Why Great Group Training Should Never Be One-Size-Fits-All

Walk into a lot of group fitness classes and the format looks pretty simple:

Everyone does the same exercises.

Everyone tries to keep up.

The coach starts the clock.

And the goal is usually to finish the workout.

That can be fun.

It can definitely make you tired.

But that isn’t what we believe good coaching should look like.

At BMF Training, we believe people benefit from structure.

You should have a plan.

You should know what you’re working toward.

You should repeat movements long enough to actually improve them.

But structure should never mean treating every person exactly the same.

Because the reality is:

Same program doesn’t have to mean same experience.

Does Group Training Mean Everyone Does the Same Workout?

Not necessarily.

During a small-group session at BMF, multiple members may be working toward the same training objective.

Maybe the goal of the day is lower-body strength.

One member might be performing a barbell squat.

Another might be using a safety squat bar.

Someone newer to training may be using a goblet squat.

Another person may be squatting to a box because that variation currently works better for them.

Those exercises look different.

But they may all be accomplishing the same general goal:

Building lower-body strength.

That distinction matters.

Individualized coaching doesn’t mean every person in the gym needs a completely different workout.

It means the coach understands the purpose of the program and knows how to apply it to the person standing in front of them.

Structure Is a Good Thing

Sometimes people hear the word “individualized” and assume every workout needs to change constantly.

We actually believe almost the opposite.

Progress requires repetition.

If you perform a completely different workout every time you come to the gym, it becomes difficult to know whether you’re actually improving.

At BMF, our small-group training is organized into structured training blocks.

That gives members repeated exposure to the movements and qualities we want to develop.

Over time, they can:

• Improve their technique

• Add weight

• Perform more quality reps

• Move with better control

• Increase range of motion

• Build confidence

• Track real progress

The program gives us direction.

The coaching determines how that program should look for each individual.

That’s where the magic happens.

What Does Individualized Coaching Actually Look Like?

Individualized coaching doesn’t always require an entirely different workout.

Often, it’s the small adjustments that matter most.

1. Exercise Selection

Two people can train the same movement pattern without performing the exact same exercise.

For example:

One member performs a conventional deadlift.

Another uses a trap bar.

Someone newer to lifting may perform a kettlebell deadlift.

Another member with a specific limitation may use a different hinge variation altogether.

The goal may still be the same:

Build strength through the hips and posterior chain.

The exercise is simply matched to the person.

2. Choosing the Right Weight

A workout might say:

3 sets of 8.

That doesn’t tell every member what weight they should use.

One person’s appropriate working weight might be 25 pounds.

Another person’s might be 185 pounds.

Neither is better.

The right weight is the one that creates the intended training effect while allowing you to move well.

That’s why our coaches watch your sets.

We ask how the weight felt.

We look at technique.

And we help you decide whether you should stay where you are or increase the load.

The goal isn’t simply to lift heavier every time you walk into the gym.

The goal is to use the right challenge for that day.

3. Range of Motion

More range of motion is not automatically better if you can’t control it.

One member may be able to squat comfortably through a full range.

Another may currently need a box or slightly shorter range while they develop more strength, mobility, or confidence.

That doesn’t mean they are doing the exercise “wrong.”

It means we’re meeting them where they are and progressing from there.

Over time, that range can improve.

4. Training Volume

Not everyone needs the same amount of work.

An experienced athlete may tolerate more total volume.

Someone returning after a long layoff may need less.

Someone training four days per week may require a different amount of work in each session than someone who only trains twice.

The goal is not to see how much exercise we can fit into an hour.

The goal is to provide enough training to create progress without adding unnecessary fatigue.

5. Tempo and Difficulty

Adding weight isn’t the only way to make an exercise more challenging.

We can slow down a movement.

Add a pause.

Increase control.

Change the range of motion.

Improve stability.

Add a rep.

Improve speed.

Sometimes the smartest progression is not another plate on the bar.

That’s another reason coaching matters.

6. Injuries, Limitations and Training History

Everyone walks into the gym with a different history.

Previous surgeries.

Old injuries.

Areas that get irritated.

Movements they don’t feel confident performing yet.

That doesn’t automatically mean they need to avoid training.

It usually means we need to coach them appropriately.

One of our goals is to help members find what they can do successfully.

Then we build from there.

Same Goal. Different Approach.

Imagine two people both tell us:

“I want to lose body fat.”

One person may currently be strength training three days per week and doing very little conditioning.

Another may already be running multiple times per week.

Giving those people the exact same training prescription probably doesn’t make sense.

Or imagine two people tell us:

“I want to get stronger.”

One is a competitive athlete.

The other is a 60-year-old adult who wants to keep hiking, traveling, and staying independent.

They both benefit from strength training.

But what “getting stronger” looks like for each person may be very different.

The goal gives us direction.

The individual determines the application.

Different Goals Can Still Train Together

This is one of the reasons we love small-group training.

People don’t need identical goals to benefit from training alongside each other.

One person might want to lose body fat.

Another wants to build muscle.

Another wants to improve athletic performance.

Another simply wants to feel better and become stronger.

A lot of the foundation is still the same.

Build strength.

Maintain or gain muscle.

Improve movement quality.

Develop conditioning.

Build physical capacity.

Where the coaching changes is in things like:

• Training frequency

• Exercise selection

• Volume

• Intensity

• Conditioning

• Accessory work

• Recovery needs

This allows members to train together while still receiving coaching that reflects their individual goals.

The Program Is Only Half the Equation

A well-designed program is important.

But even the best program can’t see what is happening in front of it.

A program doesn’t know that you only slept four hours last night.

It doesn’t know that your knee feels different today.

It doesn’t know that last week’s weight felt surprisingly easy.

It doesn’t know that you’re nervous about a new exercise.

It doesn’t know that you’re capable of doing more.

It doesn’t notice your technique breaking down on rep six.

A coach does.

That’s why we believe:

The program tells us where we’re going. The coach helps decide how we get you there.

That is a big part of what BMF 2.0 is about.

Better coaching.

More individual attention.

More education.

And a training experience that recognizes the person behind the program.

What Group Coaching Shouldn’t Look Like

Good group coaching should not mean:

Everyone uses the same weight.

Everyone has to keep up with the fastest person.

Every exercise is mandatory regardless of ability.

Every workout needs to leave you exhausted.

Every modification is treated as an “easier” version.

Or the coach spends the entire session standing next to a timer.

Our coaches should be doing much more than supervising.

We want them to:

Observe.

Watch how you move.

Ask.

Find out how something feels.

Cue.

Give you the information you need to improve.

Adjust.

Change the exercise, load, range of motion, or strategy when necessary.

Progress.

Challenge you appropriately when you’re ready.

That’s coaching.

When Is Personal Training or Semi-Private Training a Better Fit?

Small-group training can work extremely well for a lot of people.

But it isn’t automatically the best option for everyone.

Someone may benefit from personal training or semi-private training if they have:

• Very specific performance goals

• A more complicated injury history

• Significant movement restrictions

• Scheduling limitations

• A desire for more individualized programming

• A greater need for accountability

• Goals that require more frequent adjustment

That’s why we don’t believe everyone walking through our doors should automatically be placed into the same membership.

Our job is to help you find the training environment that makes the most sense for you.

How We Get Started at BMF

This is also why we don’t expect brand-new members to simply walk into a group session and figure everything out.

Our process starts with a free 30 minute consultation.

We talk about:

Your goals.

Your training experience.

Your schedule.

Previous injuries.

What you enjoy.

What hasn’t worked in the past.

From there, most new members begin with our BMF Foundations Program.

Foundations includes five private 30-minute coaching sessions designed to help you learn our major movements, build confidence, and allow our coaches to better understand how to work with you.

Then we help recommend the training option that makes the most sense.

Small Group.

Semi-Private.

Personal Training.

Online Programming.

Nutrition Coaching.

Sometimes a combination of those.

You don’t need to know the answer before you walk through the door.

That’s part of our job.

Same Program. Different Person.

At BMF Training, we believe people benefit from structure.

You should have a plan.

You should know what you are trying to improve.

You should repeat movements long enough to actually get better at them.

But structure should never come at the expense of the individual.

Two people can train side by side.

They can follow the same training block.

They can perform similar movements.

And still receive completely different coaching.

Because you’re not just another person in the class.

You have your own goals.

Your own history.

Your own abilities.

Your own limitations.

And your own life outside the gym.

Good coaching should recognize that.

Same program. Different person.

That’s what small-group training should look like.

If you’re looking for structured strength training without getting lost in a crowded class, start with a free 30 minute consultation at BMF Training in Huntington Beach.

We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to go, and which coaching option makes the most sense for you.

Everyone deserves to be an athlete.

— Coach Mike