Obviously one of the greatest challenges in getting fit is getting to the club. When you are someone who attempts to work out on your own, you have additional battles to fight. You may be missing out on the most effective program, guidance, motivation, accountability, and even fun when you try to go it solo.

Consider Personal Training, Small Group Training, and Group Exercise. The people that achieve the greatest success, reach their goals safer and faster, are those that are involved in these programs. That, of course, is not to say you can’t do it on your own. It’s just that more people need that direction and connection.

While Personal Training is the ultimate in personal attention and programming, training in small groups (usually 2-6 people) can still offer individual attention and correction.

Group Exercise is a whole other animal. While individual attention may not be as readily available, there are other benefits. When exercise is choreographed to music it makes the experience, dare I say, even more enjoyable. Actually. research has shown that people push themselves harder when listening to music. A well designed class should accommodate all levels making even the novice feel comfortable in getting started. There also is a big social component to the class setting.

This brings me to the camaraderie and friendships that occur in working out with others. Just this morning one of my class members was asking me where another class member has been. She was worried and hoping that everything was alright. How cool is it to have this person, that you only know through taking Group Exercise together, be concerned for your well being when you’re not in class? (the other member is fine, by the way) Knowing that you’re not alone in this journey is a great motivator and helps keep you accountable.

So, if you are not someone that is highly self motivated or if you feel unsure about what you should be doing, try these options: Personal Training, Small Group Training, and/or Group Exercise. They can make the difference of you reaching your goals or not.

FYI: If you can sit through the commercial, here’s a news piece on one of the Group Exercise classes that I teach. Click here to view. I love my job.

Small group or semi-private training, boot camps, training people for a half hour or less, what’s happened to personal training? Well that’s evolution of a profession. It’s time for many Personal Trainers to realize that the one-on-one, hour long sessions (that used to be all we did) is only one small piece of the market these days. When started offering 30 minute sessions, they took off. When we offered hour long small group training they started becoming a real part of our program, and when we began the 30 minute small group, another explosion.

While I’m still a big believer in being a specialist, owning a niche, within that I think you need to have a variety of offerings. While I can work with people in almost any area, my self-professed specialties are weight loss and post-rehab conditioning. Let’s think about the offerings that I could have within those areas.

1) Time variations:

Post-rehab may easily be done in a half hour or even smaller segments (I’ve started with some people in 15min appointments)

Weight loss can also fit in half hour segments with a focus on high-intensity resistance training.

2) Multiple participants:

Groups can offer greater accountability, increased peer challenge, and more fun at a lower price which can make more attractive to many potential clients.

Post-rehab I have to say that initially I need to work one-on-one, but as people progress, get to know the exercises, and gain body control, why couldn’t you do a small group surrounding that area of focus. Imagine a “healthy back”, or “knees & hips” small group training.

Weight loss can easily fit into the multiple participants scenario with small groups or even weight loss bootcamps.

*A note: It’s more difficult in groups to focus on any one individual. So know your people. My personal recommendation is to have a one-on-one session to cover medical health history, fitness experience, and check form in some of the exercises.