Why Your Personal Trainer Keeps Recommending Group Exercise Classes

Gary Wagner • July 1, 2021

Introduction

When you first start your fitness journey, training with a personal trainer is an ideal way forward. Having a personal trainer to guide you toward your fitness goal is always a good idea. However, people who are completely inexperienced in the world of fitness, lack motivation, and tend to go off track, can benefit greatly from group exercise classes.


And, it is one of the reasons why personal trainers often ask their trainee to join group classes. Why? Because when you’re surrounded by people who’re on the same path as you, are like-minded, and has similar goals, it helps you stay motivated and goal-oriented. It builds a kind of camaraderie that helps you push forward, even when the going gets tough. 


In group fitness classes, you’re surrounded by people who will support you, not judge you, and most of all, help you stay accountable for your progress. Moreover, group classes add a sense of competitiveness to your fitness journey, which is essential to staying motivated. 


Personal trainers understand the benefits of group classes and know its benefits well, and it is why he/she recommends it to the trainee who needs it. Group classes help you get a sense of community, become your support system, keep you inspired, hold you accountable, and keep you from giving up. It is crucial to get into the rhythm and ensure you do not relapse into the old lifestyle.

Why A Group Exercise Instructor Is Different To a Personal Trainer?

One of the primary differences between a group exercise trainer and a personal trainer is their work and qualifications. Group exercise instructors are trained to lead a group of people and perform a wide range of exercises in a coordinated and systematic manner. A personal trainer has a much more personalised approach and crafts a fitness schedule consisting of exercises, diet, and other components, to achieve specific health goals. 


Group exercise instructors have a basic idea about the individuals in the group and cater to a common goal, such as burning calories, weight loss, mobility, etc. In group exercise classes, the interaction between the instructor and the individuals in the group is limited. It mostly doesn’t go in-depth as one can experience with a personal trainer. 


personal trainer knows a lot about their trainee, including having details about the trainee’s health, health issues, weight, BMR, body-to-mass ratio, weight, etc. It helps a personal trainer develop a workout routine that’s more focused in approach and helps get the results faster. 


Many other people perform the same activity in group exercise classes, so the group exercise instructor makes round, surveying how everyone’s doing. It limits the one-to-one interactions to a great extent. It is not the case with a personal trainer, as the trainee can expect the complete attention of the personal trainer throughout the exercise session. It makes the workout session more productive and effective and ensures that mistakes are corrected immediately without delay. 


It doesn’t mean that group exercises classes are ineffective or don’t have their share of advantages. Moreover, just because you have a personal trainer doesn’t mean you can not join group exercises classes. Both have their own share of advantages, which can greatly benefit you in your health journey.

Small-Group Exercises Classes Allows You To Focus Your Mind Clearer

When you join smaller group exercise classes, you tend to enjoy it more. Why? It is because you and your group trainer would track your progress and guide you in the right direction. You won’t feel lost in smaller group exercises classes, which is one reason you feel a sense of belonging that ensures you have more fun. With less clutter, less noise, and more fun, you’re able to stay focused and look forward to each session. It helps you focus on your goals with a clear mind rather than getting lost in the process when you’re in a group class with dozens of students.


Small group exercises classes have a more personalised approach. Not only can trainers focus on you more in these classes, but you can also observe your growth closely. It is crucial to staying motivated and having clarity about your goals. 


Most of all, there are fewer distractions in smaller group exercises classes, allowing the training sessions to be more productive. With less distraction, you can focus on what is being taught, which leads to more effective learning.

Small Group Exercise Training Vs Group Exercise Classes

When you’re planning to join group exercises classes, whether your personal trainer recommends it or it is your own calling, try to join smaller groups. When you join group exercises classes that are smaller in number, there is an essence of belonging that help you reap the benefits of group classes, as discussed earlier. 


With smaller group exercise classes, the first benefit you get is more attention from the group trainer. When there are 50-60 individuals in a group, you have to follow what’s being taught. There is hardly any interaction with the trainer, and any mistakes you might be making may be overlooked for a long time before being corrected. However, with smaller group classes, there are lesser injuries as you’re being watched by the instructor frequently due to lesser participants. Any mistakes you might be making is quickly identified and corrected, and the trainer can afford you more attention if needed. 


When you join a group exercises classes with tons of participants, you may feel lost, especially if you’re new to working out or just starting your fitness journey. It is not the case with smaller group exercise classes. You will neither feel hesitant, lost, or uncomfortable because there are too many people around. For shy people, asking a question in front of the scores of people can be a challenge. It is not an issue in smaller group classes with just 5-10 people. 


Moreover, smaller group exercises classes are more organized, more focused, and more productive. There is less clutter, less noise, and the instructor can get more done in less time. The trainer can even help individuals at a personal level to some extent, which is seldom possible when working out with 40-50 individuals in larger group exercises classes.


In small group exercises classes, you get to know other participants, make friends with them, share experiences, learn from each other, support each other, stay in touch off the class, and develop a sense of camaraderie. You enjoy more in smaller group exercise classes, which helps you stay motivated and look forward to the class. You can absorb what is being taught more easily, and it helps you stay focused and not lose interest, which is a possibility in larger group classes. So, to sum up, here are the few benefits of smaller group classes –

  • Trainer gets more time with each individual
  • Reduced risk of physical injuries
  • Faster, efficient, and productive training sessions
  • Learn faster and more accurately.
  • Mistakes are identified and corrected quickly.
  • Sense of camaraderie with other individuals in the class
  • Enjoy smaller group exercises classes more due to more interaction, more fun, and less clutter.
  • A fast-paced exercise routine helps you see results faster
  • Keeps you motivated as the results of every individual are amplified better.
  • Doesn’t make you feel lost in the crowd and helps you stay accountable to your goals.
  • Allows you to look at the bigger picture and keeps you from relapsing into your older, unhealthy lifestyle.

Competition Group Exercise With a Personal Trainer Is Your Best Supporter

If you’ve just started your fitness journey and looking for the best combination to help you achieve your health and fitness goals, we recommend you join a competition group exercise classes and have a personal trainer too. It is the perfect combination to attain your fitness goals without getting disarrayed midway. The personal trainer would guide you in the right direction with his/her customized workout sessions, especially crafted for you. Whether it is weight loss, stamina, body shaping, building muscles, etc., rest assured personal trainer would help you achieve that as long as you follow what is being instructed in a disciplined manner. 


Along with training with a personal trainer, joining a group exercises classes, especially the one having a competitive layout, would yield excellent results. In these classes, members can see who is performing the best, who is winning the most points, who is at the leader board, what’s your points, and so on. It helps you stay on your toes as it ignites the competitive feeling inside and a burning desire in you to come to the top as well. 


One of the advantages of competitive group exercises classes is that it has a better attendance rate. The points you get depends largely on your attendance, so you would try to attend most of the classes without getting the chance to go back inside your comfort zone. The winner or the winning team gets the prize, so it helps you stay on the course and keeps you on edge without letting you relapse into the old sedentary lifestyle. Prizes are an incentive that keeps you from being derailed. Your team’s performance depends on you, so you can’t let yourself be the reason why your team loses. It holds you accountable and ensures you give your best. 


On the other end, a personal trainer would train you to eliminate the personal body challenges you’ve been facing, whether it obesity, overweight problems, weight management, or anything else. A personal trainer would work closely with you to not only get you in better shape physically but revamp you mentally too by infusing confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and ability to keep on keeping on no matter how hard it may seem.

Time to get fit with a Group Exercise Class in Melbourne?

Group fitness classes are a great way to get fit and have fun with friends, but when you think about it they're really just one of the best ways to meet new people. There's no other situation where so many people from different backgrounds come together in such an upbeat atmosphere. And while we're on the topic, did you know that group exercise classes are actually recommended by personal trainers for their clients? (#thisarticleright?!)


It's true! Group fitness is a workout style that works well for those who might be shy or self-conscious because it encourages participation.


Recalibrate provides some of the best group exercise classes in Melbourne, we offer a wide range of services so everyone can find and fit in something that works for them. We also offer corporate fitness programs so companies can improve on group productivity by helping employees stay healthy and active. Our group fitness classes are the perfect way to meet people while getting fit at the same time!

Hi, I'm Gary Wagner (Coach Gaz).


I help business leaders get out of pain so they can dominate their profession & get all that they want out of life. I guide professionals passionate about achieving new levels of performance. I enable them to forge an effective and resilient physical form that feels unstoppable, enabling and empowering their personal and professional success in Melbourne.

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