When I joined my first gym I had a rough idea of what they cost and what they did. But when I got my very first Personal Trainer I not only had no idea how much they cost, I didn’t really know what they did.
If you know what you are doing a Gym may be all you need and will cost between $10-$30pwk on average with a payment agreement depending on your location and anywhere from $20-$40 for a one off visit.
A Personal Trainer is a Coach that will help you reach your fitness goals and will cost between $50-$100 on average for a Private session and $15-$40 for a Group session.
But let’s break it down further so that you know exactly what a Gym or a PT can do for you and exactly what each service costs.
How Can A Gym Help?
A gym can offer you a lot of freedom as to how often and how long you want to train. Used every week and the value for money is awesome.
Not all gyms are the same so you need to know what you want to get out of your training and you are best off shopping around and trying them out.
Some gyms will specialise in different things such as martial arts, cross fit, strong man, HIIT classes, power lifting or strength. While some gyms, although they say they are for everyone, will have built a culture of a particular discipline which may not suit you. So going in and checking them out is a must.
It is almost the industry standard to offer a free trial period so make sure you ask and take advantage of it.
When you visit the gym pay attention to what equipment they offer, what the atmosphere is like and check it out during the times you think you will usually be going. Also pay attention to the quality of the equipment and the cleanliness of the gym.
Make sure the gym location is not out of your way, having a gym that is somewhere between your home and work is best.
Another thing to ask is what their hold policy is. Most gyms are happy to hold your payments for a period of time if you are away (4 to 8 weeks per year) but its a good idea to ask about it upfront before you sign anything to be clear on any extra charges.
What Is A Personal Trainer?
A Personal Trainer is a coach and their job is to,
- Find out what you want
- Put a plan together
- Guide you through the Plan
When Can A Personal Trainer Help?
I Have A Gym Membership, Do I Need A PT?
If you know what you are doing, have the motivation to do it and you are getting the results that you want, then a membership to your local gym is probably all you need.
But if you are part of the 44%* of people with a gym membership using it only once a week or less you need to consider a PT.
Remember your local gym will usually have a Personal Trainer available however they will cost you extra.
Can A Personal Trainer Help With Injuries?
Yes, a qualified Personal Trainer will be able to work with the recommendations from your Doctor, Physio, Chiro, Osteo etc. Just ask how they will be recording the information, you want to be sure that they are always aware of any Medical issues and that they are not relying on their memory.
I Suffer From Mental Illness Can A PT Help Me Get Fit?
Your physical health can play a big part in helping your mental health so I encourage you to have the conversation with your medical professional and get some recommendations that you can share with a PT. Challenges such as depression and anxiety are very common so don’t be shy in talking about your needs.
A Personal Trainer can schedule sessions in quiet times of the day and can work with you to see what motivates you without putting stress on you. Find a PT that you are comfortable with and have a chat.
I Don’t Know What I Am Doing, Do I Need Any Experience?
No you do not need any experience, you don’t even need a goal. Your PT will guide you through every step of the way.
It is not just beginners that may not know what they are doing. You could be a seasoned gym goer with a new goal you haven’t had before and not know where to start or how to achieve it.
Either way a Personal Trainer can save you a lot of time and money in the long run teaching you the right way to do things so you get your results faster.
I Have No Motivation At All, How Can A PT Help?
If you have the motivation to schedule a session then you have all the motivation you need to achieve your goal. Just take one step at a time.
We all get motivated from time to time, the hard thing is to be consistently motivated every day. A Personal Coach is a powerful weapon in your kit to fight your procrastination and fear. It is much easier to find motivation when you are part of a team and thats what a PT is, part of your team.
Gym and Personal Training Services / Prices
Gym Membership
Your local gym such as Anytime Fitness will usually have a range of cardio and strength machines. Some gyms will specialise in certain disciplines and their equipment will may be more specialised.
You are on your own as far as motivation and education goes so make sure if you are going to commit to a gym membership agreement that you are also committed to using it.
There is no need to book yourself in, just turn up whenever you want and train to your hearts content.
Free-$300 Set up Fee including swipe card
$10 – $30 per week
unlimited visits and duration.
Sometimes available 24hours a day.
Private Sessions
Also known as one on one training. Your PT will stay with you for the whole session.
They will show you exactly what to do for each exercise and motivate you to do your best.The service should also include some nutrition advice and the recording of your progress as you work towards your goal.
You will need to book in your session and be aware that the most popular times will book quickly.
No set up Fee
$40 – $120 per session
Usually 30min sessions however can go to 45-60mins.
If you want the best value for money. Get there 5mins early and warm up. There’s no point paying for warming up.
Casual Sessions
Casual Personal Training sessions seem to only be offered by us at this stage however I am hopeful the industry will catch on soon.
Casual visits or PTs On Demand as we call it, works the same way as a normal gym membership. Where you can come in when ever you want to train BUT with the added benefit of having a PT there on call to coach you at no extra charge.
PTs On Demand works really well if you are a busy person or your schedule can change without notice because there is no need to book an appointment. Remember that most PTs will charge a cancellation fee if you don’t give enough notice.
Depending on how busy your gym is at the time, your PT could be giving you one on one training or they may have to share their time with you and a few other people.
No set up Fee
$50 – $100 per week
Unlimited visits and duration
Not available 24hours a day
Group Sessions
Group sessions usually range from 4-10 people. Rather than just your PT motivating you it is the team that also motivates you. Group sessions can be a lot of fun and should be small enough that you don’t miss out on some one on one time with your coach.
Training will usually tend towards high pace cardio with some strength training.
You will need to book yourself into a group session and try to book in advance if you want to train in the popular time slots.
The most popular times for training are usually between 6:30-8:00am and 5:00-8:00pm.
No set up Fee
$15 – $40 per session
30min sessions
Unlimited weekly group session deals usually available
Bootcamp or Classes
Bootcamp training was very popular over the last 10years and is the type of training you may have seen at you local park or beach.
I wouldn’t recommend this for beginners or people with injuries as the class sizes are quite big and its not as easy to get the attention you need.
Exercises tend to focus on high pace cardio and HIIT (High.Intensity.Interval.Training).
Classes are usually at fixed times throughout the week and most of the time they want you to book in advance.
No set up Fee
$5 – $25 per class
30min classes
Unlimited weekly deals usually available
Online Training
If you just don’t have the time to get into the gym or you are super focussed on your goal and want something to speed things along, then going online could be a great option.
This service varies massively in what you get and the support you have.
I have seen free services which are basically a low quality workout on a PDF download with no support. Probably just a way for them to get your email address for marketing.
I have also seen very over priced training costing over $400 for a 12 week course.
Here is what I believe you need to get the most out of any online program.
- Motivation – You need to want to do it and go the distance.
- Video Tutorials – make sure it comes with video examples of the routines.
- Daily Coaching – You need someone available if you need help. Some offer a forum solution where other clients try to help each other which may bring the cost down but I’m not sure on the quality of help you’ll get.
- Nutrition – Any online program should offer some sort of guidance with what to eat.
Online is super flexible and really good if you are away on holidays so you can take advantage of the hotel gym. There’s nothing worse than coming back from holidays 5kgs heavier.
No set up Fee
FREE – $400+ one off cost
Usually 8 to 12 week courses
If you have any questions or would like to come in for a FREE Private Session to see if Better Shape Fitness is the right fit we would love to hear from you. Or contact us for more information on our Online Daily Coaching and mentoring Programs.
Follow the link below for a step by step guide on what to expect in your first personal training session.
*https://www.news.com.au Lazy Aussies wasting $1.8 billion on unused gym memberships finder.com.au survey September 2018 Australians who have a gym membership.
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