Here's time tested strategies on how to get the BIGGEST results working with groups.

1. Small Group, BIG
Results!
Brett Klika
IDEA Personal Trainer of the
Year

2. What You’ll
Learn!..
1. Assess the need and applicability of a
group personal training model for your
business.
2. Address the possible challenges of small
group personal training from both an
administrative and program design
standpoint.
3. Identify the key components of creating
an effective, engaging group personal
training environment.
4. Create an personalized, effective,
profitable small group personal training
model

3. Small Group Personal Training 101
• The “good” of small group
training
• The “bad” of small group
training

4. In order to capitalize on the advantages, you
must consider and address the challenges in
order to provide an optimal experience for
your participants.
The following aspects of your program must
be adapted to accommodate creating a
valuable “personal” experience for group
training clients.
• Facility
• Staffing
• Billing
• Equipment
• Client needs
• Program Design
For a Successful Program

5. Implementing group
training at your gym:
Implementation
•Administrative first!
•Be organized
•All staff must have
understanding
•Clear, concise billing
methodology
•Eft!!!
•Club or Studio Promotion

6. Implementation
Group training space and equipment concerns
• Enough equipment for groups?
• Equipment in 4’s
• Space utilization
• Studio “Grid”
• How well do you use your space?
• Can you create different energies in
different areas?

7. Group evaluation
• Keep it simple: crawl, skip,
squat, hip hinge
• Can be formative
Group programming
• Be generally specific
• Keep it simple
• Encourage interaction,
teamwork
• Allow for consistent variation
variation
For a Successful Program

8. Types of Workouts
Circuit
-Most popular
Pros
• Great for varying levels
• Use of equipment
• Great energy
• Allow for individual
coaching
Cons
• Gets repetitive
• Tough for “Skill
Progression”
• Not much education
Exercise Ideas
• Design a circuit to balance the body, using every plane
of motion or energy system
• Yes, 5 lunge exercises will make someone’s legs tired.
• What about the rest of their horribly unbalanced body?

9. Group Intro/Warm-Up Games
1. 1-2-3 (With Partner)
2. Space counting
3. Plank scar story
4. Partner Tag
5. Partner Mirror Drill

10. Group Circuits
Circuit #2
1. Med Ball Rainbow Slams
(torso)
2. Superband Cord Splitters
(pull)
3. No arm get-ups (primal)
4. Diagonal lunges (quad)
Circuit #1
1. Lateral lunges (quad)
2. Med ball Push-Up/step-ups
(push)
3. Cobras (“pull”)
4. Wall reaches (hip)

11. Types of Workouts
Class
-Clients all doing the same thing
Pro
• Good supervision
• Good teaching opportunity
• You have control over the pace,
etc.
• Teach an abstract skill Cons
• Equipment limitations
• Varying levels can make it
difficult
• Space utilizationExercise Ideas
• What unique skill can you teach from your experience?
• Isometric Exercises
• Group Circuits (3 exercises, 12 of each, 3 times, try to finish
under 2 minutes. E.g. Push-Up, Crabs, Squat Jumps)

12. “Class” Design
Class Design #1
• Surfer get ups (primal)
• Wall Squats (quad)
• Beast crawls (primal)
• Crabs (hip)
• Scorpion push-ups (push)

13. Types of Workouts
1 Big Superset
Half clients do one thing, other half do
something else, or….REST????
Pros
• Good use of
equipment
• Decent Skill Practice
Cons
• Supervision is often
difficult
Exercise Ideas
• Half clients resistance, half clients outside
conditioning
• Conditioning exercises where 1 group rests

14. 1 Big Superset
Superset 1
1. No-arm skips (primal)
2. Horizontal row (pull)
Superset 2
1. Opposite arm/leg Overhead mb palm press
(push)
2. Swings (hip)

15. Types of Workouts
Boot Camp or “Outdoor
Adventure”
Use your environment
Pros
• “Mixes it up”
• Gets clients outside, using the
surroundings
• Great utilization of space
Cons
• General
safety
• Different
levels
Exercise Ideas
• Plethora of hills, trails, and neighborhoods
around FQ10

16. “Boot Camp”
Use Your Environment!!!!!

17. Types of Workouts
Interaction
• Clients do drills as interaction with one
another
Pros
• Tremendous energy
• Group adherence from partner interaction
• Lots of laughs and fun
Cons
• Different levels and body sizes
• Not much in the way of
teaching
Exercise Ideas
• Partner Tag
• One partner stationary used as anchor for other partners
movement
• Partner work together (cord work, etc.)

18. Interaction
Interaction Circuit 3
1. 100 reps “you call it”
2. Partner resisted rotation
Interaction Circuit 1
1. Push-Up agilities (push)
2. Get up races (primal)
Interaction Circuit 2
1. Partner Bulgarian lunges/static squat
(quad)
2. Get up pulls (pull)

19. Group Training Progression-
Regression
• Static-Dynamic
• Feet on ground-Jumping
• Assisted-Bodyweight-
Resisted
• Linear-Lateral-Diagonal
• Timed-Reps-Competition
• 2 leg – 1 leg
• No equipment-equipment
• Single plain-Multi-plane

20. The Group Dynamic
Personal interaction
• Phone calls, text messages
• Information, education
• Be careful of the “invisible client” in group
sessions
• Keep a personal touch!
• Don’t be “timer” or a “recorder”
• Recognition

21. The Group Dynamic
Group interaction
•Energy
•Psychology vs.
physiology
•“Feel Good” Stuff???
•Touch?
•Group Cohesiveness
•You are in charge!!!!

22. Bring It!!
Bring It Every Day!!!!!
• Come prepared and
professional
• Challenge them!
• Educate them!
• Don’t be an “UMmm” Trainer
• Make them feel special

23. Summary
Small group personal training is a highly profitable way to
increase your business, especially during rough economic
times!!!
• Prepare and organize to offer engaging, effective
programming addressing the needs of your clientele
• Display passion and enthusiasm every day!
• Create in individualized experience!

24. Thank You
Brett Klika CSCS
www.spiderfitkids.com
www.7minutestofit.com
www.brettklika.com