Getting fit is the credo that has remained popular for a while. The pursuit of fitness has become increasingly popular, leading to a surge in gym memberships and personal training services. This trend, fueled in part by celebrity endorsements, has resulted in a growing number of personal training studios across the state.
Growing popularity
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The number of studios that provide personal training in the State is steadily increasing. Anisha Singh heads three Pilates studios along with her mother. They are certified by Stott Merrithew. While she says that most people take group classes, the rise in one-on-one sessions was consistent. She says, “Pilates is trending because it is the best for physiotherapy for those undergoing rehab.” The machines are ensured resistance based workouts which was great for people who had a hip surgery, knee replacement or were undergoing some form of physiotherapy. She informs that clients are willing to pay three times more than what anyone would pay in a group session.
Different
revenue models
Helna Apte, a personal trainer for six years in Goa, has a busy schedule. She follows a different model. She has training for fitness enthusiasts offline from a studio in Dona Paula, she then goes to residences and also conducts training online with clients all over the world. She has clients of both the sexes and across age groups from the 20s to the late 60s. She says, “People with multiple problems need specific training which is possible in a one-on-one sessions. Today, 80 percent of all people have some issue and have to be trained uniquely and differently.”
Setting goals for clients
Personal trainers have to set goals to get results and to ensure business keeps coming in. Nelson Paes has a gym where athletes come in. He says, “I curate a programme based on the clients’ requirement. Some people want to lose weight around their stomach, others want to be a better boxers. I curate a progress chart. We go through their lifestyle and we have all the information. We assess them every month. There is more detailing. It helps them when they have a personal trainer and yes of course, it will cost them three times more than anyone working in a group.”
Keeping it interesting
Every personal trainer aims to keep their sessions interesting. Sunil Karmalkar owned a gym in Panjim for 20 years and has been conducting personal sessions since 2007. He says, “There is an increase in personal training. My style is different and it is not boring. I have seen quite a bit in my time as a personal trainer. Earlier, it was about training for prevention of health issues but today it is to recover from health issues. People are hiring personal trainers due to issues like diabetes and lower back problems. Most of them are above 35. Early morning sessions are all male but later in the day we get a lot of women”. Many of the clients were long term clients while the short term clients would leave as soon as some progress was achieved.
Personal trainers are being innovative to keep the client for a longer duration. The need to be healthy is growing in an extremely competitive world.
