The cost of personal training is set by factors such as the number and length of sessions, the trainer's experience, whether measurement and programming are included, the standard of the gym's equipment and environment, and the length of the package. That is why you can hear very different figures for "personal training" at two gyms in Istanbul; both carry the same name, but the content is not the same.
The purpose of this article is not to quote you a price. It is to help you read an offer correctly: what a given figure is paying for, what should be included and what to watch out for.
1. Number and frequency of sessions
This is the most obvious factor. Personal training is usually sold in packages: 8, 12 or 16 sessions a month, for example. The per-session price generally falls as the package grows. Whether you train two or three times a week determines both the total cost and how quickly you see results.
The thing to watch here: is the package you are offered derived from your goal, or is it a standard template? At Gymnasium13, session frequency and duration are settled together at the initial consultation, based on your goal; nobody is handed the same package.
2. Session length
The word "session" can mean 30 minutes or 60. When comparing two offers, always ask how long a session is. A 30-minute session leaves 15 to 20 minutes of actual training once warm-up and cool-down are taken out.
Our sessions last 50 minutes, covering warm-up, main training and cool-down.
3. The trainer's experience and specialisation
Even within one gym, prices can differ between trainers. Certification, years of experience and area of specialisation (post-injury recovery, athletic performance, posture correction, weight management) all affect the price.
What matters is not finding the most expensive trainer, but the one best suited to your goal. Someone returning from injury and someone preparing for a competition do not need the same thing. That is why we listen to your goal at the initial consultation and match you with the most suitable trainer; our personal training team consists of Okan Karataş, Barış Yılmaz, Nur Kaplan and Ayberk Özer.
4. Is measurement and programming included?
What is included in the price matters more than the figure itself. Questions to ask:
- Is a body analysis done at the start, and is it included?
- Is a written programme prepared for you, or is the session content decided on the spot?
- Is progress tracked with periodic measurements?
- Is the programme updated as you progress?
At Gymnasium13, the process starts with a detailed body composition measurement on a Tanita MC 780, plus balance, grip strength and flexibility tests; these are part of the personal training process. The programme is built from the analysis results, it is not fixed, and it is reshaped through periodic measurement. Personal training without measurement is a process that runs on guesswork.
5. The gym's equipment and environment
The price of personal training is also the price of the environment you train in. Equipment quality, whether you will wait for machines during your session, whether there is a measurement room and how comfortable the changing rooms are all form part of it. Spending 10 of your 50 minutes waiting for equipment in a crowded gym means part of what you paid is wasted.
We have separate zones for free weights, glutes and legs, selectorised machines and functional training, plus Matrix Ultra Series equipment; your session runs without interruption.
6. The relationship with membership
Some gyms sell personal training separately from membership; at others, membership is a precondition. When buying personal training, ask whether you also have free access to the gym floor and group classes. At Gymnasium13, group classes are included in membership packages and continue alongside your personal training; your trainer takes them into account when planning your weekly programme.
How to evaluate an offer
Before comparing per-session prices, ask these four questions:
- How long is a session?
- Are measurement and a written programme included?
- Do I choose the trainer, or am I matched by goal?
- Do I get access to the gym floor and group classes?
Once those four answers are clear, you can see where the price difference between two offers comes from. Very often the cheaper-looking offer is cheaper because it leaves out measurement and programming.
When it is worth it, and when it is not
Personal training is not necessary for everyone. For someone who knows what they are doing, trains regularly and is progressing, group classes and independent training may be enough. On the other hand, one-to-one training more than pays for itself in these situations: you are new to exercise, you are returning after a long break, you are recovering from injury, you have a specific goal by a specific date, or you have been stuck at the same point for months. We covered this in detail in Who Is Personal Training For?.
How the process starts at Gymnasium13
We do not publish our prices on the website, because we do not sell the same package to everyone. The process starts with an initial consultation: we listen to your goal, history and expectations, agree the right session frequency and duration together, and then give you a clear offer. We do not rush you into a decision.
You can see the steps of the process on our personal training page and get in touch to arrange an introductory visit.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a personal training session be?
45 to 60 minutes is a sensible length for warm-up, main training and cool-down. At Gymnasium13, sessions are 50 minutes.
Is body analysis included in the personal training price?
At Gymnasium13, yes. Body composition on the Tanita MC 780, plus balance, grip strength and flexibility tests, is done at the start of the process and repeated periodically.
Do I have to be a member to get personal training?
This varies from gym to gym. At Gymnasium13, the personal training process and membership options are settled together at the initial consultation; the best approach is to describe your goal and ask what setup fits.