Small-Group Training vs. Working Out Alone

• Total flexibility — train whenever and wherever you want
• It can cost very little, especially at home
• You choose exactly what you do and how long you do it
• Some people genuinely enjoy the quiet time to themselves

The biggest challenges of solo training usually aren't physical. They're planning and motivation. You have to decide what to do every session, figure out how to progress, and check your own form — which is hard to do when you can't see yourself move.

Then there's accountability. When nobody is expecting you, it's easy for one skipped workout to turn into a skipped month. That's not a character flaw. It's just how most of us are wired.

In a small coached group, someone else does the planning. You show up, a coach teaches the workout, and you get feedback on your form while you train. Because the group is small, the coach can actually watch what you're doing and help you adjust.

And you get people. Training alongside others who notice when you show up — and ask where you were when you don't — is one of the most powerful consistency tools there is. Our members say this better than we can:

• “I really need community to help motivate me and hold me accountable.” — Erin S.
• “I've been a member for over 7 years and it's kept me more consistent than anything else.” — Lori L., Eden Prairie

Small-group training does have trade-offs. Classes run at set times, so you have to fit your week around them. It costs more than training on your own (though usually much less per session than one-on-one personal training). And while a good coach scales everything to you, you'll still get less individual attention than you would in a private session.

Training solo tends to work well if you already know how to plan a workout and perform the basic movements safely, you're self-motivated, and you've stuck with solo exercise before. If that sounds like you, keep going — and consider booking an occasional session with a coach to check your form and freshen up your plan.

Small-group training tends to work well if you're new or returning to exercise, you've started and stopped on your own before, you want to learn to move well, or you simply enjoy the energy of training with others. It's also a good fit if you'd like coaching on every workout but personal training every session isn't realistic for your budget.

If you're going it alone, a few habits make a big difference:

• Follow a written plan instead of making it up as you go
• Schedule your workouts like appointments
• Track what you do so you can see progress
• Find a workout buddy — even a weekly check-in by text helps
• Get your form checked by a coach from time to time

Plenty of people mix the two: a few coached classes each week, plus walks, bike rides or home workouts on the other days. Others train in a group most of the time and book a personal training session now and then to work on something specific.

Our coached Strength & Conditioning Circuits run six days a week in Edina, about 50 minutes each. Every exercise is demonstrated with modifications, every class scales to every level in the room, and our community — members compare it to “Cheers” — is a big reason people keep coming back.

If you're curious whether small-group training is for you, the best test is to try it. Claim a free week and come to as many classes as you like. If it's not for you, no hard feelings.