Classes vs. Personal Training: Which Is Right for You?

At Bishop Arts Fitness, we offer both group classes and personal training. Both have clear benefits depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re trying to decide which is the right fit for you, here’s a breakdown of the major differences between the two.

Accountability

Classes
In a class, accountability comes from the group. You’ll meet people, see familiar faces if you come consistently, and you’ll notice when someone pushes harder. This will inevitably make you push harder too. Miss a workout? Expect your classmates to ask where you were. That kind of social accountability keeps a lot of people on track and makes for a fun but competitive environment.

Personal Training
In personal training, accountability comes directly from your coach. You’re not just showing up to a class, you’re meeting with someone who knows your exact goals, your training history, and what you need that day. They also expect you to show up ready to put in good work ever time. It’s more individualized, and your coach will make sure your effort lines up with your long-term goals.

Programming

Classes
Group programming is built for general physical preparedness, even when we have a slight bias, we are looking to improve all aspects of your fitness. You’ll see a balance of strength, conditioning, and endurance throughout the week. It’s designed to move the needle across all areas of fitness at the same time, meaning more variety.

Personal Training
Personal training skips the general approach. Everything is built around your goals. Want to build strength, rehab an injury, or prepare for a specific event? That’s what your program will focus on, exactly what you need. We don't typically take people into personal training if the classes will get them what they want unless they absolutely can not, or do not want to, be in a class.

Training Frequency

Classes
Classes run six days a week, with multiple time slots daily plus open gym on Saturday. That means you could realistically train every day if you want. It’s flexible, structured, and easy to fit into most schedules.

Personal Training
Personal training usually means fewer sessions each week, typically two to three. That’s because every session is more targeted and more demanding. More than that often creates recovery issues (and, let’s be honest, adds cost). Outside the gym, your coach may also give you homework or recovery work to balance out your training.

Cost / Coaching Attention

Classes
Classes here are a more cost-effective option to coaching than personal training. You still get coached, with the warm-up, scaling, and movement cues but attention is shared across the group. You’ll get eyes on you, but not every second.

Personal Training
Personal training costs more, but it also gives you full attention. Your program is written just for you, and your coach is locked in on your movement the entire session. There’s no splitting time between six different people. If you want precision coaching and one-on-one guidance, this is it.

Responsibility & Learning

Classes
Classes give you structure, but there are times when you’re moving on your own, you'll be briefed and see a demo warming up and practice then coach breaks out to see everyone working through reps. That requires some responsibility on your part to remember cues and apply them. Coaching is there, but it’s not the entire time.

Personal Training
With personal training, you’re never on your own. Every rep, every adjustment, and every detail is watched. That means you’ll learn movements more deeply, but it also means more critique. Some people thrive with that, while others find it overwhelming. Either way, it forces progress.

Which Should You Choose?

• Personal Training is best if you have a specific goal: strength, injury rehab, a competition, or anything that requires a focused plan.
• Classes are best if your goal is general: looking better, feeling better, and getting fitter with variety and community support.

Both options come with coaching. The real question is how much coaching you need, and what you’re training for.

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