Downfalls of Large Fitness Classes

2 minute read

Personalized vs. Large Group Fitness Classes

Depending on where you live, you will have options to join a fitness facility that typically fits into one of the following categories:

1. “Class-Only”‘ gym memberships that are indoors or outdoors; you are not allowed to use their equipment for personal workouts outside of a class but you will pay a premium.
2. “Big Box” gyms are large facilities mainly filled with machines (cardio or stacked weight plates); they may offer classes as a separate or inclusive component of the membership.
3. Combination of #1 and #2.

“Does The Size of My Group Fitness Class Really Matter?”

You bet it does. Let’s break it down.

Large Group Fitness Classes
The majority of group fitness classes are designed to stack as many people in a workout as possible mainly for economic reasons, not for a personalized experience.

→The class structure is set for the day.

→The workouts are not modifiable/barely modifiable for you.

→The members execute what the ‘coach’ or person leading the class tells them to do…

⇒…then you leave.

If you have ever participated in a large group class, you can validate this non-personalized approach by recalling if the person instructing your last class spent at least 2-3x with you specifically discussing your form, body mechanics, or body position. Some questions to ponder…

• Did they give you immediate feedback for correction if they saw something being performed incorrectly plus reinforce what you were doing correctly?

• Have you ever been lost in a class and needed to look to the left or right of you at other members to see if you were doing the movements correctly?

• Do you have lingering strains in your back or discomfort in areas because of certain exercise movements (i.e. kettlebell swings, shoulder movements, various squats, abdominal work) you do in a class?

• Are you at the same fitness level you were when you started? Do you have the same strains and pains?

From a real world example, below is a recent social media post this week that describes a person’s experience in a ‘class only’ facility:

Personalized Fitness Classes
Just as the name states, these classes are personalized to you and the few people with you. The class is limited to <7 people and the instructor knows every members’ limitations, strengths, abilities, and names.

Small size fitness classes allow members to ask questions during the class without slowing the timing of the workout. Why? Because the instructors have the time and the education to know exactly what you need.

Are your fitness classes personalized? Here’s a quick check. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are my fitness classes 7 members or less?
2. Does my instructor(s) provide me feedback multiple times during my workout regarding my form?
3. Do I receive personalized feedback after the class or do I just leave?
4. Does the instructor know me, the specific weights that are right for me, and directly encourages me with WHAT I NEED during a class?

If the answer is yes to all of the above, you participate in a personalized fitness class.

If the answer is no to any of them, you participate in a large group fitness class.

Set Your Expectations Correctly

Whether it be for cardio, strength training, endurance, or stamina, every group class has its fitness benefits as long as the instructor has advanced knowledge of anatomy/physiology and doesn’t get you hurt.

There are many classed-based workouts that absolutely need 1:1 instruction before you hop in as a newbie, and some you can sneak into the back of the class and learn the “ropes” by watching others.

If you have been in a class-based gym for some time and have not progressed, you need to ask yourself if you are joining these classes primarily for the social component or a true fitness progression.

If it is for social reasons, that is perfectly fine, so just set your expectations correctly on your fitness goals.

If you are paying “class-only” monthly dues for a true fitness progression, the advice is to seek out a facility that offers personalized small group classes as its primary function is to get you results.

The social component of joining a results-focused fitness facility will always be present as the people in these classes want the same thing as you: results + being around people who want results as well.