Make your classes more successful!

GROUP FITNESS TOP 10 TIPS

Tip 1: Using the term Aerobics vs. Group Fitness may decrease participation.  

Aerobics implies dance or female and will likely limit participation of males and even some females. 

Group Fitness is a more neutral term and allows the program or class to be judged on its merit. Consider using the term Group Fitness Room and Group Fitness Instructors. Remember, however, changing a name cannot fix a poor program.

Tip 2: “Retention rates are higher for Group Fitness Members than for Machine Members.” 

IHRSA’s Guide to Membership Retention “Every club has hundreds, and sometimes thousands of machine members, whose only interactions with their club are with the particular exercise machines on which they exercise. Machine members are high-risk members. They belong in every club’s ‘intensive care’ unit.”

Tip 3: “63% of the population is already convinced of the virtues of fitness and ready to join a club, however many feel that they’re unhealthy, overweight and/or unathletic and may be self-conscious about their bodies.”

American Sports Data

Also, “90% of all exercisers report that they would prefer to workout in a group.” CBI, June 2000  

Tip 4: Your Group Fitness timetable is only as good as your worst class or experience.

Your objective is to constantly work on the quality of the classes you offer so the worst class is still of a high standard.

Participants evaluate classes based upon the workout or program, the instructor and the room. When one or more of these components are viewed as weak by participants, the result is low participation.

Tip 5: “A lack of supervision while exercising leads to twice as much dropout when compared to exercising in groups.”

Group Fitness offers both the supervision and the social interaction that increases retention. Higher participation and future retention will be the result of higher quality of classes and instruction.

Tip 6: There are three leading indicators of higher retention rates.

1) % of members involved in Group Fitness Programs2) % of members involved in Personal Training3) % of members spending at least $.50 in non-dues purchases for every dollar they spend for dues

– IHRSA’s Guide to Membership Retention.

Tip 7: There is a method to increase the rate of joining your facility by 300%.

Simply get the prospect to workout at your facility and they are 300% more likely to join.

Tip 8: During sub-maximal repetitive exercise, music can divert attention away from the sensations of fatigue.

“Rather than stopping the exercise, music enables the exerciser to continue the activity and achieve more results. The synchronisation of music with exercise consistently demonstrates increased levels of work output among exercise participants.” Music in Sport and Exercise: Theory and Practice, Dr. C.I. Karageorghis, PhD.

Memorable group fitness classes that combine great music with safe, effective movements keep members coming back for more.

Tip 9: There are three key metrics you should know about your Group Fitness department: 

1) Percentage of Total Visits in Group Fitness – Divide your monthly group fitness visits by the total monthly facility visits. Industry average is 10-15%. Once you exceed 25 to 30% you will see a corresponding increase in profitability. 

2) Cost per Group Fitness Visit – Divide monthly instructor compensation by total monthly group fitness visits. The range should be from $0.65 to $1.50 per person.

3) Square Foot per Individual Member – Divide your indoor square footage by the total number of members (not memberships). According to IHRSA Profiles of Success 2007, the industry average was 13.6. “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”Greg Thurman

Tip 10: A 2% increase in retention can deliver a 20% increase in profits.

Small improvements in retention can yield large improvements in profitability.

2,000 members x 2% increase = 40 members

40 members x $600 dues = $24,000