Inside the Commercial Gym: A Social Experiment on Personal Training

Over the past few weeks, I took a break from my usual structured training and embarked on a different kind of workout journey—a social experiment within the walls of a commercial gym. For the past four to five years, I’ve trained regularly in this same gym in Long Beach, yet not once had I been approached or offered a personal training session. It struck me as odd. With so many personal trainers on staff, why was no one engaging?

In commercial gyms, personal training isn’t treated the same way it is at boutique or privately-owned fitness studios. There are no sales commissions, no quotas, and often, no pressure on trainers to attract clients. The trainers are typically salaried, often newer to the industry, and rarely encouraged to take initiative.

Unless you go out of your way to request help, you’re not likely to get any. And if you do ask, chances are you’ll be paired with whoever’s available. What you get is a randomized experience that doesn’t always match your needs, goals, or energy.

The Three Types of Trainers I Encountered

Across multiple sessions, I identified three general categories:

The Bare Minimum Trainer
Sessions were uninspired. I could feel that this was just a job to them. Cookie-cutter workouts, lack of enthusiasm, and zero creativity made these sessions forgettable. No depth, no feedback, no personalization.

The Functional Professional
These trainers had structure and offered solid guidance. They weren’t particularly memorable, but they showed up, stayed present, and offered some value. You’d benefit if you were new or looking to ease back into fitness.

The Exceptional Coach
This rare breed was instantly recognizable. They combined deep knowledge with energy and charisma. Sessions flew by. They tailored each movement, asked insightful questions, and clearly cared about long-term progress—not just checking a box. Their commitment extended beyond the gym floor.

Hard Truths for Clients

You have to advocate for yourself.
No one is going to assign you the right trainer. You need to ask questions, sample different coaching styles, and negotiate the right fit and price.

Price doesn’t equal value.
More expensive doesn’t always mean better. Some of the best sessions I had were with mid-tier priced trainers who genuinely cared.

Understand their limits.
Trainers are not nutritionists or life coaches. The results you want will require discipline outside of the gym. Don’t expect them to be miracle workers.

Avoid long-term contracts early.
Trial sessions first. Use them to identify trainers that resonate with your goals and personality.

Do your homework.
Look up trainers on Instagram. Read reviews. Ask others in the gym. Treat hiring a trainer like a job interview.

Final Thoughts: Your Body, Your Investment

Too often, gym-goers make training decisions based on convenience or sales pitches at the front desk. But your health and your goals deserve more than a random pairing.

The best trainers are rare—but they’re out there. When you find one, the difference is obvious: Better coaching, better effort, better results.

And if you’re a trainer reading this? Stand out. Show up with presence, with energy, and with the kind of commitment that turns a client’s hour into the best part of their day.

Your job is bigger than sets and reps. You’re shaping lives. Act like it.