Strength Block vs Commercial Gyms: Why Private is Better
Choosing the right gym can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available. While commercial gyms may seem like an obvious choice due to their lower costs and abundance of amenities, many of the benefits of a private gym (like Strength Block) don't have a specific dollar value - however, they certainly add up to a far better training experience, whether you're new to working out or incredibly experienced.
A Personal Experience
When you join a commercial gym, let's face it - you're a membership number, not a person. Many of these business models operate on the idea of members NOT showing up. In fact, in many cases, they oversell their memberships to the point that if everyone turned up their facility would be well beyond capacity. How can these places claim to have their member's best interests at heart when their business relies on them not showing up?
That's the secret to their low membership costs - it's the equivalent of the difference between battery-farmed and free-range eggs.
A private gym like Strength Block is designed around building community, and in order to do that, it means that everyone is being looked after. There's a good reason why Strength Block has a limited number of memberships available - because we want to know every person. We want to know what drives them and check in constantly to make sure they have access to all the tools they need to achieve their goals.
We started Strength Block to help people and not just fill membership quotas.
Privacy and No Crowds
One of the biggest advantages of joining a private gym like Strength Block is the privacy it offers. You won't have to worry about crowds or distractions while you work out, and you'll have access to high-quality equipment without having to wait for others to finish using it. This allows you to focus on your workout and get the most out of your time at the gym.
While Strength Block may be a smaller gym space, it never feels small. This is because we have a limited number of memberships to avoid the gym ever being overcrowded, and even if it does get busy, our curated memberships ensure that everyone is on the same page. Everyone works with each other to maintain an inviting and productive environment to work out.
A Supportive Community
Strength Block has a supportive and inclusive community of members and trainers who are all working towards their own fitness goals. This sense of community can be a great source of motivation and inspiration, helping you stay committed to your fitness journey. In contrast, commercial gyms can feel impersonal and may not offer the same level of community support.
We are all here to celebrate each other's wins, help troubleshoot their losses, and provide an environment that benefits all of our members.
A High Quality, Curated Selection of Equipment - The Garage Gym Spirit
When it comes to exercise equipment, more does not equate to better results. For the past decade (prior to the opening of Strength Block) we spent training clients out of our garage gym. Do you know what we learnt? Most of the equipment at commercial gyms is redundant. Our clients got incredible results due to how focused their training was. Having the limited space of a garage taught us to learn exactly what equipment worked best, and what just took up valuable floor space.
Do you know what we did when we opened Strength Block and had more floor space? We didn't buy a bunch of random equipment to fill it, we essentially multiplied our garage gym set-up by 3. This is because we knew what worked and wanted our members to have easier access to the tools that will get them results.
Commercial gyms have a tendency to pack their floor space with an insane amount of machines. While this is great for their marketing materials, it often leaves people feeling lost, especially given how redundant many of the machines are when it comes to long-term progress. And then when people do figure out what works, they find out that that is the equipment that is always in use. How inconvenient.
It still blows my mind that there are gyms 10x (in memberships and floorspace) the size of Strength Block with the same amount of squat racks. How does that even make sense?
Access to Experienced Trainers and Coaches
We (Sophie and Damien) are personal trainers first, and gym owners second. While we do offer personal training services, our coaching advice is always available to our members. It's all part of the private gym experience, we leave no one behind! Strength Block will work with you to develop a workout program that is tailored to your specific goals and needs. We will take into account your fitness level, any injuries or limitations you may have, and your schedule to create a program that works for you. We have an online membership portal with a range of workouts, designed for our Strength Block facility, tailored to a range of different goals.
And when it comes to personal training, we're highly experienced. You're unlikely to find trainers of our calibre at your local commercial gym.
In contrast, commercial gyms typically offer generic workout plans that may not take into account your individual needs, or often, nothing at all!
The Elephant in the Room - The Cost of a Membership
There's no getting around it. Training at a private gym like Strength Block is more expensive. It is by design. As I wrote earlier, the price reflects the cost to run our facility while still providing the perfect training environment for our members. We charge more so that we can have a limited number of members and we can get to know them on a personal level. It allows us to build a community that works together and ultimately allows us to help our members achieve better results.
Our higher membership allows us to
Have a limited amount of members so the gym is never crowded
Provide members with a level of privacy if they are anxious about working out at a gym
Provide coaching advice to all our members
Know everyone on a personal level to create an inclusive training environment.
Focus on our member's individual needs, rather than aggressive upselling tactics.
Welcome To Strength Block - Feel Free to Stick Around!
Finding a gym that is suited to your individual needs can be tricky, but we believe that joining a private gym can provide a more beneficial and rewarding experience than a commercial gym. With no crowds, an opportunity to join a community of like-minded people, and the support of experienced coaches, private gyms are an excellent choice when looking to optimise your fitness journey.
If it's still too intimidating to take your first step in venturing into a whole new world of fitness, don't worry – here at Strength Block, we take pride in our supportive and friendly atmosphere. So visit our membership page for more information, or feel free to message us with any questions you might have.