Why We Cut Out Cardio

At Coopers Hill, we’ve always been proud to do things a little differently — and sometimes that means letting go of what doesn’t serve our clients, even if it’s what people expect.

For a long time, our small group personal training sessions included cardio components — think intervals, circuits, or finishers that got your heart rate up and left you breathless. But over time, we realised something important:

Cardio didn’t belong in those sessions anymore.

Here’s why we made the change — and why it’s been better for our members ever since.

1. Small Group PT Is for Strength

Our small group sessions are designed for progressive, structured strength training. That means focused lifting, quality movement, and coaching you through exercises that build real, long-term results.

Cardio in the middle (or end) of those sessions often got in the way — distracting from the intent, rushing rest times, or cutting short technical coaching. You don’t build strength by rushing your reps or chasing a calorie burn.

2. Cardio Deserves Its Own Space — Preferably Outdoors

We’re big believers in cardio — just not crammed into your strength session. Instead, we encourage our clients to get their heart rates up in ways that feel good and sustainable — like walking, running, cycling, or hiking out in nature.

Whether it’s a solo effort or something we help guide and programme, getting outside for your cardio builds fitness and clears your head.

3. We’re Not Here to “Tire You Out”

Plenty of gyms measure a session’s success by how exhausted you feel walking out the door. We don’t. We’re here to help you get better, not just get tired. That means we prioritise quality over quantity, strength over sweat, and results over randomness.

4. Clearer Focus Means Better Results

By separating strength and cardio, we’ve been able to give each element the attention it deserves. Strength sessions are now more focused, more coachable, and more progressive — which means our members get stronger, faster.

At the same time, encouraging cardio outside the gym allows members to choose activities they enjoy and can stick with, without compromising recovery or performance in the gym.

It’s not that our previous approach was wrong — it just evolved as we looked at what truly helps people thrive long term.

5. Our Members Train Smarter — and Feel Better

Since removing cardio from our small group PT, our members have:

• Improved their lifts faster

• Recovered better between sessions

• Seen better body composition changes

• Felt more focused and confident in their training

We don’t chase trends — we chase what works. And when it comes to getting stronger, moving better, and building a body that lasts, keeping your strength sessions focused is a game-changer.

Want the best of both worlds? Do your strength with us — then follow one of our conditioning plans that will compliment your current training. That’s how we help our members train for real results.