10 Jun Why We Don’t Run Large Group Classes — And Why That’s a Good Thing for You

 

Have you ever shown up to a group class and had to scale every movement — adjusting reps, modifying skills, or swapping exercises entirely? If you regularly need to change a workout to get through it, it’s a sign that the coach didn’t write the workout for you. The workout is written for someone else. Scaling makes it possible to participate. Individualization makes it optimal to improve.

 

Now, scaling in a group setting is fine; that’s how group workouts are by design. However, at a certain point, if you have specific goals or needs, a one-size-fits-all approach stops delivering the desired results.

 

Most people agree you wouldn’t train a pitcher the same way you’d train a defensive lineman. So why would we treat a 20-year-old just starting CrossFit the same as a 70-year-old trying to stay strong and independent? My grandmother is 77. She has zero interest in doing a handstand push-up, nor should she. Her goals are different. Her body is different. Her training should reflect that.

 

At our gym, we don’t offer large group classes. Not because we don’t believe in community; we do. What we believe is that your training should be tailored to you. That means you can still train alongside friends and share in the energy, but instead of everyone doing the same thing, each person is working on what they need most. Same vibe. Way better results.

 

Let’s be honest: group classes have limits. With a big group and a one-hour window, you’re often stuck with a narrow structure. A warm-up, one strength movement, and a short conditioning piece. That’s not a bad model, especially if you’re new to exercise. When you’re just starting, almost anything will work. But over time, the progress slows down or stops. To continue improving, you need targeted volume, repeated exposure, and progression tailored to your goals and needs.

 

Want to get your first pull-up? You’ll likely need to dedicate focused work to this task 2–3 times per week. Want to improve your snatch? You’ll need consistent technical practice and drills to improve. In a group setting, you can’t always do that (not because the programming is bad), but because the group’s needs dilute your own. And when that happens, your goals take a back seat.

 

Skill work is another sticking point. Most people require regular practice to improve high-skill movements, such as handstand walks, Olympic lifts, and muscle-ups. Especially if those skills don’t come naturally. In a group class, everyone learns at a different rate. Some need to slow down, while others are ready to move forward, and the format doesn’t allow the coach to give either person what they truly need. That’s not the coach’s fault; it’s a structural limitation.

 

Group classes are fun; I won’t deny that. They’ve introduced many people to fitness, and it’s how we started as coaches.However, if you want real, lasting results tailored to your goals, history, and lifestyle, you need a plan written explicitly for you. That’s what we do here.

 

If you’re ready to train with purpose, we’re prepared to help.