I'm curious, do most of you guys typically train your clients for 60 or 30 minute sessions (or even 45 mins sessions)?
I currently have a PT myself and from the out set, he offered 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions. I opted for 30 mins as I train on my lunch hour so it means I can get to and from the gym in an hour .. however, it seems to me that he was potentially losing out financially ... if he's really busy, then I guess it means he can cover more clients during those busy times (lunchtime, after work), but if thats not the case, then he's halfed his potential income?
I tend to encorage clients to go for 60 mins, i think that session length allows the trainer to fit all they need to into a session. I find that 30 min sessions are that little bit too short to give a full and rewarding session.
Actually Tom you would really like the 30 minute model in my club. Obviously you have to do your own warm-up and post stretching, but even in my full hour sessions my workout section is only about 30 minutes. If I do a full hour then I spend about 10-15 doing the warm-ups with them (not on a treadmill!), then I'll do about 10 minutes of assisted stretching and perhaps some sport massage if needed.
If you can do more than 30 minutes of one of my routines then you are a stud!
I'm assuming all replies have come from gym/studio based trainers and/or trainees?
If I was in a fixed setting, I'd immediately do the Cosgrove thing and work only with small groups/semi-private.
Time would be somewhat dependent on intensity of the workout, attention span (as in kids or extremely busy adults) and most likely the opposite of what the local competition is offering.
As it is, I work with clients in their homes. Since I'm not bound to use the same equipment, space and time-based format each and every time, 'sessions' take on an entirely different dynamic.
There are always those people who need someone to crack the whip and supervise every workout... but most of the people I work with, I only see a couple times per month. (I've shifted to more of a "coaching members" vs. "training clients" structure, but that's a post for a different day!)
Ultimately, I'd want the people I work with to not just KNOW what to do, but to actually DO the work without me standing over them.
Sometimes we focus on the typical training plan/adherence strategies, form/technique or nutrition principles.
Other times, we'll go through the cupboards, pantry and the hiding space behind the couch to clean out all the crap-food that can get all too tempting.
Sometimes we spend the time planning/prepping/storing food so there are no excuses for GOOD food not being convenient.
Sessions* might take 30 minutes. Maybe 90. It really depends what the individual needs to be successful.
[*membership includes one "strategy session" each month. additional/"supervised" sessions are an add-on. (want fries with that?)]
Hopefully, I didn't take this thread too far from its original intent, but the point I'm trying to make is that if you think it's ONLY about the time spent training, you're missing the big picture.
Any other home-based trainers do something like this?
I can see where 30 minute sessions wouldn't work for home-based training. As you pointed out, I'm in a club setting and like Cosgrove, most of my workouts are group.
My members can pay $399 per month for unlimited personal training, but it's ALL group sessions (unless no one happens to show up on a given half-hour) and it's all 30 minute sessions.
If they commit to it for a full year, they can get it for $299 per month. We can train up to 8 people per session, and they have to book their sessions 1 day in advance. Their un-used sessions don't roll over.
Get 50 people doing this and you are suddenly making some serious moola!
I can see where 30 minute sessions wouldn't work for home-based training. As you pointed out, I'm in a club setting and like Cosgrove, most of my workouts are group.
My members can pay $399 per month for unlimited personal training, but it's ALL group sessions (unless no one happens to show up on a given half-hour) and it's all 30 minute sessions.
If they commit to it for a full year, they can get it for $299 per month. We can train up to 8 people per session, and they have to book their sessions 1 day in advance. Their un-used sessions don't roll over.
Get 50 people doing this and you are suddenly making some serious moola!
so there would be 8 people being simultaneously trained by one trainer?
Yes. I also do bootcamps with an 8 person limit. One trainer should easily be able to handle 8 people.
And look at it this way... I can train one-on-one for $85 per hour or I can train one-on-eight for $200 per hour. Guess which one I like more?
obvisously the situation is much better for you, i'm just wondering how you can handle eight people at once. it makes sense for bootcamps, but for traiditional training i don't know. Is every person doing the same exercise, or do you have rotations or what?
Well, it was doing bootcamps that made me realize I could do group training all day long. It just makes more sense to me. It's easy to train 8 people, but I have enough room to do it. In the place I am developing now I will be able to have 3 bootcamps going simultaneously.
Experiment and figure out what works, but honestly, I find that the group dynamics are much more energizing and exciting for the clients. Even if someone says they want one-on-one, once they try a group session they never want to go back.
Give away 2 or 3 freebie sessions to let them get an idea of how much fun they will have.
JP: How do you cover each individual's specific difficulties? Imbalances, form issues, mobility/stability issues, etc? I'm assuming you don't stop the class for just one person... or do you simply call it "group training" for a reason, leaving out the "personal" part?
I interview each person before they start up. If they have something like a bad knee or shoulder problem, I work around it. I will have some alternate exercises for the people with problems. However, most of my exercises are pretty doable in my bootcamps.
We're going to arrange things though where we have different groups arranged for skill level, so we will do a senior version, a beginner level, and so on.
Session length? 60 or 30 mins?
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