1ACSM Health & Fitness Summit
March 12-15, 2013Small Group Personal Training
Irene Lewis-McCormick, M.S., C.S.C.S.
E-mail: [email protected]
Introduction
IDEA Health and Fitness surveyed fitness business and program directors who
confirm that small group training is a steady trend that continues to rise. Small
group training was the number-one trend in 2010, growing in the past 9-years
from 43% to 76% followed by boot camps (28% to 67%) and Zumba 14% to
28%).
Fitness professionals are drawn to small groups because it is time-saving for both
clients and trainers; it is cost-effective for clients and represents a decreased
workload for trainers, as they can see more clients in less time. It also tends to
increase motivation levels for the clients.
However, trainers wanting to move into group training need to acquire a specific
set of skills. Being a fantastic trainer one-to-one will not necessarily translate to
excellence when training small groups.
Consider the Pro’s and Con’s of Small Group Training
Pro: With the group approach, trainers can apply their knowledge of fitness to a wider audience
generating more personal revenue while charging clients lower per-session fees.
Con: Generally speaking, personal trainers are most familiar with managing single clients at a
time, not groups. While many training skills will cross over, many skills critical to being
successful in small groups do not.
Pro: Trainers are creating boot camps or assembling small-group training sessions to meet
more client’s needs, serving more people and creating a “fun” dynamic and motivating
environment.
Con: Lack of group dynamics know-how or experience with coordinating multiple clients with
diverse needs in a motivating and effective manner can spoil a potentially viable and extremely
successful program.
Small Group Training Requires the Following Considerations
Trainers need to think of themselves first as a group leader, rather than a personal trainer
leading a group.
Trainers need to learn to differentiate between individual attention one-on-one versus
individual attention in a group, as these two definitions differ.
Certain formats and ratios lend themselves best to small groups, and having the skills to
use equipment or techniques in these areas are required (i.e.; medicine balls, kettle bells,
suspension training, etc.)
Consideration of fees and policies need to be reconsidered.
Consideration of marketing, lead time and which programs are best suited for small
groups need to be considered.
Trainers Managing Groups in Real Time