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Gym floor: Small but mighty
Small group training is growing ever more popular, driven by supply-side innovation and demand, as HCM’s Frances Marcellin discovers
Equipment innovation and evolution is a key reason why small group training remains popular, despite the fact that it’s been a staple for many years.
As a functional training equipment provider, it’s our job to develop the training tools instructors need to inspire, and deliver results. This means constantly questioning the ordinary in pursuit of the extraordinary and introducing results-driven training tools to keep members engaged and paying.
Over the years we’ve worked hard to ensure small group training can evolve through inspiring equipment innovation. Ten years ago, for example, our training frames focused on supporting the execution of bodyweight exercises. Today this remains core, but as the market and consumer needs have evolved, we’ve added new elements. For example, this year, we’ve introduced The Crux, a variable resistance infinity rope and The Stack, a fully-integrated cable column. Each provides instructors with a wide variety of exercises, adjustable to suit size, ability and muscle group.
In the last month, we’ve also worked in collaboration with Pete Holman – inventor of the TRX Rip Trainer and Nautilus Glute Drive – to bring a new product called The Escape Barrow to market. This is the world’s first farmer carry/sled pull combo. This piece of kit has been designed to invigorate small group training spaces. With its easy-load, back-safe design, this kit will inspire all abilities, from seasoned athletes to complete beginners.
Constant equipment evolution is key to keeping small group training fresh and inspiring. Adding new kit that looks, feels and performs well is ultimately what keeps members coming back for more.
Small group training has been gaining traction as an affordable and inclusive way for clients to take advantage of a trainer’s expertise at a lower price point, while enjoying the personal coaching and compelling group dynamic.
Seeing the rise in demand for small group training, our design engineers created a small, compact version of our container gym to facilitate small- to medium-sized groups, while offering a storage solution with integrated external rigging.
This product – the Beaver Fit Shred Shed – has been a staple over the last two years, enabling operators to revitalise their outdoor fitness offering through innovation and development.
The Shred Shed has multiple bays for circuit-based training, allowing for the delivery of structured group workouts.
Training more than one client ultimately brings extra income per hour for the gym or PT, offering maximum time efficiency and savings.
Alongside this, through research and analysis, we’ve noticed that training small groups allows for the trainer to experiment with exercise formats and methodologies, giving them the opportunity to develop their training delivery.
Dedicated training programmes and an advanced training facility will ensure your small group training is a profitable venture.
To breathe new life into small group training classes, you need new experiences and specialist training programmes to wow your customers.
If offering a different experience while adding value is high on your agenda, you may be interested in the HIIT Pod, which offers the opportunity for both small group training and one-to-one PT.
HIIT Pods also enable harder-to-reach groups that are less confident on the gym floor the opportunity to enjoy a home-from-home gym experience, with a private stretch space and everything they need for a HIIT workout.
Combined with on-demand training programmes, these spaces can uplift your offering, while HIIT Benches are customisable to give your brand an uplift.
Elsewhere on the gym floor, rigs can offer a multitude of workouts in one dedicated space, creating a draw for new members.
From an operator’s point of view rigs are a statement piece, and with the option to have them tailor-made to your specifications – in your brand colours and with attachments that suit your client base – you can stand out in promotional terms.
On a practical level, rigs offer PTs the opportunity to create compelling small group classes to increase retention, with dedicated classes to work every muscle, while developing power and strength.
Small group training needs to be more than just a workout protocol to deliver an experience that pulls customers into your health club, it’s vital the entire package feels relevant to them.
People are increasingly exposed to world class programming online, so the days of a hastily prepared circuit class with no long-term structure, led by a clock watching, rep-counting trainer need to be consigned to history.
In order to engage members, deliver results and drive revenue from small group training, consider how the workout protocol differs from other offerings in terms of the trainers’ role and the intensity, duration and equipment – these all contribute to long-term relevance and viability.
Our MX4 Training System was designed to enable operators to deliver a long-term solution to a diverse range of clients, using equipment which offers equally powerful solutions during and outside small group training sessions.
Sessions should offer progress for regular participants, but also be suitable for those who only wish to join occasionally.
Writing 12 months’ programming with built-in periodisation would be a mammoth task for club PTs, so we did it for them, taking a hybrid approach to the design of content. This means MX4 has over 150 predesigned session plans.
The MX4 protocol aims to enhance key aspects of fitness, such as cardio, power, strength and endurance. It would be wrong to classify MX4 purely as HIIT, because some of the predesigned sessions focus on developing skills, balance and coordination, while others encourage participants to challenge themselves in terms of intensity.
The research that went into creating the product provided us with a foundation to address the needs of ageing populations. Working with in-house scientists and age-specific focus groups we used scientifically-validated research to create ‘MX4 Active’ to get older, deconditioned adults moving in a way that’s right for their abilities.
Reformer Pilates is an incredible strength and conditioning workout that commands a premium in exercisers’ minds. As such, offering Pilates classes is a great opportunity for operators to drive secondary revenue.
Yet concerns about upfront equipment costs and a perceived need for dedicated studio space deter many clubs from offering small group reformer Pilates.
With the launch of the MPX Reformer from mind-body expert Merrithew, those perceptions can now be cast aside.
Distributed in the UK by Physical, the MPX Reformer has been designed to withstand the rigours of commercial use. It also offers all the versatility you’d expect from a reformer, with hundreds of exercise options – ranging from beginner to advanced, and spanning functional strength and mobility, cardio conditioning, rehabilitation and yoga workouts.
It can be paired with Merrithew accessories, such as a jumpboard or rebounder, to intensify workouts with plyometric movements.
It’s competitively priced, making it the ideal reformer for multi-purpose facilities with a diverse customer base. It’s also space-efficient, with wheels that make it easy to move around and a stand for upright storage.
The MPX Reformer been designed for use in health clubs, hotels and studios that don’t have a dedicated space for reformer Pilates, but that want to bring a premium Pilates offering to their members and guests.
