We interviewed Adam Petropolis, the district fitness manager at Mountainside Fitness on small group training. Read the Q&A below for tips on how to implement small group training (SGT) in your club.
Q: What types of small group training programs does Mountainside Fitness offer?
A: Good Morning! At Mountainside, we offer a variety of SGT programs such as TRX, Kettle Bell Fusion — a blend of kettle bells and TRX, X-Fit — which is our brand of “CrossFit” style training, MaxFit, Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA.
Q: How many people are allowed to participate in a small group training sessions at maximum? Why that number?
A: We try to keep our small group classes to around eight participants. But if number nine comes to take the class, we aren’t going to turn them away. Any more than that and your really no longer “small” group.
You see, we offer a schedule of about 15-20 small group classes per week depending on the club size. The small group schedules are posted on the first of every month so the members know which classes are being held and when. When a client signs up for our SGT, he or she is actually signing up to participate in a specific number of classes per week. But, the classes are up to the client. That said, you may find that some classes have 4-5 while others have 8-9.
Q: What do you do to differentiate small group training from personal training?
A: At most of our clubs, we now have dedicated SGT areas. These areas are very visible, but are typically roped off during small group classes to give the exclusive feel. The dynamics of the class are unique because the clients become the motivators too. There is something cool and fun about working in a group and pushing yourself while being motivated by your peers. And, like a few of our clients have told me — “Misery loves company!”
Q: What types of members are drawn to small group training?
A: Well, that’s the million dollar question. But, from what we’ve observed, the small group training tends to appeal to those with a competitive spirit. We also find that the members who join small group are looking to gain a higher level of fitness, while also engaging in something a little more social. They are the ones who prefer not to put headphones in and tune out the world. In fact, the small group clients are quite the opposite.
Q: How does Mountainside market its small group training programs?
A: Well, once again, having the classes highly visible draws attention and does a good job of marketing. We purposely put our small group classes out in the middle of the floor for that reason. But, at startup, we use posters around the club, e-mail blasts to the member base and face-to-face marketing. In each scenario, we offer a “TRY US 4 FREE” punch card where the member receives four free small group classes to try us out. The goal is to give them the full experience of being a small group client. Nothing markets small group better than taking the classes.
Once we are rolling, we will employ marketing when we offer a new class using the same strategies mentioned above.
By Rachel Zabonick
