Clients who want results and want the journey to be a fun one should consider small group training or small group personal training. There is so much joy to be had in celebrating with your workout friends the accomplishments of losing that extra five pounds or completing a new race distance or lifting that heavier weight. As a trainer, I love seeing the look on my clients’ faces hitting those goals. Even more so, I love seeing someone leaving the gym happier than when they came in. We share each other’s love for fitness and love of each other’s support.
I have worked with some amazing people in small groups. We find out through our hour together how much we have in common and how many people we know in our small communities. Some people refer to this kind of connection as their tribe. I wholeheartedly agree that the people that train in small groups create a new tribe of supporters and cheerleaders, as well as new accountability partners. Where there is love, support, and accountability, great things are created – both body and mind.