Category: Group Fitness

  • Experiences!

    Experiences!

     

    Experiences!

    • Step outside your comfort zone and have one
    • Create a fabulous one for others – your staff, your members, your family, your friends, a random stranger

     

    Education

    Each New Year I write down 3 new personal goals and 3 new professional goals. This year I chose one word, which would be my goal personally, and professionally – Experiences

    From new experiences we grow, we feel good, we help others develop and connect, and we dig deep and find our bravest self, and try something new.

     

    Summary

    New experiences are enriching and gratifying and expanding. Embrace one today. Not tomorrow – do it now, today.

     

  • Disruption!

    Disruption!

     

    It’s the buzz word in the fitness industry – Disruption.

    • forgetting everything we know about exercise and turning it on it’s head,
    • getting ahead of the trends and setting them instead,
    • anticipating what our members want and delivering it to them before they even know they want it,
    • creating a new market with a radical new offering/strategy/product/service,
    • creating a market where none existed before.

    Summary

    The fitness industry evolves and changes rapidly and continually and we can’t afford to be left behind.

    To get yourself at the forefront of the industry and stay there, you need to be disrupting.

    Let’s be innovative and forward thinking.  Disrupt in your space!

  • Reinvigorated, reinspired!

    Reinvigorated, reinspired!

     

    The Filex Business Summit and the Women of Influence Lunch this year jump-started my passion for this wonderful industry.

    Key take-homes for me were the need to keep evolving with our offerings for members, our clubs and our teams This industry never sits still and nor should we.

    Emma Barry talked about popping wellness, happiness and fitness into one basket and looking to other industries for what they are doing well.

    My favourite tip was that ‘thought leadership builds trust’. With a large team of 50-90 group exercise instructors I never stop working on my leadership to keep them engaged in the business and knowing they are valued and part of something bigger, and most importantly that they are contributing massively to enhancing the quality of our member’s lives.

    Summary

    • Never stop learning – aim to have different and new experiences constantly.
    • Health is the new wealth. We are in the industry at a great time.
    • Connect with people in meaningful ways. Be present.
  • At what point does exercise become bad for us instead of doing us good?

    At what point does exercise become bad for us instead of doing us good?

    The health and fitness industry is increasingly focusing on mind and body training and offering more than just physical exercise programs for our members. We all know that continually smashing ourselves with hard core cardio sessions or heavy weight lifting sessions is not the answer to the physique we want or the balance most of us are searching for in our lives.

    People come to the gym for many reasons but a key factor for most people’s regular gym attendance is the psychological benefit of exercise. Depending on your state of mind, level of personal/work stress, your general health, how well you have slept, eaten and recovered since your last training session – your personal best may be achieved with a mind body workout rather than with a hard training session.

    The majority of people joining a gym are looking to lose weight and we also know the key part that stress plays in weight loss and how beneficial it is for people to feel less stress in their lives in order to effectively lose that extra weight. Hard core exercise can be a source of physical stress on the body as much as external stresses can.

    Monitoring your current stress levels – internal and external, as well as listening to your body and what it needs, will give you’re the greatest long term gains. Balance is key. Do a bit of both but choose when is the most effective time for a hard-core workout and when you need to cut yourself some slack and nourish your mind and body to refuel the tank.

    Education

    • Educate yourself on how to create balance in an exercise program
    • Train your staff with the skills to deliver balanced exercise programs
    • Offer a balanced group exercise timetable in your club
    • Up skill your staff, instructors and trainers so that they understand the mind and body benefits of balanced exercise prescription (it is particularly important that the Managers, Customer Service Staff and Sales Personnel are 100% across these learning’s as they will have multiple contact points with your members on a daily basis)

    Summary

    Assist your long-term member retention by ‘caring’ more and taking a holistic approach to your member’s achieving their goals. This will do 3 things for you;

    1. Increase your Group Exercise Member Penetration
    2. Boost your uptake of Personal Training sessions
    3. Add longevity to your client/PT training relationships
  • Leisl’s Learning’s

    Leisl’s Learning’s

     

    Culture Change

    Changing the culture in your club is a long term proposition which takes planning, patience and commitment from all staff and contractors. Before effecting change you need to identify what needs changing and why and how.

    Education

    Using my own situation as an example, we had a ‘gotogether goal’ this year where our General Manager encouraged all of us to work together to hit our targets, achieve our goals and effect change in our 6 clubs.

    The result of this goal in my club was;

    Member Love Levels

    NPS Dec 2017 67.9%,

    NPS Dec 2016 34.3%

    This is a team effort. The entire staff needs to pull together to effect this level of change in a net promoter score.

    It is interesting that right now we have just;

    • rolled out a new GEX booking system which has not been too heartily embraced by the members,
    • we have had no Customer Service Manager for the last few months,
    • and we are running a reduced GEX timetable over Christmas/New Year – which also makes many members disgruntled.

    Despite this, our NPS is double that of the same time last year. My theory is that as a club, we have been enormously proactive in talking to members in person, over the phone, via email and on social media. We have let them be heard, we have explained our business decisions and the benefits to them and we have kept ongoing communications open with them.

    How happy your members are is a direct correlation of how well staff are communicating and connecting with them. You may not be able to resolve all their concerns but are you giving them ‘ear time’ and explaining the ‘why’ behind your business decisions?

    I have been working on a long term strategy to change the club culture and shift it into a less aggressive and more accepting and tribal one. In order to achieve this we have focused as a brand on Mind Body this year but I have also completely restructured classes like Zumba with new instructors, new timeslots, masterclasses and travelling roadshows between clubs and this has built community. Introducing a Young at Heart program has also done a great deal to promote fitness friendships and foster  community in the over 55’s demographic.

    The culture of our club has shifted from members who want to punch and kick things (Kimax and Boxing were top performers 2 years ago) to Zumba being #1 of our Top 5 classes and Yoga making into the Top 5 for the first time ever.

    Identify – what you can do to make your members feel heard and how you can foster community (this may involve member events, social get-togethers, challenges, telling your member’s stories, publishing member achievements), seek member feedback, listen and act on it.

    Snapshot

    • Your members need to feel heard.
    • Your members are searching for community.
    • Set goals
    • Track member satisfaction levels to gauge progress.
    • Celebrate your achievements
  • Press Release: Subaclass—the app Fitness Instructors can’t live without

    Press Release: Subaclass—the app Fitness Instructors can’t live without

    Suitable sub at the touch of your fingertips

    Sydney, Australia: Fitness entrepreneur, Deborah Goldberg has developed an app that’s about to transform the way fitness instructors do business. Subaclass was born from the pure frustration of fitness instructors being unable to find suitable cover for their group fitness classes and gym clients when sick or in need of a holiday.

    Goldberg saw a gap in the marketplace for a revolutionary app to solve what she perceived to be a common
    complaint among trainers in the fitness industry.

    “I am involved in various WhatsApp group of instructors, and I could see by their daily grind that they [group fitness instructors] had to post in numerous Facebook groups and social media avenues in an effort to find a fill-in instructor sometimes without any luck. Instructors have the fear of losing income by cancelling their classes and their participants missing out on a class/training session. I envisaged Subaclass as the solution.”

    Subaclass is designed to be used anywhere in the world. Whether you’re managing a fitness studio in Auckland, New Zealand, a self-employed instructor in New York or looking for casual work on the Gold Coast, Subaclass is the app you won’t be able to manage without.

    Some of the innovative app features are:

    • A simple-to-use interface
    • The ability to see how close the class is
    • Push notifications when a new class is available
    • Map function to see classes within 50-100 kilometres of your location

    Subaclass is available for download for iOS devices. It was created by Sir. Conrad Pty Ltd

    About Deborah Goldberg: Deborah Goldberg is the founder of AirFitness, an online marketplace connecting Fitness Professionals with active potential clients on a global scale, soon to be launched in early 2018. This isn’t Deborah’s first foray into the fitness market. Her company was responsible for launching Zumba Fitness in Australia and the first Zumba instructor training in Sydney during July 2009. She was also the exclusive distributor for Zumbawear in Asia-Pacific region, with the introduction of Zumbashop.com.au in September of the same year.

    In 2014, Deborah was also the driving force behind the introduction and distribution of Piloxing, (www.piloxing.com) including instructor training, business development and distrubtion of apparel throughout Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia.

    For more information
    Contact:
    Deborah Goldberg
    [email protected]
    Ph: 0421328983

  • Press Release: Upgrade Your Virtual Fitness Experience – McFit’s Cyberobics® Partners with Wexer to Launch a New, Premium Studio Model

    Press Release: Upgrade Your Virtual Fitness Experience – McFit’s Cyberobics® Partners with Wexer to Launch a New, Premium Studio Model

    CYBEROBICS® – the virtual fitness division of German giant the McFIT Global Group, which also includes health club chains McFIT and JOHN REED Fitness Music Clubs – has announced an exclusive new partnership with digital fitness specialist Wexer, which will see the two brands jointly launching a premium virtual studio concept.

    Branded ‘CYBEROBICS®, powered by Wexer’, the new model is based on creating premium, standalone CYBEROBICS® virtual studios within clubs – not just McFIT clubs, but any club around the world.

    These studios will offer members access to the full CYBEROBICS® class library – cinematic quality content that has been shot in inspirational locations ranging from Miami’s South Beach to Malibu to the Mojave Desert.

    McFIT originally conceived CYBEROBICS® in 2014, subsequently introducing it at over 170 of its own clubs. However, this is the first time the world-class content has been made available to a broader audience.

    The new ’CYBEROBICS®, powered by Wexer’ concept comes with clear brand guidelines and installation specifications to ensure its carefully designed, premium experience is delivered every time.

    Paul Bowman, CEO for Wexer, comments: “Gyms will need to meet a minimum standard of AV to deliver the full ’CYBEROBICS®, powered by Wexer’ experience – and it really is a fantastic experience. It’s been created as a premium package, with world-class CYBEROBICS® classes – unavailable on any other platform – delivered in an engaging and uniquely designed space.”

    Speaking on behalf of CYBEROBICS®, managing director Oliver Schulokat said: “With Wexer’s rapid growth in technology, they were an obvious partner for us as we accelerate global distribution of the CYBEROBICS® content. Together, we’re making world-class exercise accessible to more people.”

    ‘CYBEROBICS®, powered by Wexer’ is now exclusively available as a premium package on the Wexer platform.

    For more information contact Wexer.

    About Wexer

    Through a range of digital products and services Wexer helps club groups connect with members both inside and outside the four walls of the gym. The original product, Wexer Virtual, features world-class exercise content and allows 24h usage of group exercise and cycling studios. The gym floor product, Wexer Trainer, helps clubs activate their functional space. Wexer also offer Wexer Mobile, an app, which allows streaming of both live and pre-recorded classes as well as ‘on-the-fly’ exercise programming which can be used whenever, wherever.

  • Learnings From Shannon Fable On The Fitness Business Podcast

    Learnings From Shannon Fable On The Fitness Business Podcast

     Shannon Fable

    Last week I spoke with Shannon Fable about how to grow, lead and inspire your group fitness team.

    During the show, you will learn:

    • Where to find the best group fitness instructors
    • Tips for building your group fitness team
    • Advice for instructors wanting to move into management roles

    Shannon also said:

    A team understands each individual person plays and extremely important part – Shannon Fable

    Listen To The Podcast Now

  • Press Release: Fitness First Asia Partners With Wexer To Deliver New Digital Membership

    Press Release: Fitness First Asia Partners With Wexer To Deliver New Digital Membership

    Wexer Mobile

    Fitness First Asia has announced the launch of a brand new digital membership, available to both members and non-members, in a bid to broaden the reach of the Fitness First brand and inspire people to stay active wherever they are.

    The digital membership is delivered through the CustomFit app, Fitness First’s version of the award-winning Wexer Mobile app. This app will also now allow Fitness First to live-stream group fitness classes – from its clubs, direct to users wherever they are, and provide a library of hundreds of on-demand virtual classes.

    The app – Wexer Mobile – was created as a white label mobile solution for operators to extend their reach beyond the four walls of the gym. Additional modules in the app include a workout builder, class bookings, challenges, results-focused programmes and a tool for PTs to prescribe bespoke workout plans for their clients.

    Simon Flint, CEO of Evolution Wellness – the parent company for both Fitness First Asia and Celebrity Fitness following a recent merger – says: “Fitness First understands that in today’s busy life there may be occasions where members won’t always be able to make it to the gym, so we want to provide tools and content which will allow them to stay on track with their fitness regimen. We’re keen to continue to help keep people inspired wherever they may be – at home, at work, or while travelling – through fitness-rich experiences.

    “This is why we have chosen to partner with Wexer in this unique way.”

    Wexer CEO Paul Bowman adds: “Our key objective is to help clubs stay relevant in a world where consumers are increasingly looking online for fitness inspiration and content.

    “Wexer Mobile is a digital extension of the club’s offering. It allows the operator to maintain its relationship with members 24/7, while also expanding the reach of the business by engaging a new cohort of non-gym- goers.”

     

    About Wexer

    Through a range of digital products and services Wexer helps club groups connect with members both inside and outside the four walls of the gym. The original product, Wexer Virtual, features world-class exercise content and allows 24h usage of group exercise and cycling studios. The gym floor product, Wexer Trainer, helps clubs activate their functional space. Wexer also offer Wexer Mobile, an app, which allows streaming of both live and pre-recorded classes as well as ‘on-the- fly’ exercise programming which can be used whenever, wherever.

    About Evolution Wellness

    Evolution Wellness brings together two leading fitness brands – Celebrity Fitness and Fitness First – under one roof to create one of the largest fitness club networks in Asia. It combines the expertise of one of the most established brands, Fitness First, with one of the fastest-growing brands in the health and fitness industry, Celebrity Fitness. The combined entity will wholly-own,manage, and operate all 153 fitness clubs across Asia.

    About Fitness First Asia

    Fitness First is one of the largest fitness brands in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia. In Asia alone, there are more than 90 Fitness First clubs across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. With over 222,000 members generating close to 15 million visits per year, Fitness First carries unparalleled brand equity across the region. With an unrivalled club network in the region, a unique range of proprietary group fitness classes / experiences, class-leading fitness app CustomFit, and a reputation for great customer service, Fitness First is well placed to build on its leadership position in the fast-growing Asian fitness market.

  • Group Fitness Tip: Why Be Average When You Can Be Excellent?

    Group Fitness Tip: Why Be Average When You Can Be Excellent?

    No-one sets out to do an average job of anything but sometimes people deliver incredibly average services, performances, skills or work.

    Why be average when you can be excellent? What does doing an exceptional job of something require?

    Here is my list

    • Forethought.
    • Preparation.
    • Practice.
    • Hard work.
    • Time.
    • Skill.
    • Development and refinement skills.
    • Attentiveness to your market.
    • Humility.
    • Honesty.
    • An open mind.
    • A desire to always keep learning.

    Not enough of us pursue excellence. Why just be ‘good enough’? What is the point of that?