Steve Jack’s SGPT classes in London are sports-oriented
Steve Jack’s Team Dynamics studio is SGPT-specific
suggests Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise (ACE), “whereas anything greater than five people lends itself to a group program.” More than 10 members is unusual, notes Sandy Todd
Webster, the editor-in-chief of the IDEA Fitness Journal. “Ten is about the limit, insofar as equipment and instruc- tor efficacy are concerned. Instructors have to have enough small equipment for all of the participants, and be able to teach, simultaneously, to individuals at differ- ent levels, while ensuring safety, good form, and high motivation,” she explains. The Gainesville Health and Fitness Center (GHFC),
which has three locations in Gainesville, Florida, limits their group classes to 10 people, with the exception of their boot camp, which is held outside. “We don’t want to cross the line into group exercise,” says Melissa Lynn For- gione, the chain’s group-personal-training coordinator. Most SGPT classes utilize props and equipment, which,
McCall advises, can be employed as a unique selling point. “Why would someone be willing to pay for a small-group program?” he asks. “Well, you get to use equipment that isn’t normally available on the floor. It’s kind of like the VIPs in a nightclub—they get to go into the roped-off section. You’re giving your clients a special area to hang out in and special equipment for them to use.” “Our members don’t have access to certain equipment
on the exercise floor—things such as TRX, kettlebells, and all of the other toys—and they probably wouldn’t have the confidence to use them on their own,” says Pam Harrison, a GHFC personal trainer. Visible and measurable progress is the third critical
component of the SGPT class format. To facilitate and document it, McCall suggests that assessments be con- ducted both at the beginning and end of the series. “Each workout should be a little more difficult than the previ- ous one, and there should be a progression toward a certain training goal,” he recommends. Constant improvement is one of the many reasons
that members stick with, and return to, SGPT classes, and what makes them such a success. Because they’re motivated by the group environment, the friendships
SGPT fosters, and the camaraderie it creates, the participants see results. “Through small groups, the club becomes, in reality, that third place the industry is always talking about. It’s not the office, and it’s not home—it’s the club, and people get really connected to it,” confirms McCall.
SGPT: the challenges
For individuals who can’t afford one-on-one personal training or, conversely, aren’t motivated by the anonym- ity of a group exercise class, SGPT provides a solution. “SGPT is a great niche for those folks who are ready for the next step,” says Harrison. In fact, she notes, most of the members who are attracted to SGPT are ones who’ve never been interested in one-on-one. “It’s a different animal altogether,” she explains. “That’s not the way these people are wired; it’s not their personality.” One of the challenges for clubs, however, is distin-
guishing SGPT from its standard group-exercise options and justifying the extra fee. “Group exercise is our biggest competitor—it’s not
outside clubs that compete with SGPT so much as it is our own group-exercise offerings,” observes Forgione. “Our group-ex teachers are phenomenal, and they’re free, so it’s hard to get members to see the difference.” Effective marketing is one of the ways to accomplish
that. “Create materials that are professional, of high quality, and that communicate the concept effectively,” counsels Darren Jacobson, the head of product for Virgin Active South Africa. “SGPT is about trust, relationships, and achieving results, so make sure your marketing materials reflect this.” Another challenge posed by SGPT is training to differ-
ent levels of participant experience. Often one class has to accommodate both beginners and high-level athletes simultaneously, and, in such a situation, a trainer has to be hyper-vigilant to provide a more personal experience. This, in turn, makes identifying and training SGPT train- ers critical. “Not every one-on-one superstar makes a good group
trainer,” says Harrison, “and, when it comes to SGPT, www.
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