I really wanted to love Phase 1, especially because I liked the idea of a smaller, more personalized training environment. Unfortunately, my experience ended up being very different from what I expected.
When I first joined, there were several coaches and trainers. Shortly afterward, there were ownership changes and the majority of the coaching staff was let go, leaving one coach to essentially carry everything (and she was the new owner). She seemed extremely overextended, and the quality of the training suffered as a result.
For a small group personal training gym, I expected the workouts to feel personalized, coaches to actively watch and correct our form, and there to be some consideration for what the members were actually trying to accomplish. Instead, I often felt like the coaching was extremely hands off. I would intentionally do exercises incorrectly to see if my form would be corrected, and it wasn't. There were many times when the coach was sitting on the sidelines or on her phone rather than actively coaching.
The programming was also heavily focused on legs. Several of us repeatedly asked for more upper body and core work, but instead of feeling like we could communicate our goals with our coach, we were made to feel like we were asking for something unreasonable. There were times when it genuinely felt like we were being punished for asking for a different type of workout, which is frustrating when you're paying for personal training and simply asking for programming that better aligns with your goals.
I also eventually discovered that I was being charged significantly more than other members, which was another major concern.
There were also some things about the overall environment that made me increasingly uncomfortable. Personal issues and intimate details about the coach's life were frequently brought into the gym, which blurred professional boundaries. At one point, I also became aware that someone who was experiencing homelessness was being allowed to stay inside the gym. Regardless of the circumstances, having someone living inside a training facility was something I found very uncomfortable and concerning from a professionalism and safety standpoint.
Ultimately, I didn't see the progress I was hoping for during my time at Phase 1. I've now been doing OrangeTheory for a couple of months, and I've seen significantly more progress while receiving more individualized coaching and form correction, despite being in a much larger group setting. I'm also paying hundreds of dollars less.
I think the concept of Phase 1 is great, but my actual experience did not match what I would expect from a premium small-group personal training gym. For the price I was paying, I expected significantly more coaching, accountability, personalization, and professionalism. I ultimately decided it wasn't worth the cost for the experience I was receiving. read more
