Developed by fitness industry experts at Matrix Fitness, our MX4 functional training programming addresses multiple aspects of fitness — cardio, power, strength and endurance — to create a complete group exercise experience that members will commit to.

You can modify your functional group training programming to fit members of all ability levels and scale the program to accommodate small groups or large groups, easily expanding as popularity grows.

MX4 is designed for participants who want to maximize their workout time and by incorporating four different modes of exercise into each circuit it stimulates the cardiorespiratory system and musculature of the whole body.

The Story Behind the MX4 Functional Training Program

MX4 workouts revolve around four highly trainable pillars of fitness: cardio, power, strength and endurance.

Unlike traditional circuit training workouts, which have participants constantly move from one station to the next, MX4 participants stay on the same station for three consecutive exercises. These three exercises are sequenced to target the lower, upper and total body (see programming template on the final page of the guide).

This protocol allows trainers to maximize productivity in a short period of time. Alternating between upper, lower and total body exercises trigger peripheral heart action (PHA), which has long been considered an effective way of achieving cardiovascular improvement and hypertrophy in the same workout.

According to organizations like American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE), small group training consists of 4–12 participants. Sessions are instructor-led with a focus on coaching rather than simply motivating. The ratio of one instructor for a maximum of 12 participants is suggested to help the instructor deliver a personalized coached experience. Larger groups can be accommodated, but the exercises selected
should be simpler movements.

FACILITY BENEFITS OF SMALL GROUP TRAINING

The benefits of MX4 Small Group Training go beyond physical enhancements, impacting the way your facility does business.

With small group training, your facility can:

• Generate membership sales
• Increase retention
• Build community
• Better leverage time using 30-minute sessions
• Attract different demographics
• Provide participants with a more consistent experience and better results
• Demonstrate the benefits of coaching, which can increase personal training sales

PARTICIPANT BENEFITS OF SMALL GROUP TRAINING

Like all small group training formats, MX4 delivers motivation, direction, accountability and introduction to a coached functional training model. Unlike other models, MX4 also offers a variety of benefits for participants that are specific to MX4 programming.

• Traditional circuit training features an instructor supervising a group of people who are all performing different exercises; this means the instructor can only offer general coaching tips and motivation to the group during the activity. Whereas MX4 has small groups of people on either cardio, power, strength or endurance station. Since the entire group will be performing only four different exercises at once, the instructor can provide more specific coaching.
• Also, by staying on each station longer, participants can focus on their exercise rather than where they are supposed to be moving to next.

WAYS TO OFFER SMALL GROUP TRAINING

Depending upon your facility’s business model, you can position the experience in a variety of ways:

• Included in membership
• Pay as you go
• Part of a membership add-on

Download the training manual to learn more about the MX4 Active small group functional training program. To bring MX4 to your facility and start your MX4 small group training certification, contact us today