Client: after a couple of months, I should be able to train by myself at any gym of my choice ? 

Me: Yes but here’s the deal.. 

The norm is you pay for the gym and you pay for coaching separately.

This makes sense for some people. Especially if you know how to find/write a program that can give you the adaptation you’re after, know how to train and have a realistic sense of how long it will take to get there. Not to mention understand that you can never stop training or moving. You might change the exercises, intensity or take a week off. But you have to keep at it. 

Traditionally you pay a gym for the equipment, adequate space and a few amenities.

The what to do in the space comes at a premium. You pay a coach for it.

This is the reason gyms don’t resonate with most people. They think they are paying for guidance on how to use the gym. But they are getting access not advice. 

It’s akin to buying a car without knowing how to drive it. No lessons are included in the price of the car. 

Takeaway 

For people to think of gyms as more accessible spaces that work for them, the thing that needs to change is their perception of what they are paying for. 

We try to make this clear when people sign up to train with us. You pay for the coach. The access to the gym is free. 

We literally have to turn away people who know how to train or point them to other spaces. They don’t need our coaching. And that’s fine. But our space makes sense only if you need our guidance. Both as a business and a community with a certain sensibility. 

We teach you how to train. We try to foster independence. But our primary audience is those who don’t want to think too much about their training. They want to get it done and get on with their day.