Chris Alexander, general manager, standards & development of AUSactive, and Sean Turner, CEO of Les Mills U.S., contributed to this article.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, group exercise—offered both in-person and virtually—is expected from many consumers looking to join a studio or health club. Clubs that have stopped providing virtual fitness options, or haven’t yet begun offering a digital product, risk losing members.
The in-person experience and ability to interact with fitness professionals in a friendly and supportive environment help differentiate fitness clubs from online-only exercise options like Peloton, Apple Fitness+, and YouTube. But virtual group fitness or personal training can be a great add-on to your physical offerings, add more value to your membership, and help you reach new customers.
Group exercise in a hybrid model can help improve your group exercise product and engage your members and customers in a new way.
Producing virtual fitness options might sound easy, but just like with any other fitness offering, you need to take the necessary steps to create a high-quality product that will engage members and customers and enable you to grow your business.
This article is one in the series: 28 Best Practice Guidelines for Operating a Fitness Facility.
Make sure your virtual fitness program meets these best practice guidelines. We’ve grouped them into four categories to help you plan your product:
Use Virtual Products to Increase Your Customer Base
Expand Your Group Fitness Options
Offer a High-quality Product
Pay Attention to Safety & Liability