The Pro’s & Con’s of Mainstream Fitness Service Styles

The mainstream fitness industry thrives with a variety of service options for fitness consumers. But sometimes the training styles can be really confusing to understand.

There is merit in all kinds of fitness training styles. Here’s a handy guide to help you understand the differences between them all; my pro’s and con’s for each; and how I picked my favourite one.

Photo by Liam Macleod on Unsplash

Gym Membership

A gym membership is where you sign a contract for weekly access to a gym facility.

Pros:

• Sometimes cheap and therefore accessible. In Australia, some gyms are about $10 per week but can go upwards. There are usually also sign up fees and contract lengths that can change the price.
• Often there is friendly staff on hand to help explain how equipment works.
• You gain access to a large range of equipment to enjoy including pin-loaded machines that are often accessible and easy to learn.
• If you have an online Personal Trainer, you can enjoy some really great workouts or you can just freestyle and make your own fun.

Cons:

• At its core, gyms are mainly big loud rooms of equipment and other people. Some people find this overwhelming or frustrating.
• Gyms can be intimidating and confusing. You’re left to figure out your own workouts, own motivation, and equipment usage.
• Gyms can also foster body shame: only one body type is represented for only two genders on the posters; calorie counters on cardio equipment play into the shaming “calories in/out” myth; mirrors in abundance for body checking and appearance focus.

Group Fitness

Group Fitness is, most commonly, where there is an instructor on stage performing the workout and everybody copies. Sometimes the workout is explained to the group and everyone works through a circuit or sequence together under supervision.

If all the clients are performing the same exercises at the same time or doing the same workout, it’s group fitness. Occasionally, options and adjustments are made available for people who need them.

Usually the class is light on equipment or only uses one simple set up of equipment.

Pros:

• Loads of fun
• Usually cheaper and therefore more accessible. In Australia, you can expect to pay around the $15–25 mark per class.
• Builds community
• Fosters friendly competition

Cons:

• Workouts are generic
• Changes and modifications are also generic
• Risk of comparisons
• Instructors do not need full fitness qualifications
• Instructors can not and should not give personalised advice

Personal Training 1 on 1

Personal Training is where you have your own coach guiding you through a workout that they designed for you specifically.

Pros:

• Loads of fun
• Completely tailored your goals, needs, and preferences
• Builds connection and support in your endeavours
• Personal and unique experience to you so that you can focus on your body needs
• Periodised training planning available for more specific athletic goals
• More variety of weights and equipment in sessions for a better workout
• PTs have a broader scope of practice and full fitness qualifications are required

Cons:

• Expensive for low income earners. In Australia, new and inexperienced PTs should be charging a minimum of $1.10 a minute.

Group Personal Training

There are a lot of misconceptions about Group Personal Training. Some people think that a group run by a fully qualified Personal Trainer counts as “Group PT”. But at the crux of it, Personal Training is about personal workouts, advice, assistance, coaching, exercise, relationship building, training. If there is no personalisation, it’s just group fitness.

There are loads of health benefits in being connected to your local community and having a network of people around you. Group Personal Training is about giving you all the benefits of a 1 on 1 Personal Training service and all the benefits of being engaged in a fitness group.

Pros:

• Community environment. Have a built-in support network, improve your health, and enjoy yourself among like minded friends.
• While it can be more expensive than Group Fitness, it’s much cheaper than 1 on 1 Personal Training. Get all the gains of having a Personal Trainer at a lower cost.
• Be instructed by a fully qualified Personal Trainer. Get the benefits of more advanced programming, broader exercise knowledge, and an increased scope of practise.

Which is Best?

Honestly? Right from pin-loaded circuits to hiring your Personal fitness staff — they’re all really good options!

You should pick the training style that suits where you are, how much you’re able to afford, and what you’d like to be doing.

Engaging in exercise is a health promoting behaviour that works regardless of how you choose to do it. All training styles are valid.

I have been both a consumer and provider in all of these training styles.

In my years of experience, my absolute personal favourite has settled on providing Group Personal Training.

At Fitness That Doesn’t Suck, I provide Group Personal Training.

This is because I believe:

• The gold standard of fitness coaching is one-on-one Personal Training.
• Having access to a community is really important for well-being.
• As a Personal Trainer, providing an affordable fitness service to clients is crucial to helping more people engage in fitness behaviour.

You can learn more about my Group Personal Training in Sydney here.