Posted on April 28, 2025 by Sherri McMillan

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Here at Northwest Personal Training we are launching a 4 week fitness study. We are conducting a fitness study in order to collect stats for our Workplace Wellness program, positively impact our community and expose our new trainers to potential clients.

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How To Conduct a Fitness Study

Choose Fitness Study Subject Criteria

Fitness studies work best if you require your subjects to meet specific criteria. Choose a demographic that you already service at your facility, a demographic you would like to break into or a demographic that is prevalent in your community.

For our upcoming fitness study we will require subjects to meet the following criteria:
- Business executives who manage a team
- Not currently exercising
- Able to commit to training with a trainer 2x/week for 4 weeks for 30 min sessions
- Not been involved in a prior study

Selective Marketing

When you conduct a fitness study, you want to be selective where and how you market because your criteria will be very specific. For our fitness study, we will promote to businesses in our community that fit the criteria and to condos etc. where potential subjects may live.

Create a flier to share with potential study subjects.

Consider creating a survey for potential study subjects. The survey can help determine if potential subjects are eligible and is a way to gather their contact info.

Ask staff to share your flier with anyone they know in your community who might fit the criteria for your study.

Booking Fitness Study Subjects

Ideally, you will book all study subjects with your newest trainers. This helps them build a client base.

Book all study sessions upfront. This includes the initial session, the regular sessions and a final 30 minute post assessment to measure client progress. The final session also allows your trainers to suggest next steps to their study subjects.

Once study subjects are scheduled, send them an informational email. We send them a link to our Client Information Questionnaire. We require study subjects to complete this form (just like any other new client).

NWPT Study Session Breakdown

Initial Comp session

Treat this like any other initial/comp session with a new client except instead of spending the last portion of the session inspiring the client to invest in your services (since they are part of the study), you can use that time to complete a study assessment (as well as your regular initial assessment).

8 – 30 Minute Sessions

Train your study subjects just like you would a regular client. Base the training sessions on their goals, fitness level, health history etc. Take great care of them. Encourage them to use your facility before and after sessions whether it is cardio equipment, the sauna or recovery tools. Remind study subjects that it is ok if they exercise in addition to the study sessions.

30 Minute Post-Study Assessment

Complete post assessment and discuss results and next steps. Inspire the study subject to continue their progress. Show the value of the weekly sessions and the importance of accountability.

Assign a manager to review this breakdown with all trainers.

Give a fitness study a try this spring or summer. It is a win/win for your community and your fitness business.

Yours in health, fitness & business,
Sherri McMillan

Why Run a Fitness Study

Fit Pro Businesses NEED a Corporate Manual

Does your team have standard practices to follow when it comes to sales and client programming?

If your answer is “no”…. you NEED to implement a corporate manual that includes standard practices. Sound overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be. Using our Northwest Personal Training corporate manual, I designed a fitness business system to help you run an organized and successful fitness business.

Implement the business system that I designed and you will find that you work SMARTER, are more ORGANIZED and you will start generating HUGE profits like we do here at Northwest Personal Training.

DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL! Let us give YOU the systems that we know work!

The fee to purchase the Business of Personal Training System can be made up within 1 month of increased PT sales and there are NO recurring franchise or licensing fees. A comparable business system in other industries would require an initial investment of tens of thousands of dollars.

Learn more about THE BUSINESS OF PERSONAL TRAINING SYSTEM.

Email kari@nwpersonaltraining.com with questions or to request a demo.

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