The Benefits of Semi-Private Personal Training and Finding the Right Fitness Community

There’s no better feeling than being part of a group that shares the same goals, where you feel like part of a team and experience a sense of warmth and belonging.

While personal training is a rewarding and transformative experience, for some, semi-private personal training can be even better—and at a more affordable price.

Here are the biggest benefits you might experience from working out with a team of people who share your goals.

Mental and Physical Benefits

Physical activity is physical activity, and whether it’s done alone, with a coach, or in a group setting, you’ll gain plenty of physical and psychological benefits from exercising regularly (especially through strength training).

Your body is designed for bouts of exercise. There are systems in your body built specifically for movement. Just like a car, if you don’t use the engine for a while, it will wear out quicker and rust.

Even if exercise doesn’t feel great in the moment, know that your body loves it—it works like magic. It’s the only “magic pill” for losing weight, slowing aging, and feeling better.

You’re probably aware of all the wonders that regular strength training brings, but here’s a quick refresher. In terms of physical benefits, here’s a non-exhaustive list:

•Improved heart health
•Improved bone density and reduced risk of injury
•Improved metabolism
•Slows the aging process—and much more.

There’s a very good reason why everyone in the healthcare industry is encouraging more strength training: it’s simply the best thing you can do for your physical health.
But it doesn’t stop there. Psychological health also benefits tremendously from it. Here’s a quick list of key benefits:

•Improved sleep
•Improved cognitive health
•Better focus, concentration, and productivity
•Boosted self-esteem
•Reduced anxiety and stress—and much more.

That’s great, but in reality, strength training can feel like a high barrier to entry. That’s why doing it with a team of people can make this habit easier to stick to.

Plus, your personal trainer will be there during every session to guide you on your journey.

Motivation Through Connection

If you’ve never gone to the gym consistently, or if you do but sometimes struggle to attend (a fancy way of saying you’re tempted to skip sessions), imagine having 4 or 5 people, including your trainer, waiting for you to show up.

There’s more accountability when you’re part of a group. You know the group’s cohesion relies on everyone doing their best to show up and not skip sessions—including you. Lacking the motivation to show up to a gym where you don’t speak to anyone just doesn’t happen when everyone’s counting on you.

Secondly, there’s more energy in a group than in a single individual, and this energy is contagious. Once you start working out with the group, you can feel the collective energy—it’s like everyone is sharing their strength.

This makes training feel less “hard” (even if you’ll still have to push yourself), less daunting, and definitely more fun.
Motivation is a big part of the process, especially in the beginning when your only weapon against old habits of laziness is sheer willpower.

Training with people who share the same problems and needs as you multiplies your motivation.

Social Bond and Sense of Belonging

Take five people, put them in a room with music, and push them through a hard strength training session. What you get are five uniquely bonded individuals who understand what it means to go through the same challenges.

Even if everyone has a slightly different experience of the training—or even does different exercises based on their level of experience or capacity—having people around you who sweat just as much can be incredibly rewarding on a social level.

Humans develop strong bonds through shared experiences, and what’s better than learning how to deadlift your body weight safely while being surrounded by people who are impressed by your strength?

Semi-private coaching offers something one-on-one coaching can’t compete with: friendly competition. Competition is powerful; it can push you past your limits and help you discover your true potential. The problem is that competition is often seen as a free-for-all where you must beat your opponent to win.

In a group setting, you get the best side of competition: friendly rivalry. Because everyone works toward a similar goal, everyone benefits.

Usually, after just a few training sessions, you’ll feel a sense of belonging. After a few weeks, you’ll make friends. And after a few months, you’ll have a whole community supporting you, including your coach, gym partners, and maybe even other gym members you meet along the way.

That’s the true strength of semi-private personal training and why you should consider it. It’s a way to get all the physical and mental benefits of strength training while having fun and making friends.