Why You Need a Small Group Training Plan

In recent months, I recommended creating small group personal training sessions (SGPT) as an option to having personal trainers as independent contractors at your health club.  The issue of independent contractors is not the only reason to consider this approach.  The logistics might be daunting at first but managers, health club owners, and most importantly, the clients are discovering the benefits of partner and group training.

The popularity of small group or partner training is growing, not just because of the efficiency for the trainer.  Obviously, a trainer can earn more when more clients are present and can save their own time and effort when two or more are gathered for a work-out.  This is a benefit to your club as well.  Traditionally the one-on-one training client is a distinct personality — driven, committed.  Partner and group training bring along another type of client to your gym. People that want the discipline of a trainer, but are interested in the support and fun of a group.

Focusing on the clients becomes the most important aspect of small group training.  If you have three different physical ability levels all working together, the trainer will need to use three variations of a similar base routine to keep everyone working together without injury.  Working with more than one client at a time means you can’t watch them as closely as in a one-on-one session. Making sure that your club members have filled out the proper forms and waivers becomes vital.

I have recommended the National Fitness Business Alliance (NFBA) as a resource before, and I can not say enough about them.  You should attend one of their seminars.  Thomas Plummer is the keynote speaker and author of many books on the business of fitness.  Listening to his perspective on running a training concentric business is worth the two day investment of time to attend an NFBA seminar.   Also look into the success stories of the trainers who went through the NFBA themselves and went on to enjoy great success.   People like Alwyn and Rachel Cosgrove and Rick Mayo have taken SGPT to a whole new level.   Whether you are a seasoned large club owner or a personal trainer looking to open your own gym, do yourself a favor and attend an upcoming NFBA event or at the very least, read theses individual’s books.  You won’t be sorry.

Small group personal training (SGPT) is here to stay so you might as well embrace it and learn from the best. From a liability and independent contractor perspective, it is better to move away from the “personal” training business and get into the “group” training business.