Do you or your gym give free PT sessions for Birthdays?
The gym I’m at just opened May 1st and they have decided to start offering these free sessions for Birthdays. They have arranged it so you can have a phone conversation with the member before the session to find out their history. But is that enough? I feel uncomfortable going into it without more information you would get from a proper assessment. The gym offers free Fit Scores and I just told them I think they should get one of those done before their free session. What do you all think?
I do not offer free personal training for birthdays, but I do send a card.
In regards to your concern about the completing the free session without a full assessment, rightly so. I do not do any training without a complete medical history and assessment based on their needs, medical history and goals.
You’re in the difficult situation of being an employee, but I would still raise my concerns with management. Offer a solution. I complete a mini-assessment, give the client and overview of where they currently are and offer a short session as an example of the things you would do together to work on their goals and areas noted during the assessment. Then sell your services as a way to help them safely and effectively meet their goals and improve their baseline assessment. You can also state that you would then have information that was more specific to them, that you could follow up with them on if they decide to go it alone. This makes their gym experience more personable and give you a great way to follow up!
Good luck,
Jocelyn
Hi Jennifer,
I do offer a free session for birthdays. It has to be a regular client, so the assessment has been done already. This is a personal choice.The gym do not have any policy on this particular situation so it is totally up to the trainer.
I am doing that because my gym does not do any personal training package promotion anymore and it’s a easy way to please a client.
Marie
Hi Jennifer,
I completely agree with you. I give my clients a free session for their birthdays, but that is a different story. On principle, I do not work with somebody without an assessment, and for that reason, I do not offer free sessions.
You are in an awkward situation because you are an employee at the gym and cannot make your own rules. Maybe you can get the other trainers to stand with you on this.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com