As a fitness business owner, it’s essential to reflect on two key questions:
- How do your values shape the fitness services you offer?
- Are you sacrificing long-term client results for short-term business gains?
These questions are closely tied to your values and your company’s mission. Understanding what truly matters to both you and your clients will shape the way you operate and deliver results.
Understanding Customer Expectations
Clients often have different expectations. Some prioritise affordability and novelty over optimal results, while others are willing to commit fully to the process to achieve lasting change. The key is knowing your audience and staying true to your mission.
Why One-on-One Personal Training is at the Core of Form Fitness
At Form Fitness, one-on-one personal training is the foundation of our approach. We believe it’s the safest, most effective way to achieve strength and fitness results.
The Issue with Shorter PT Sessions
Some fitness providers agree on the value of one-on-one training but compromise on session length to maximise profits. While a 30-minute session may sound efficient and convenient, once you factor in warm-ups and rest periods, you’re left with only 15–20 minutes of actual lifting time.
At Form Fitness, we prioritise training quality over profit margins. Our commitment is to delivering the highest standard of service and ensuring outstanding results for our clients.
Our Mission: No Compromises on Training Quality
Our mission is simple: to spread the life-changing benefits of strength training.
That’s why we have never offered 30-minute sessions and never will—it simply doesn’t align with our mission.
Strength Training for Busy People
We understand that many of our clients lead busy lives. Between careers, families, and other responsibilities, fitness isn’t always a top priority.
However, results don’t require spending hours in the gym. Taking just 45 minutes out of your day to improve your strength and health is an investment worth making. Through experience, we’ve found that 45 minutes is the optimal session length for busy professionals and parents—including myself!
Are 30-Minute Sessions Really Worth It?
Let’s break it down:
- A 30-minute session typically costs $70 or more.
- A 45-minute session usually costs $90 or more.
- When comparing the cost per minute, a 30-minute session is actually 15% more expensive.
If value is your priority, it’s worth considering the long-term benefits and results of investing in a slightly longer session.
The Shift Towards Group Training
Many fitness businesses move away from personal training altogether in favor of group classes. From a business perspective, this makes sense—training 5–15 clients at once with one trainer and 1 wage to worry about is far more profitable than one-on-one coaching. However, this approach doesn’t align with our mission.
The Problem with Group Classes
While group training helps people stay active, it has significant limitations when it comes to strength development:
- Great for: Cardio, mobility, and general fitness.
- Lacking in: Structured progression and long-term strength improvement.
Strength training requires progressive overload and technical guidance—something that’s difficult to achieve in a group setting.
The Rise of Strength Training (and Misinformation)
Strength training has grown in popularity, especially among women. However, some businesses misrepresent their offerings, labeling classes as “strength training” when they primarily focus on mobility or endurance.
For example, Pilates is fantastic for flexibility and core strength, but it is not a substitute for progressive strength training. Mislabeling these workouts as strength training can lead to confusion and unmet expectations.
How Form Fitness Balances PT and Group Classes
We’ve designed a model that integrates both personal training and group fitness without compromising our values. Our memberships include:
- Structured strength training programs for real strength gains
- Fully guided 1 on 1 personal training to ensure proper technique
- Open gym access for independent training to help foster autonomy.
- Unlimited group classes for additional conditioning and mobility.
This approach ensures clients benefit from a well-rounded fitness regimen while prioritising progressive strength development applying evidence based protocols such as progressive overload and linear progression.
The Optimal Strength Training Frequency
The World Health Organisation recommends muscle-strengthening activities at least three days a week. Our trainers structure programs with at least two to three weekly strength training sessions, combining PT sessions and supervised independent training for maximum effectiveness.
This allows us to cater to different budgets while remaining committed to our core values and mission.
Ready to Train Smarter?
If you’re serious about building strength, improving health, and achieving lasting results, Form Fitness is here to help.
Book a consultation today and experience the difference of training with purpose!
