The concept of personal training has changed a lot over the years. In the days of the big-box gym, a personal trainer was someone who walked the floor looking for people who’d be willing to spend extra money to basically have their workouts supervised.

What a ripoff! Maybe you’ve been there … minding your own business and doing your own workout when a trainer approached and tried to sell you a package of these glorified babysitting sessions.

It’s the worst way for a trainer to do business … making people feel preyed upon and making them feel like a transaction … as opposed to finding out what problems they need to solve and how the trainer’s skills and expertise could actually help them solve those problems.

It’s amazing that this approach survived as long as it did. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s going the way of the “no pain, no gain” approach to training. It'll soon be extinct. 

And that’s a good thing … because personal training has gotten a whole lot better.

To me, personal training doesn’t have to be 1x1 to be personal. It can be, but doesn’t have to be. In my experience, a creative trainer with a plan and the ability to service clients of multiple ability levels at once can be a game-changer.

Let me give you some insight into how personal training should work.

Instead of paying top dollar for X number of appointments to have your workouts supervised by a 1x1 trainer, you get to work out with other people (always more fun) and get a lot of 1x1 coaching … without paying 1x1 prices.

Let’s see how this would work with a 4-person session …

Client 1 is experienced with weightlifting and proficient with her movement, so she’s following a program that includes barbell deadlifts and a high-intensity finisher.

Client 2 is similar to Client 1, but he has lower back issues. A trap bar deadlift is a safer option for him, and he’ll finish his session with some mobility and flexibility work to support his lower back.

Clients 3 and 4 are a couple who just recently started training, so they’ll be doing a circuit of bodyweight, resistance band and TRX exercises, with some core and corrective exercises to help build a strong foundation of quality movement and soft-tissue resilience.

All four of these people can enjoy training together, and they can execute all the foundational movement patterns that should be included in an intelligently designed workout … but with exercises that are appropriate and safe for them.

Yes, personal training has changed … and I’d argue, for the better. 

Coach Aaron