SAN DIEGO -- One-on-one personal training is still the most frequently offered type of training, but group training is growing, according to the IDEA Personal Training Programs & Equipment Survey of 926 personal trainers conducted by the IDEA Health & Fitness Association. Ninety-nine percent of respondents offer one-on-one personal training, and 84 percent of respondents offer group training.
The average cost of a personal training session is $58. The survey's respondents report that 85 percent of their clients stay with the business for one year or longer.
This year's survey reveals that a variety of training formats and methodologies are being introduced to meet diverse client needs, says Kathie Davis, co-founder and executive director of the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, a membership organization of health, wellness and fitness professionals.
Less than 50 percent of the respondents said that growth in personal training for youths is strong. However,65 percent of the respondents offer classes for youth 18 years old or younger, and 36 percent provide personal training for youths in small groups.
During typical sessions, 54 percent of the time is spent on resistance training; 22 percent is spent on cardio respiratory exercise; and the rest of the time is split between flexibility and other training methods. Strength training (97 percent) and functional resistance training (96 percent) top the list as the most common resistance training methods trainers use. Body-weight-only training (76 percent) and plyometrics (67 percent) also were popular.
The data came from IDEA personal trainer members who train in their clients' homes, their own homes or at multipurpose health clubs and personal training gyms. For more survey details, go to http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/2008-idea-personal-training-programs-equipment-survey-0.