Mindful Leadership: Strategies for Inspiring and Motivating Your Team
As a fitness studio owner, your role extends far beyond managing schedules and memberships; you're also responsible for leading and motivating your team to deliver exceptional experiences to your clients. Mindful leadership is a powerful approach that emphasizes self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication. In this post, we'll delve into specific strategies that will help you inspire and motivate your team to achieve their best performance.
How to Run an Inclusive Fitness Business Matters and Why It Matters
“Inclusivity” is one of the biggest buzzwords of our times. While becoming more inclusive is important for organizations in all industries, it’s particularly important in the fitness space. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently teamed up in an initiative aimed at increasing inclusivity in the fitness industry. Read more
Women in Fitness Weigh in: Gaining an Edge in a Male-Dominated Industry
The fitness world has long been dominated by men. However, women are increasingly taking on leadership roles -- and having great success in doing so. Here's a closer look at three noteworthy women in the fitness space, along with advice and insights they've shared regarding what it takes to make it in this competitive industry. Read more
Joining IHRSA in Spreading a Valuable Message
The Covid-19 pandemic has rocked the world. It's also rocked the fitness industry. The lockdowns that began in March left many fitness clubs in distress and wondering how to move forward. The good news? They've got a dedicated ally in their corner: the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). Here's a closer look at this organization, the critical message it's delivering to the world, and how fitness businesses can do their part to help amplify its voice at this pivotal time.Read more
Should Your Gym Have a Silver Sneakers Program?
The U.S.'s senior population has experienced rapid growth over the past decade. In fact, more than 54 million US residents currently fall into the 65-and-older population, according to the United States Census Bureau. As the massive generation of Baby Boomers continues to age into retirement, this number will only grow. Read more
World Wellness Weekend 2020: A Wrap-up
While a lot has changed in 2020, the objective of most fitness businesses hasn’t: to help people lead more active, healthy lives -- even amidst unprecedented challenges and in the face of tremendous uncertainty. To that end, fitness businesses all over the world recently participated in World Wellness Weekend. This global initiative, which took place September 19-20, is aimed at encouraging people to be more healthy and active. Read more
Are Workout Pods the Future of Fitness?
Are Workout Pods the Future of Fitness?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced fitness clubs to get creative to keep their members safe, happy, and coming back through the doors. One trend having a major moment? Workout pods. Here’s a closer look at this innovative new way to workout.Read more
Prepare Your Fitness Business for the Holidays with These Five Tips
Prepare Your Fitness Business for the Holidays with These Five Tips
The holidays will be here before you know it. Is your fitness business prepared to make the most of them? Starting early can help leverage the holiday season to your advantage through a variety of different initiatives. Here’s a closer look a five things you can do to make sure your fitness business is ready to send 2020 out with the fanfare it deserves while positioning yourself for a successful new year.Read more
The New Face of Fitness in the Post-COVID World
While we often talk about the changing fitness industry in response to Covid-19, we don't always drill down to specifics. Business Insider recently identified several ways the pandemic transformed the fitness space. This piece takes a closer look at their six findings, along with what they mean for fitness business owners. Read more
Ace Debuts All-New Personal Trainer Study Program
Personal trainers are a critical part of your fitness business staff. One way to ensure that your personal trainers are on top of their game? Committing to continuing education. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently launched a new certification program, the ACE Personal Study Program. Here’s a closer look at this all-new, “gold standard” accreditation for health and fitness professionals, along with why continuing education matters for personal trainers and the gyms they represent. Read more
Fitness Equipment Borrowing: Exploring a New Revenue Stream
During COVID-related shutdowns, many fitness businesses were forced to turn to creative new ways to bring revenue through the door. One strategy? The implementation of fitness equipment borrowing programs. Here's a closer look at this trend, along with a few things fitness businesses should know about going this route.Read more
Will Your Fitness Business Survive COVID-19?
The fitness industry took a major beating in the early COVID-19 outbreak as well as during its ongoing aftermath. Not only were gyms all over the country forced to close their doors, but hundreds of thousands of fitness business employers unexpectedly found themselves jobless, according to Fox Business. Equally alarming? That 25 percent of fitness businesses in the US will close for good this year without government intervention, according to International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) board member Chris Craytor. Read more
The Complete Guide to Cleaning and Disinfecting Fitness Business Equipment
The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the importance of prioritizing cleanliness for fitness businesses. However, this has always been a good business practice -- especially when you factor in that a staggering 90 percent of members say they're more likely to renew their memberships when clubs maintain high standards of cleanliness, according to an IHRSA survey. Read more
What Fitness Business Owners Should Know About Luxury Wellness
Driven by technology, demographic changes, and evolving consumer goals, the fitness industry is in a constant state of transformation. One of the most recent trends playing out? While middle-market fitness businesses are struggling, low-end and high-end offerings are going strong. Here's a closer look at the latter, including why luxury wellness is an increasing priority for gym-goers and how fitness businesses can benefit from this trend. Read more
Helping Your Members Get Back on Track After Time Off
COVID-related lockdowns came on suddenly and without warning. When they did, they came not just between gyms and their members, but also between members and their fitness goals. With restrictions lifting and many people headed back into the gym, your members may be wondering how to best pick up where they left off. Read more
Are Your Personal Training Sessions as Efficient as They Can Be?
Personal training can be a significant revenue stream for fitness businesses, but only if clients keep coming back for more. One way to ensure that satisfied members continue to book personal training sessions and to recommend them to their friends? Deliver optimal results. Here's a closer look at four tips for personal trainers aimed at ensuring the most efficient and effective personal training sessions. Read more
Beyond Programming: The Member Experience Imperative
Fitness businesses often think in terms of the programs they offer. However, in a recent article for Club Solutions, fitness industry expert Ben Ludwig makes the case for thinking in terms of the member experience instead. Here’s a closer look at his argument for doing so, along with tips for creating unique and compelling experiences for your fitness business members.Read more
COVID and the Reinvention of the Fitness Industry
The fitness industry was enjoying a booming period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its arrival, however, things are now very different. Many fitness businesses were forced to shut down. Those that stayed open or reopened did so to a transformed world in which they had to make drastic changes in order to survive. This begs the question: How many of these changes are here to stay, and what will the fitness industry look like in a post-coronavirus world? Here’s a closer look. Read more
Six Fitness Business Cleaning Tips
Gyms are full of hard-working people. This also means sweaty bodies…and the germs that go with them. While the importance of maintaining a clean fitness business operation is nothing new, cleanliness means even more in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on for a roundup of six tips aimed at helping gyms protect the health and wellness of their community members while instilling peace of mind.Read more
Are You Maximizing Your Member Referrals?
Your members aren't just members; they're also ambassadors of your fitness business with tremendous potential to bring new members through your door. But are you maximizing their potential as unofficial salespeople for your community? Here’s a closer look at the member referral imperative, along with four tips aimed at helping you make the most of member referrals.Read more