By James McLaren, 17/03/2025

It was a Saturday morning I won’t forget anytime soon.

For weeks, some friends had been pestering me to join them for a pump class. “Come on, just try it! You’ll love it!” they insisted.

Eventually, I caved. I figured I’d give it a shot and see what all the hype was about. After all, how bad could it really be?

Well, let me tell you – they couldn’t have been more wrong.

From the moment the class started, it was 60 minutes of relentless, high-rep exercises with minimal rest. A gazillion reps of all sorts of movements, one after the other, until my muscles just about gave up on me entirely.

It was brutal!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a good workout. But this? This was something else. It felt like an endurance test rather than an effective training session. And as I looked around, I noticed the class was packed – people of all different fitness levels, all pushing through, no matter how exhausted they were.

And that’s when it really hit me.

What if this had been my first workout in months? Or ever? Would I want to come back after being completely beasted for an hour? Knowing I’d be sore for days afterward? Absolutely not.

For many people, experiences like this are what put them off exercise entirely. And it’s a shame because fitness should be something you can sustain, not just survive.
So, where do large group classes go wrong?

Everyone in the class is doing the same workout, regardless of experience, injuries, or fitness levels. There’s little to no personalisation, and if you’re struggling, well, you just have to keep up or drop out.

With a big group, the instructor simply can’t watch everyone’s form. That means you could be doing exercises incorrectly – putting yourself at risk of injury – and no one would correct you.

Hundreds of reps, super high volume, little rest… It’s the “more is better” approach, but in reality, more isn’t always better. Smarter training beats harder training every time. You don’t need to leave a workout feeling completely destroyed for it to be effective.

In a large class, the instructor’s job is to guide you through the workout, not to coach you individually. There’s a big difference between being led through a session and having someone tailor a plan to your needs and abilities.

Now, to be fair, these classes aren’t misleading anyone about what they are. They promise a high-energy, sweat-drenched workout, and they deliver exactly that. But if you’re looking for real progress, personalized support, and a training approach that actually works for you, a one-size-fits-all group class just isn’t it.

And that’s exactly why small group personal training is different.

At our facility, we make sure:

You’re met where you’re at so you can progress at your pace.

You get an appropriate dose of exercise – enough to challenge you, but not so much that you can’t walk the next day.

We adjust for any injuries or niggles, ensuring you train safely.

You’re coached as an individual, not just another body in the room.

And most importantly, we know your name. You’re part of a team, not just another number in a crowded class.

So, if you’re ready to train smarter – not just harder – and actually see results in a way that works for you, we’d love to help.