Why We Pivoted Towards Small Group Personal Training - A short story

Why We Pivoted Towards Small Group Personal Training – A Short Story

2024 was a revelation for us at Fortitude Gym.

As a team, we grew stronger in our passion for coaching at the highest possible level. Our drive to make a bigger impact on our community led us to reflect deeply on our approach to training.

Since opening Fortitude in 2017, we have always been a large group training facility. We ran a variety of classes, often hosting up to 16 people—sometimes more—with one coach leading the session. As our gym grew, these larger sessions became even more frequent, especially during peak times. Don't get me wrong we love and still love the community atmosphere that this provides.

However, then came a pivotal moment in 2024.

During a period of reflection and mentorship, we re-assessed our definition of success. Up until that point, we measured success by how busy the gym was. A packed schedule—16 clients at 5 pm, another 16 at 6 pm, 12 more at 7 pm, plus additional members training in our other unit—felt like an achievement. If we showcased this on social media, people would see it as proof that we were thriving.

But something wasn’t sitting right.

We always believed we were great coaches, capable of delivering a high level of service to large groups. However, over time, we realised that while we were delivering great sessions, we weren’t always able to cater to everyone’s specific needs. We welcomed trial members whom we truly believed we could help transform, but due to the limitations of our setup, they didn’t always receive the attention they deserved.

We prided ourselves on providing individualised coaching within a group setting, but the reality of coaching 16 people at once made that promise difficult to fulfill. As our sessions grew in size, it became clear: we had inadvertently become a volume-based gym—the very thing we had always said we didn’t want to be. This model didn’t align with our core values of providing high-level coaching in an intimate training space.

We needed a more flexible approach and a lower coach-to-client ratio.

At the end of last year, we tested a new coaching model with our members: small group personal training.

With a maximum 6:1 client-to-coach ratio, we could really deliver more individualised coaching, accelerate members’ progress, reduce intimidation in the gym, and build deeper relationships with clients to support them on their journeys. The results were and continue to be incredible. It was a month of hands-on coaching, applying all the behind-the-scenes work we had done as a team to refine our coaching standards.

Fast forward to today, and 50% of our members now participate in small group personal training alongside our larger group classes. This hybrid model gives them the best of both worlds: high-quality coaching for their strength training and the camaraderie of the broader Fortitude community which we cherish so much.

For us coaches, this shift has been transformational. It has given us the platform to coach individuals rather than simply instruct large groups. This model change will shape the future of Fortitude Gym for years to come, and we have exciting developments in store for 2025 and beyond.

If you love the idea of being coached in an intimate setting, surrounded by supportive, like-minded individuals, and guided by expert coaches dedicated to your success, we’d love to hear from you.

Book a call with our team today and take the first step towards unlocking your potential with Small Group Personal Training at Fortitude Gym.

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