• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Resistance Movement ; Weight Training in Small Groups is Gaining Momentum

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By NANCY TIPTON

When it comes to weight training these days, there is strength in numbers.

One of the hottest fitness trends for gyms and personal trainers is what is known as "small group training."

According to a recent survey of trainers and gym owners by the California-based IDEA Health & Fitness Association, the number of trainers offering shared sessions has almost doubled in the past year.

About 80 percent now include some form of group training, up from 42 percent in 2003. There was also growth in larger group sessions (three to eight people) in the same time period, as well as in classes where participants use props such as hand weights, elastic bands, stability balls or body bars to do resistance exercises.

There are a lot of reasons people are turning to this type of training, says Bernie Schroeder, senior vice president of marketing for IDEA.

"There's a lot of people in their 40s who are getting the message that weight training should be included in their workouts," he says in a phone interview. "But there could be a lot of reasons they don't want to do it alone."

Those reasons could include "anything from motivation and accountability to cost and convenience," he says.

In addition, he says, gyms see group strength training as a way to provide more variety to members and for trainers to grow their businesses.

Mark Dick, owner of Focus Fitness in Albuquerque who is also a personal trainer, says training in small groups is becoming more popular at his gym.

Couples, friends, even teammates, are hiring trainers with increasing frequency, he says.

"It's really great for people who have similar goals," he says.

Seth Wilke, a trainer at Del Norte Sports & Wellness, agrees.

He started training multiples, as it's called, about four years ago, before he moved to New Mexico. He now has several couples train with him two or three times a week.

"They see it as a way to get in their workout, spend some time together and save a little money at the same time."

He says they often choose a goal and work together toward that goal. For example, he says, he started training a couple for a holiday ski vacation three months ago.

Cost is also a factor for some people. With personal training sessions ranging from $45 to $85 an hour, doubling up can save money.

At Focus Fitness, for example, a one-on-one session is $55. Bump that to two-onone and you pay $80; three-onone is $90 and four-on- one is $100.

"It allows people to train with a trainer more often," he says.

Jim Lezeau of Defined Fitness says his gym offers a very popular small group session that includes three to five people two or three times a week and costs $112 or $168 per month.

"Everyone needs a support group," he says, "whether it's in the gym or in other aspects of life. This helps you be accountable ... to report to someone."

At Focus Fitness, the same type of small group workout is available to those of middle school and high school age for $15 per one-hour session. The class is offered three days a week.

"It's great for kids because they get a supervised workout, they have a little social time and they're not just sitting around," says Dick.

Heather Morgan, regional fitness manager for New Mexico Sports & Wellness, says that in addition to small groups working with personal trainers, another popular offering is a small-group specialty class.

In a class of this type, 10 to 15 people might meet with a pair of trainers to work toward specific goals.

The gym has offered classes for winter sports conditioning as well as "buff brides" for those getting ready for a wedding and "middle management," a core strength class. These types of classes differ in price, depending on length and scope, from $50 to $150. For example, a ski conditioning class at Midtown Sports & Wellness will run four weeks on Tuesday nights starting Jan. 10 and costs members $40.

Getting strong

Susie Lewis, group exercise coordinator at Midtown, has had classes on her schedule for years that have focused on strength. But she has seen the popularity of them going up.

"If I ever have a time slot that isn't going well with another format, I change it to Muscle Hour and 'boom' attendance goes up," she says.

She says the classes are a great way for women to feel less intimidated.

"A lot of women know they need to be in the weight room, but they don't really know what to do and they don't want to feel like people are looking at them," she says.

"These classes are a great way to stay motivated, weight train safely and get a variety of strength work," she says as the classes change week to week by using different props.

Pattie Poindexter, group fitness director at Defined, says group strength work is becoming so popular the gym is constantly thinking up new ways in which to offer it.

New for 2006 will be an express-type class that will result in a total body workout in 30 minutes.

"People are strapped for time, so anything they can do that plans the workout for them is a big help," she says.

OK, so group strength training is convenient, motivational and costeffective. The question is, do you get a quality workout?

"Absolutely," says Morgan, noting that it's slightly more challenging for the trainer, but can be more stimulating for everyone involved.

"It's often a more fast-paced workout as well," she says.

Lezeau goes as far as to say he thinks a two-on-one or three-on- one session with a trainer is a better workout.

"It challenges the trainer in a good way. And the clients challenge each other as well."

To make the most of your time, all these trainers suggest having a clear idea of what you want from your training.

"I always say you should use weight training as a means to an end," says Dick, "to be a better runner or bike rider or mountain climber."

In addition, you want to make sure the trainer has some experience working with multiples, Wilke says,

and is a competent multitasker. "It's a great way to train,"

he says. "Everyone has to

stay on their toes."

Source: Albuquerque Journal

More News in this Category