January 28, 2024: Personal vs. Group Training

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You might have made the first step to get fit, but now what? You can go to the gym day after day and trudge away on the treadmill, lift a few weights, or use a few machines and leave or you can tap into the potential of training and the support of fellow gym goers or your own personal trainer. There are different training options to reach your goals, but which one is right for you? This week, we’re going to talk about some of the different options for using a trainer.

Personal Training

Personal training is one-on-one training with a professional coach. On your first visit, you’ll discuss your goals, concerns, and injuries, and usually get an assessment with your weight, BMI, measurements, etc.. The trainer will create a custom program based on your assessment and then plan out your next moves. One of the most beneficial aspects of personal training is accountability. Your trainer will be there every step of the way. He or she will correct your form and consistently ask questions about your progress and how you feel.

The downside of personal training is that it can be expensive. While you can pay per session (rather than purchase package), personal training should be a long-term investment. Another con of personal training is that it can be hard to find the right trainer. Personal trainers want you to succeed, but their idea of how to do it and your idea may not match. You might clash with their methods or find that they’re too aggressive which can ultimately result in you not continuing. To find the right one, research and meet with them first to make sure it’s a good match. Things should feel natural between the two of you, and you should feel like they have your best interests in mind at a minimum.

If you’re someone who needs constant motivation and consistency and requires a tailored program because of injury or because you aren’t getting results, personal training is your best option.

Group Training

Do you work better alone or in a group setting? Group training can vary session, but the idea is a group of people being instructed by one trainer, typically. Group training usually has 2-6 trainees per trainer. Note that this is different from group fitness classes where the instructor, attendees, and format can change. The people who attend group training are usually there to lose weight and get stronger and they thrive off the group energy. Participants in group training become a team, attending the same sessions at the same time and connecting through exercise. While in personal training you are held accountable by your trainer, if you get to know the people in a group training class, they will start to be your accountability partners. Though you receive less individual attention from your trainer in group training, you still have the benefit of professionally-designed workouts and their skills.

Group training has its downsides, also. There isn’t as much one-on-one guidance, so if you’re struggling with how to correctly perform a movement you won’t get the personal assistance you would with a personal trainer. And while you might make friends with people in your group, you are the only one holding yourself accountable in group training.

But, if you are looking for a tight knit group of people who have the same goals in a high-energy, fast-paced atmosphere, group training is the way to go.

Next Sunday, we’ll talk about maintaining good heart health.

Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again. Love reading? I have books, too. Check out my books!​
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I hope you have a wonderful week,
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Kelly

My weekly GYSTS email give you one actionable thing to do for the week that will make you life a little easier. As "they" say, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." Get these emails (and more!) delivered right to your inbox by clicking HERE.