Is Small-Group Personal Training Actually Personalised?
Yes, small-group personal training can be genuinely personalised, but only when each member follows a programme built around their own goals, experience and ability.
Putting six people through the same workout is not personalised training. It is a fitness class with fewer people.
At Embassy Gym in Carrickmacross, our personal training sessions include no more than six members, but those members are not expected to complete the same exercises, use the same weights or progress at the same speed.
Each person is coached as an individual within a small-group environment.
What Makes Personal Training Personalised?
Personalised training should account for more than someone’s immediate goal.
A proper coaching programme should consider:
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Training experience.
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Current strength and fitness.
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Exercise technique.
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Injury history and physical limitations.
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Confidence in the gym.
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Work and family schedule.
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Recovery and stress.
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Training preferences.
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Short-term goals.
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Long-term health and performance goals.
Two people may both want to become stronger, but that does not mean they should follow the same programme.
One person may be completely new to strength training. Another may have trained for ten years but stopped progressing. A third may be returning after an injury or a long period away from exercise.
Their destination may be similar, but their starting points are not.
How Can Six People Follow Different Programmes?
Every member has their own structured training programme.
During a session, the coach manages the room while moving between members to:
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Explain exercises.
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Correct technique.
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Select appropriate weights.
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Adjust exercises where necessary.
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Monitor effort and progress.
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Provide encouragement and accountability.
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Record relevant coaching information.
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Ensure each person understands what they are doing.
This means one member may be learning how to squat confidently while another is working towards a heavier strength target.
Someone managing knee discomfort may complete a different lower-body exercise from the person training beside them.
The members share the coaching environment, but they are not forced through an identical workout.
Is This the Same as a Fitness Class?
No. In most fitness classes, the session is designed for the group. Everyone generally completes the same workout, with smaller adjustments made when required.
In personal training, the programme should be designed for the individual.
The distinction is important.
A class coach asks:
How can I deliver this workout to everyone in the room?
A personal trainer asks:
What does this particular person need to do today to continue progressing?
Classes can be effective for fitness, enjoyment and community. They may be the right option for someone who enjoys following a group workout and does not require detailed programming.
However, they are not the same as individually tailored coaching.
How Embassy Builds an Individual Programme
Every new Embassy member begins with a consultation.
We use this conversation to understand:
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What the person wants to achieve.
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What they have tried previously.
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What has stopped them remaining consistent.
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Their current training ability.
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Their injury and health history.
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How often they can realistically train.
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What support and accountability they need.
The initial programme is then based on this information.
It is not treated as a permanent plan.
As the member becomes stronger, improves their technique or encounters new challenges, their training must change with them. Coaches monitor progress and adjust exercises, loading and progression accordingly.
Personalisation is not something that happens once during the first week. It is an ongoing coaching process.
Does Everyone Progress at the Same Speed?
No, and pretending otherwise is poor coaching.
Progress is affected by:
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Training experience.
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Attendance.
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Sleep.
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Nutrition.
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Stress.
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Recovery.
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Age.
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Injury history.
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Effort outside coached sessions.
One member may increase their weights quickly. Another may first need to improve their movement quality or build confidence.
Both can be progressing, even when that progress looks different.
A personalised coaching programme should measure the person against their own starting point, not against the person training beside them.
What Happens When Someone Has an Injury?
A personal trainer should not diagnose or treat an injury unless they also hold the appropriate medical qualification.
However, coaches can often adjust training around guidance provided by a doctor, physiotherapist or other relevant healthcare professional.
At Embassy, this may involve:
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Changing the range of motion.
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Selecting a different exercise.
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Reducing the load.
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Controlling the training tempo.
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Avoiding a movement temporarily.
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Gradually rebuilding confidence and capacity.
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Communicating with the member’s healthcare provider where appropriate.
The objective is not simply to make every exercise possible.
The objective is to make sure the programme remains suitable for the individual.
Who Benefits Most From Small-Group Personal Training?
Small-group personal training can work particularly well for people who:
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Want more support than a normal gym membership provides.
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Need accountability to remain consistent.
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Feel uncertain about what exercises to perform.
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Want their technique coached.
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Have trained before but stopped progressing.
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Have a busy career or family life.
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Prefer training around other people.
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Want personalised coaching without relying solely on one-to-one sessions.
It may not be the right option for someone who wants to train entirely alone or who already has the knowledge, programming and discipline required to manage their own training successfully.
How Personal Training Works at Embassy Gym
Embassy is a coaching-led personal training facility in Carrickmacross.
Our personal training sessions are limited to six members. Each member follows training that is structured around their own goals, experience and current ability.
Members also receive support with consistency, nutrition, accountability and long-term progression.
The purpose is not to make someone complete difficult workouts for a few weeks.
It is to help them become stronger, fitter and more capable while building a training routine they can sustain.
Starting Personal Training at Embassy
Every new member begins with a consultation.
This allows us to understand what you want to achieve, what has previously held you back and whether Embassy is the right coaching environment for you.
You do not need to be fit before starting. You do not need previous gym experience. You do need to be willing to train consistently, accept coaching and take responsibility for your progress. CLICK HERE to book a call with our team.
About This Article
Written by Dean McMahon
Founder and Director of Embassy Gym, Carrickmacross. Dean oversees Embassy’s coaching standards, member experience and long-term training model.
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Reviewed by Cian Taaffe
Head Coach at Embassy Gym. Cian is responsible for coaching quality, programme delivery and the ongoing development of the Embassy coaching team.
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Last reviewed: July 2026
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This article reflects how personal training is delivered at Embassy Gym. It is intended as general fitness information and should not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.