Introduction
Running large group personal training (Large Group PT) sessions requires a different skill set from other session types. It pushes challenges such as keeping everyone engaged in the session, maintaining control over a larger number of people and managing time well. This article will go over three main tips for improving at large group PT. Whilst you’re here, be sure to check out our article on how to design a large group PT programme.
Establish Authority
One of the best things you can do to lead a successful large group session is to establish your authority from the outset of the session. It’ll help you create a structured environment where everyone knows what to do. It’ll also make transitions smoother and minimise confusion.
How to establish authority as a PT
One of the best ways in which you can establish authority as a personal trainer in a large group is to ensure that you give clear and concise instructions on how the workout will go, where people should be positioned and how the area should be organised. Define the structure of the session to maintain clarity throughout. Make sure you position yourself in the room so that everyone can at least hear you; if they can also all see you, this is even better. You want your class to be able to clearly hear and understand your instruction.
Time Management
Having good time management is key for success in large group PT sessions.Without pacing your sessions properly, they can become chaotic and fall behind schedule. Part of the key to this is ensuring that people move between exercises fluidly from one to the next, and so organisation and great communication is needed.
Time Management Strategies for Personal Trainers
Implementing intervals into your sessions is a great way to manage timings which you and your class can easily stick to during the session. Setting 60-90 second intervals can keep the class moving and ensure that everyone stays on the same schedule. Equally, an EMOM (every minute on the minute) is a very productive style of EMOM.
Also, adding time bound elements such as AMRAP (as many reps as possible) within a certain time cap e.g.10 minutes, can help keep sessions on track, however you must ensure that in these style sessions you keep on top of participants’ form. Be organised with the sessions, and know exactly what you want the class to do and achieve before you arrive.
Be Prepared
Being prepared is the foundational part of large group PT classes. Going into the session with a clear plan can avoid your session becoming disorganised, having confused participants and running the risk of your session becoming less effective for those participating in it.
Preparation for Large Group PT Sessions
One of the best ways you can get organised is to reverse engineer the class. Start with the end goal i.e. what do you want to achieve from the session, and go from there, planning details such as equipment needed and the setup, to the exercise order and timing. Working in this way can help you anticipate any potential issues before you run the class and adjust the structure and set up accordingly.
Have your equipment ready and if possible in place before the class begins. At least have it all available. If participants need to find and gather equipment during your session, it can majorly disrupt the flow and timing of the workout. Try to think about issues that might occur during the session before the session. Try to prepare solutions in advance.
Conclusion
Improving large group PT sessions in many cases will take first hand experience, but being conscious of and active in thinking about the points discussed in this article will help you create more structured, efficient and engaging Large Group PT Sessions. If you’re interested in reading more on how to improve your group PT sessions, then check out our article on spotting faults in group personal training sessions.
If you’re a gym instructor or new to the fitness industry and you’re interested in becoming a fully qualified personal trainer, then take a look at our level 3 personal trainer course.If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at all of our personal training courses.