How to Get Additional Personal Training for Free
Good health is truly invaluable, but maintaining a decent level of fitness – especially in big cities – can cost a lot of money. In New York, a gym membership can cost up to a few hundred dollars a month (ahem, Equinox), while a single 45-minute session can cost you $ 42 or more . What about personal training? Forget it: They cost over $ 100 an hour, it’s easy, and often on top of your monthly gym membership. This is ok because you don’t have to pay a cent if you play your cards right.
I have been attending my gym for a little over two years and have done several personal workouts during that time without paying for them. Some of them are easy enough to find. There is an introductory session (offered to everyone in advance), as well as periodic “Thank You” or promotional periods when they try something new, such as one-to-one boxing lessons. But there is an often unused resource that gym goers must use much more than they do: the hunger of the trainers themselves.
To be honest, it was something that I initially hated. From time to time, a coach would come up to me when I was training and tried to talk to me about my daily routine, goals and relationship with the gym. The first time I was friendly and playing along (although Dean seemed annoyed that I had no goals other than “just be healthy!”), And the second time, I immediately interrupted Megan saying that I just couldn’t afford $ 125 per hour on top of the $ 85 monthly membership fee. She left cheerfully. (The question constantly arises in my head: if someone could afford both the membership fee and regular training, would they attend this relatively low-budget gym? It’s a mystery.) However, the third time I was approached, he clicked. These people need clients and their livelihood is based on the idea that they can offer you something that other instructors cannot. You have to let them try.
After all, both the gym and the trainers he hires are more concerned with being able to get you into regular workouts than giving you an hour for free with a trainer who would probably be in the gym anyway. If you need an introductory line, tell them you think it might be worth the extra money, or tell them that you saw Jason coaching someone else and it made you think he was right for you, or ask them do they have trainers specializing in kickboxing because it has always helped you stay fit and motivated in the past. Tell them whatever you want and they will be nice.
Then, after the session, just tell them that you are not ready to commit after all, and guess what? Most likely, they will say “no problem” because they hear it all the time. (And if they keep pushing, saying something like “I’ve looked at my budget again and I just can’t afford it,” things will shut down quickly.) In the meantime, you’ve done a good job and learned the new skills you can apply for your solo lessons. Plus, the more people you meet and run, the more you learn what works for you.
It should be noted that you cannot do this often enough to actually replace the paid personal trainer role. Do this about every couple of months, or as often as new hires are added to your gym. After all, you don’t want anyone to understand your schema. The stint is a good chance to reevaluate where you are with your shape and figure out new personal goals and needs that you can pass on to the next personal trainer who seems to be up to the task of trying to transform you. …
The only drawback? You’re going to have to say hi to Jason whenever you see him – although his keen eyes can really help you maintain that perfect squat shape long after you’ve parted.