Exciting Update: Open Gym Coaching Hour – A Personalized Approach to Training!- FOR MEMBERS

We’re thrilled to announce a brand-new format for Thursday workouts starting in May, Open Gym Coaching Hour! This is an exciting experiment we’re running for the month of May, and we’re eager to see how it can benefit YOU and your journey. Here’s everything you need to know about it, why we’re trying something new, and the science behind this approach that can help improve your performance and support your mind, body and recovery in a healthier way.

What is Open Gym Coaching Hour?

The Open Gym Coaching Hour is a unique, personalized training experience designed to meet you exactly where you are in your fitness journey. Instead of following a group workout, each participant will follow a customized program in our training app. These programs are built specifically around your goals, needs, and abilities, giving you the freedom to focus on what matters most to you. Whether you’re working on flexibility, strength, or recovering from an injury, you’ll be able to engage with the program that’s designed just for you, while still being able to work out and socialize alongside your peers in a supportive, group environment.

Why Personalization Matters

Every person is different, and that’s what makes fitness so dynamic. Whether your goal is to build strength, improve mobility or recover from an injury, everyone has a unique set of challenges, abilities and preferences. That’s where personalization comes in. When you follow a program designed specifically for you, your coach can consider your individual needs, helping you reach your goals more efficiently and safely.

For example, if you’re working on building strength, your program might emphasize compound lifts and progressive overload. On the other hand, if you’re recovering from an injury, your program will focus on rebuilding strength in a controlled manner, making sure to collaborate with your physical therapist.

This personalized approach helps you stay engaged, prevent injury, and avoid burnout because you're always working within your capacity while steadily progressing.

The Science of Individualized Training

When it comes to exercise, one size doesn’t fit all. Each person’s body responds differently to training, and understanding that is key to long-term success. Research has shown that personalized training plans that consider individual goals and needs are much more effective than generic ones.

The Importance of Progressive Overload

One of the foundational principles of exercise science that we talk about often is progressive overload, which refers to gradually increasing the stress placed on the body during training to stimulate muscle growth, strength and endurance. This principle works best when the training plan is specifically tailored to the individual’s current level and goals. For example, someone looking to increase their Olympic lifting skills would need a plan that progressively builds strength and technique with compound movements. For someone working on flexibility (say, achieving splits), the program would focus on mobility drills and dynamic stretching to safely lengthen muscles over time.

When we customize your training based on your unique goals, we ensure that you’re progressing in the safest, most effective way possible, minimizing the risk of overtraining and without compromising your recovery!

How Will It Work?

For the month of May, each Thursday session will allow you to follow your personalized program in Everfit, while still being part of the group setting. Here’s how it’s going to look:

1. Personalized Programming: Your coach will create a customized program for you based on your survey responses, ensuring it aligns with your goals. Your program will be accessible via the Everfit app, where you can track your progress, log your results, and get reminders of the movements you need to focus on.

2. Guided Support: During the Open Gym Coaching Hour, you’ll still have a coach there to guide you. They’ll answer any questions, make adjustments to your form, and give you feedback on your progress.

3. Group Setting, Individual Focus: While you’ll be working on your own program, you’ll be part of the group environment, allowing you to socialize and enjoy the benefits of being around like-minded people who are all working towards their own goals.

Why We’re Doing a Test Run in May

This experiment is all about finding the best approach to supporting each member in their personal fitness journey. We’ve noticed that a lot of members are looking for more individualized attention or have varied goals when it comes to the Thursday class...But we also know that community is important. That’s why the Open Gym Coaching Hour gives you the best of both worlds...personalized programming with the support and motivation that comes from being in a group setting.

By testing it out for the month of May, we get the opportunity to collect feedback, see what’s working, and make improvements to create an even better experience for you moving forward. Plus, with personalized programming, we’re hoping to improve both short-term results (like hitting a fitness milestone) and long-term benefits (like meeting you where you're at and allowing you to find maximal joy in what you're doing).

What We’re Hoping to Achieve

Our goal is to create a training environment that feels inclusive, supportive, joyful and motivating for everyone. We believe that a personalized approach to fitness will help you:

- Stay focused on your specific goals, whether it’s getting stronger, more mobile, or recovering from injury.

- Prevent injury by giving your body the attention and care it needs.

- Socialize and feel supported by working out alongside others who are also focused on their individual goals.

- Build a long-term relationship with movement that’s centered on sustainability and holistic health.

What’s Next?

To make sure we can create the perfect program for you, please make sure to fill out the survey in your Everfit TASKS by April 15th. This will help your coach get a better understanding of your fitness needs and goals so they can design a program tailored just for you.

We’re excited to test out this new approach and can’t wait to see how it benefits you in the month of May. With your input and commitment, we believe that this experiment can transform how we approach fitness at our gym.

Remember:

- Complete the survey by April 15th to make sure your personalized program is ready for you when May starts!

- If you have any questions about the survey or need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Let’s make Thursdays about YOU in May....focused, individualized and supportive!