Fitness clubs, gyms and exercise studios provide members with various workout environments, motivation and community support that allows them to prioritize their health while experiencing physical transformations that benefit both mind and body.
An effective fitness business relies on state-of-the-art equipment and competitive prices, but there are other components that contribute to providing customers with an unforgettable experience.
Motivation
People often sign up for gym membership with good intentions, yet find it hard to adhere to an exercise routine without external motivation. A club could provide that motivation while potentially being more cost-effective than hiring an individual personal trainer.
Exercise together or with an instructor is proven to increase workout duration by 200% compared to exercising alone, according to research conducted at Kansas State University. People who witnessed their peers performing better were more likely to follow suit and exercise for twice as long.
If you are not ready to commit, ask about guest passes and/or try the club before making a 1-3 year commitment. Also shop around as some clubs might offer reduced initiation fees and membership costs.
Instruction
Fitness clubs provide their members with an array of exercise equipment and fitness classes. Some also provide personal trainers and nutritionists, making it convenient for busy people to stay physically fit without leaving home or work.
Most health clubs employ certified fitness instructors and trainers who lead group exercise classes such as aerobics, cycling (spinning), boxing or martial arts training, step yoga, regular yoga, hot yoga, muscle training and Pilates – these instructors must have received extensive training to ensure member safety.
Gym owners must possess superior leadership and communication skills in order to motivate employees and deliver an outstanding customer experience. Furthermore, they should remain flexible enough to adapt to changes within their industry while staying current on new fitness techniques and equipment.
Equipment
Provide members with equipment they’ll enjoy using to create a successful gym experience. Aside from standard items like treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bikes, add equipment that complements the type of exercises offered at your club.
Providing functional training classes means including equipment such as TRX suspension trainers and balance boards to promote core strength, flexibility, and stability. Your facility should also feature various weights and free weights such as dumbbells, barbells, benches, and squat racks to meet these goals.
Cardio equipment is essential to any fitness club. Make sure that your facility offers a range of top-quality cardiovascular machines suited to meet the needs of all of its members, such as stair climbers and cross trainers for lower body workouts, for an enhanced and comprehensive workout experience for members.
Facilities
Health clubs offer many facilities, from aerobic machines and stationary bikes to ellipticals; free weights and benches to lat pulldowns and other exercisers as well as group fitness classes and personal training services. Some clubs also provide additional membership packages including spa facilities such as saunas or swimming pools for a fee.
Some participants reported an increase in motivation when staff was readily available to offer help and instruction; members often need someone to explain how a machine works or demonstrate correct technique.
Due to some activities being potentially hazardous, facility access must be controlled even within not-for-profit facilities. This typically involves having one main entrance control point with visual surveillance over the main workout space and equipment area as well as any group fitness classes held there. Finally, any control desk must also have clear visual supervision over any group exercise rooms used as group exercise classes.
Community
Strong fitness communities are essential in keeping members motivated. Words of encouragement from a team training class or even just text reminders from workout buddies may give you that extra nudge needed to head to the gym on days when otherwise it might have been easier not to go.
Stevenson has achieved great success in creating a sense of community within his club by encouraging members to take part in group exercises, such as running clubs or dance classes. Additionally, he tracks usage and engages members by sending messages when someone hasn’t visited for awhile – and hosts charity and social events so members can develop meaningful relationships – this helps strengthen brand loyalty and increase retention rates.
