If you have been coming here for a while, you’ve probably heard that we’re part of the MadLab Group (http://madlabgroup.com/).
But what exactly is the MadLab Group? And how does it affect you?
The MadLab Group is a worldwide network of gyms, who have worked together to figure out best practices. In other words, to figure out how to run a gym that best maximizes success for the clients and the coaches. The Madlab group aims to professionalize the fitness industry for member gyms. This is important because in general the fitness industry is anything but professional. Quick fixes, junk science, body shaming and the selling of products and programs that are designed more to make money than to actually make anyone healthier or fitter are more common than well thought programs and advice that will lead to sustainable results.
5 MadLab Group Features that Pertain to YOU—the client
1) Fundamentals/Personal Training
Those of you started training with us in the past 12 months most likely went through a one-on-one introductory session with a coach, and then 10-20 personal training sessions with this same coach, where he/she worked with you on your strengths and weaknesses and got you prepared for classes at a speed that was comfortable for you.
If we’re doing it right, then you probably developed a relationship with this coach and feel like you have someone in your corner helping you reach your health and fitness goals.
Congratulations to all of you who started at the gym through our old introductory process or even through no introduction at all! You all did amazing at sticking things out through your first few months of training and making it through to today. Unless you were a fit and injury free Ballina version of Rich Fronning or Kara Webb you probably found the beginning of your training a little challenging. The movements would have been new and you would have spent lots of time working on technique with very light weights/broomsticks or we would have completely changed lots of the workouts for you. Both of which meant that your progress initially was probably slower than it should have been. Believe it or not everyone is different and not everyone is ready for classes after 5 group introductory sessions. Can you imagine if you would have been asked to snatch on day 1? It probably wouldn’t have gone all that well for you, right?
Many gyms do just that: They either throw you directly into the fire of group classes, put you through a 12-person group fundamentals program, or they dumb down their programming so you are not getting the benefits of the Olympic lifts and the complex functional movements (these matter because they create a neuroendocrine response but more on that in another blog post!!). Under these options many people never learn the movements properly because you don’t receive enough one-on-one attention. Best case scenario, you get by because you happen to move well and be athletic. Worst case scenario, you get injured or overwhelmed and quit. Through it all, you never get the chance to really get to know your coach. In fact, you probably are never even given the option to have a personal coach.
A one-on-one intro day, followed by 10-20 personal training sessions, is part of our best practices. It’s what we have discovered is best for members performance, for health and safety, and for longevity at the gym. During these session we can get to know you, your goals and work out how to ensure that you are reaching them as quickly and safely as possible. We can educate you on nutrition, set goals and track your progress which was all impossible to do effectively with a group intro model.
2) Coach for Life
We’re not interested in New Year’s revolutionist clients. We’re interested in clients who are looking for a coach and fitness program to keep them healthy and fit for life.
The same way most of us have a family doctor our entire lives, and likely an accountant and maybe even a lawyer, our hope is that your coach becomes your fitness, health and wellness, and nutrition coach for life—someone you turn to to help you when you’re 20, when you’re 40 and when you’re 85 years old.
Believe it or not, this is RARE in the fitness industry today. What is more common are personal trainers or CrossFit coaches who stick around for just a couple years. The reason they leave the industry is because they can’t make a living coaching. For the client this means the gym you’re at is often marred by a constant revolving door of coaches.
MadLab’s biggest goal is to professionalize the industry so its coaches can become career coaches—meaning they stick around for years, even decades.
For YOU, this means you won’t have a constant revolving door of coaches; you’ll have someone in your corner for life.
3) Highly trained Coaches
Let’s be honest: The fitness industry is somewhat F-ed up. Anyone can call himself a personal trainer, whether he took a weekend course or did a four-year educational program.
MadLab coaches have all been through a two-year apprentice coach diploma program (the MadLab PCDP—professional coach diploma program) (More on the details of PCDP in an upcoming post).
In short, your coach knows what he’s talking about—how to keep you working toward you goals, and how to keep you injury-free.
4) Hybrid Memberships
Maybe you have taken advantage of our hybrid membership options, and maybe you have not.
But one of the features of our gym is you always have the option to do extra one-on-one personal training on top of your group classes—even if you’re a five-year veteran—with your coach to work on any specific weaknesses or skills you want to improve upon or any areas of your health and fitness that you need assistance with. Another option is to talk to your coach about getting an individual program.
5) Worldwide Network of Gyms
If you travel—for work or pleasure—there are MadLab gym’s all around the world. (Stay tuned for a map of all 180-plus MadLab facilities coming soon).
When you show up at a MadLab gym in another city and tell them where you’re from, not only will you have the piece of mind that you’re in good hands, you’ll get the royal treatment from the MadLab family.
We are excited about the future with each of you. From day one our goal has always been to have a small group of members who we can really look after. We make ALL our decisions based not on what is going to make us the most money but based on what we think will be in the best interests of each of you and our coaches.
Love you all,
Ehren, Lindsay, Dave, Denielle, Sarah, Harley, Dylan, Frase, Rixy and Sarah xx
