Have you ever been suckered into a large yoga class or group Pilates class, with over 30 to 50 attendees crammed together trying to see the trainer's movements, or see yourself in a mirror to make sure your form is right?
The Dark Side of Popular Large Fitness Classes
Group training is really popular in fitness centers. However there is a far higher number of trainees to trainers than research says is optimal. There is usually a stage, and dozens of people crowding in to get the most out of their workout. This makes it near impossible to modify stretches for the mother who is recovering from a torn ACL, or the man in the corner who just threw out his back on a construction site last week. How would the head trainer even know what injuries their class attendees have? How can the trainer correct the girl who is over extending her back and straining her abdominal muscles?
Most people say, “Well that's just group training. It's affordable, but it's not that thorough. If you want that kind of attention, just hire a personal trainer.”
There is another option, whether you are aware of it or not. It's called semi-private group training.
What is semi-private group training?
Did you know Gymnazo group training sessions only allow 8 trainees per trainer?
At Gymnazo we always want to have a trainer be able to control and cultivate a group atmosphere. We want our trainers to still create the value of being able to correct bad form, give personal encouragement and cater to each individual in a semi-private group environment.
Research support that the ideal semi-private group training ratio should be around 6:1. This ratio allows trainers to manage the movements, momentum and mishaps in a session. In Gymnazo, we have capped each session attendance at 8:1.
As a result, our semi-private team trainings are our most popular product.
Four benefits of semi-private training include:
Save money with semi-private training
Semi-private training gives individuals the opportunity to get a good product and save money. Personal training has a high expense! These days prices range from $50-125 per hour.
Instead of paying $50-125 for personal “general fitness” training, we offer our clients the opportunity to get the modifications they need, the personal connection with the trainer and still get that group dynamic that created a team environment and accountability structure that keep our clients excited to attend week in and week out.
Get inspired by competitive camaraderie
Some people feel awkward with one-on-one training. One trainer, you, a gym full of people watching and way too much attention on your every movement. It can be hard for some to work out while feeling like a fish in a bowl.
If you think back to your team sport days, one of the biggest motivators is seeing your team mates and feeling that you belong to that group. Gymnazo members repeatedly praise the semi- private team training for bringing back that sense of “I can't let my team down,” or “I want to see how everyone is.” We enjoy sharing passions with like-minded people.
Having a sense of going through the ringer together. Struggling through a particularly hard workout bonds people together. It also provides the opportunity to compete with one another for better results. This is a huge benefit to those who rely on those around them to set goals and benchmarks from which they can measure their own performance. Some of our members really enjoy this element.
Others are not competitive and enjoy the sense of camaraderie found within Gymnazo.
Join a group for accountability
It's always a huge motivator for our clients to come into class and have one or two other members remember if they missed one day last week and ask what happened?
In a semi-private group setting goals are discussed individually, personal schedules known, work stresses verbalized and weekend stories swapped. When members encourage other members to complete the 30-day challenge, or to join them for their 6am team training, there is a greater reason to get out of bed in the morning. It stems from not letting down your team, and missing that rapport throughout your day.
Be encouraged in your choice to prioritize health
Everyone has days they lose sight of their goal. They forget where they started and how far they have come. Having a trainer who knows their goals and knows their capabilities and limitations allows each member to feel understood and encouraged. The trainer is able to verbally reinforce and support a member more easily in smaller groups.
So there you go! Four reasons to claim your 2 free Gymnazo semi-private group training! See for yourself!
There has been a lot of hype and conversations since Obama took office on the issue of health care reform. (Don't worry, this is not a political blog post!) No matter where you stand on nationalizing or privatizing health care, one thing we can all agree on... health care is a concern for many.
As the baby boomer generation ages, and the number of those diagnosed with diseases related to obesity and unhealthy diets surge, health care has become a concern for many.
We have one suggestion for Obama that he may not have considered: focus more on health, than care.
New Zealand gets it. They include stipends for fitness programs and nutrition in their health care, as a means of preventing health problems as opposed to simply preparing to deal with the onslaught of complications of an aging population.
Until the White House gets on board with injury/disease prevention measures, this issue is a personal one.
Where is Health Ranked in Your Priorities?
Everything in life has a cost. This month I was looking at my bills and found the usual health insurance, auto insurance, rent, groceries, cell phone bill, gas and the list goes on and on. Groceries are for me quite high in cost, due to my desire to only purchase local, organic produce and limit my intake of unclean foods. I also spend money on time with friends, fitness, activities and higher education courses.
You can tell a lot about someone’s values by looking at their finances.
Everything in life has a cost. What makes people categorize certain costs as “have to haves” versus the “nice to haves” is the value they place on those.
If I were to ask you what you would remove in the following list, what would you choose?
Different people place higher levels of value on health and fitness. Other place a higher value on vacation, or fine arts.
We don't mean to assume that if you are not spending money on fitness, you are not choosing health. Plenty of people prioritize team or outdoor sports that are low in cost, and high in time. For those that want encouragement, accountability, trainer expertise and to make and reach fitness goals, personal/ team training is an effective choice.
Ask yourself the following:
Now think about your parents. Is there a difference in the amount of money spent on health care or healthy living? Many would agree that health care expenses escalate as one ages.
You do not have to settle for that. Don't wait around for health complications to catch up to you. Pave the way to a lifetime of freedom from health care burdens. Reap the financial benefits of that choice in the long term.
Investing in Your Health Today Pays Like an IRA
Simply said, an investment in fitness and healthy diets today is in many ways as good an investment as your Roth IRA's.
Like your Roth IRA, you put in money now to get returns in the future. People put a lot of money into their Roth IRA accounts. Say you put roughly $5,000/yr into this account. You won’t see that money for 10,20, or 30 years, but you feel good about it because you know that money will “pay you back” in your old age.
Training is the same idea, only you see results throughout the process, not just at the end. We put money in our healthy living bank each month and expect gains in our old age. Less weight to carry around and stress out our heart, bones and body. We expect larger range of motion for more of our life.
Treat your body well now and have it operate better in a physiological and biological stand point throughout your life.
People don't realize that a single instance of hospitalization could be as expensive as years of training. If you can ward off a fall when you are seventy, or fend off a work related injury or ward off a major illness taking you away from money making hours in your business, you are saving yourself costs.
Personal training can be expensive, don't get me wrong. But it makes sense because you’re paying for someone’s time and experience/education as it applies you.
Health may come with a life re-direct as you negotiate your monthly budget to account for it. You may have to go without your morning Starbucks ($5/day, 7 days a week = $35/week,) or eat in on Friday night to make $50 each week fit into your budget. But it's worth it.
The money you “get back with personal training” is not in dividend form; it's in the money you save.
From a value standpoint it makes a lot more sense to put $50/week towards your health. You will feel better during the years of training, and in your old age you will be in far better physical shape which will only support your financial security by side stepping the lofty hospitalization fees and in-home care that consume many seniors' savings.
The Purpose of Group/Personal Training is Not Just To Look Good Naked, It's To Promote Health for a Lifetime
The goal of Gymnazo is to promote overall health to the human body and in doing so help clients ward off diseases that stem from unhealthy diets, inactivity and obesity. Our goal is not to just be looking good, it’s to feel good and be healthy and build a strong foundation for the rest of our lives.
If you want true Health Care Reform to spread throughout America, it comes with re-defining the role health has in your life today, and invest in preventative fitness for your future!
How's that for Change, Mr. President?
COPYRIGHT 2012 GYMNAZO