Choosing Your Fitness Path: Personal Training vs. Group Training

In this TraintoAdapt Podcast episode, Adam Shergold and Kaeden Stander explore how personality type and motivation style can be more important than cost when deciding between personal training and group fitness.

Key Insights Include

Motivation & Personality:

• People push themselves 20% harder with others, but about 30% perform worse in groups due to distraction or self-consciousness.

Costs:

• Personal training typically costs £60–£150/hour, while group classes average £15–£30.

Hybrid Models:

• Semi-private training (2–4 clients per trainer) offers personalized attention at ~40–50% of the cost, with high retention rates.

Results Data:

• Over six months, personal training clients see ~30% better strength gains, while group participants have ~25% higher adherence rates.

Fitness Personality Types:

1. 1. Achievement-Focused – thrives on measurable progress (best with personal training)
   2. Social Exerciser – motivated by group energy
   3. Accountability Seeker – needs regular check-ins (works in both formats)
   4. Independent Optimizer – benefits from a hybrid approach

Goal-Specific Advice:

• Weight loss: Group training has a slight edge due to peer support (42% better adherence to nutrition plans).
• Injury recovery/sport-specific: Personal training reduces injury risk by 68%.

Best Practice:

• Start with 4–6 weeks of personal training to build a foundation, then transition to group classes with monthly trainer check-ins — success rates are ~35% higher.

Bottom Line:

• Be honest about your personality, consider your goals and physical needs, and be open to a hybrid approach. Adjust your training style as circumstances change.

The “perfect” choice is less critical than starting somewhere and adapting as you go.