How to Train for Intramural Sports During a Pandemic

How to Train for Intramural Sports During a Pandemic

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

If you are on the fence about recreational sports, do yourself a favour. Join an intramural league at least once in your school lifetime. Intramural leagues are several different things all rolled into one experience. They are exercise, of course, but they are also friendly competition, life skills, and connecting with a community. They are for anyone and everyone who just wants to get together with a group of friends and enjoy sports, camaraderie, and inexpensive fun.

Intramural leagues are not the same thing as school sports. The two are different, though the words are often used interchangeably. In short, intramural sports are organised by students outside of school sanctioned sports programs—basically played for fun and bragging rights! School sports are organized and funded by a university and are a bit more competitive. Intramural teams play against one another while school teams play against other school teams. BUT, that’s another blog for another day!

The question here is- how do student-athletes on intramural teams- or any organised sports- keep their minds and bodies busy when their sport activities are on a break? Because as you know, it’s important to train solo and stay in shape, even during downtime. Here are some at-home workout ideas to get started with.

Virtual Race

Running is always a good go-to option because not only is it good for physical health but it’s also good for mental health. And being home alone doesn’t mean things can’t get a little competitive with some company. Thanks to the internet and many different streaming services, friends and family are just one phone call away from joining a virtual race together. The best news is, it can be done in a variety of places and over and over again.

Planking

When done properly, planking can be a very effective practice. It helps coordination, flexibility, metabolism, cardio training, and even posture and back pain. Do it solo or challenge a group of friends to see who can outlast who.

The Classics

When in doubt, take it back to the basics with some jumping jacks and pushups. They are oldies but goodies for a reason. Jumping jacks get the heart rate going and test the body’s physical endurance. Push-ups strengthen the upper body and core. Plus, there are so many different ways to do them that they never get boring. (Do they? Reader’s poll!)

Swimming

Go for a swim. Swimming is great because it works out a variety of muscles and maintains vital organs, all without any stressful impact on the body. Also, it’s just plain fun, relaxing, and refreshing. So, go on. Dive in.

Dry Swimming

This one might sound silly but don’t skip it over it. Just laugh all the way to the final results. Many professional swimmers use a combination of dry land exercises when they can’t get to the pool, or don’t want to get wet. Breaststrokes, flutter kicks and more can all easily be done on any flooring. All you need are stretch bands, exercise balls, and a little imagination.

Are you involved in recreational sports or sport activities? What’s your take on organised sports? And what exercises would you add to our list? Let us know in the comments! If you need more ideas for at-home or outdoor workouts for fitness levels of every kind, read this next.

Properly Disinfecting Gym Equipment Post-Pandemic

Properly Disinfect Gym Equipment Post-Pandemic

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

With hope of a decline in COVID-19 cases, the world is planning for a return to familiar routines. This includes businesses in a big way. The public will be looking at many places like grocery stores and restaurants to help keep the public safe.

Fitness centres, this also includes you. Have you given any thought to cleaning gym equipment or new employee training? Members will be interested in learning how you plan to keep your space squeaky clean. If you need help coming up with a plan, here are some key items to keep in mind.

Ask Members for Help

Believe it or not, the first step to ensuring your gym members stay healthy starts with your gym members. And? Some old-fashioned soap and water!

Don’t underestimate the power of washing your hands. Washing your hands continues to be the number one defense against viruses. It’s near impossible to disinfect every single gym surface touched in one day. That’s why it’s crucial for everyone to wash their hands before and after using each piece of equipment.

Soap and water kill germs best. But, you can offer several stations with disinfectant wipes throughout the building as a back-up. Also, give members access to spray bottles and towels to wipe down their machinery.

  • Antibacterial soap kills bacteria- not viruses.
  • Wet wipes, such as baby wipes, only remove dirt and oils from the skin.
  • Same for hand sanitiser. It only kills bacteria unless you find an alcohol-based version. When using it, keep it on the hands for a certain amount of time. Otherwise, it might not work.
  • It might take several wet wipes or disinfectant wipes to get hands and gym equipment clean.

Learn the Difference Between Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitising

Do you know the differences between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitising? According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), there are some. And it’s a good time to learn what they are because cleaning on its own is not enough right now.  Learning the differences will help you map out your return routine and put you at the top of your cleaning game. Here are the differences in short:

  • Cleaning removes dirt and germs from services but doesn’t kill them.
  • Disinfecting will kill germs through the use of chemicals.
  • Sanitising uses a combination of cleaning and disinfecting. It lowers the number of germs and the spread of reinfection.

Buy the Right Chemicals

If you are looking for the best cleaning defenses against viruses, here they are. Soap and water, bleach, isopropyl alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide.

If those cleaners aren’t appropriate for your flooring, it’s okay to use your regular cleaner. However, you should use the above recommendations for all other surfaces. Certain items such as ammonia solutions do not protect against viruses.

And as always, do not use certain products in combination with each other. Surprisingly, bleach and vinegar fumes don’t mix well together, the same way bleach solutions and ammonia solutions don’t. They can create hazardous, or potentially deadly, fumes when combined. If you need to use several kinds, a good idea is to use them on alternating days.

Know the Dirtiest Spots

Here’s a pop-quiz for you: which areas of fitness centers are harboring the most germs?

Did your mind immediately go to bathrooms, locker rooms, or door handles? While you technically aren’t wrong, those are mega hotspots also, your gym equipment actually has more! The treadmills, weights, gym mats, and exercise balls are all loaded.

Maybe that’s because people touch them more often or because bathrooms get more attention. Either way, it’s better safe than sorry. Create a chart and keep track of how often you’re tackling each item. The same goes for home gym equipment as well. Personal trainers who make house-calls should be mindful of that. Always wipe down home gym equipment in between uses.

Another thing to pay attention to are your cleaning supplies themselves. Your towels are cleaning counters and your mops are cleaning the floors. What’s cleaning your towels and mops? You don’t want to accidentally reinfect surfaces. So, be sure to thoroughly disinfect, sterilise all towels, mops and get your equipment clean.

Hire Extra Staff

Now you know the who, what and where, it’s time to start cleaning gym equipment and more. Consider hiring extra staff if you need to. Because, if you cleaned bi-weekly, prior to the Coronavirus, you should clean weekly now. Start out with a daily routine and scale it back as time goes on and infections continue to decrease.

Have a morning crew, a night crew, and an in-between crew ready to go. Your management software can help you with creating and keeping track of your new schedules. And if you’re worried it might come off as excessive- don’t be. Seeing your employees in cleaning action could help to ease your gym members’ minds.

Good luck with your cleaning! Be safe and healthy. To find out more tips, during the Coronavirus and more, subscribe to our blog.

COVID-19 Questionnaire

Fitness Questionnaire

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

In one of our recent posts, we talked about the different types of fitness and gym questionnaires to give your members. Because again- who better to ask than them? And believe it or not, that’s still true, even in the midst of a pandemic. We know members haven’t exactly been at your facilities but that doesn’t mean they don’t have things to say.

When COVID-19 first started, a lot of changes were rolled out in a short period of time. Everyone went from working out at the gym with friends to suddenly working out at home alone.

During this time, members have had ample time to think about what they miss most about the gym. While it’s fresh in their minds, ask them to put it to paper. Here are some ideas to get you started.

New Fitness Goals

It’s true most people join the gym with a certain goal in mind. Now that they’ve been home for a while, follow up with them on their goals.

  • How do they feel about their goals now?
  • Are they still working toward the same ones they were earlier on in the year?
  • Do they have any new ones? If so, what are they?

Online Classes

Each gym will have to decide what to do about online classes once things get back to normal. Will they go away completely or can they somehow stay on and serve a purpose?

  • Do members love or hate online classes?
  • Are they easy to follow? Are they hard?
  • Would they be interested in having access to one even after quarantine is over?
  • Have they had any difficulty finding the proper tools and equipment at home?
  • Did they order any new equipment they’d like to see at the gym when they get back?

General Feedback

Remember, pandemics and quarantines are new to everyone. No one knew what to expect going into all this. Ask your members what they have learnt so far from their experience and what you could do to improve it.

  • How do they stay motivated?
  • Are your emails, texts, and videos helpful?
  • What do they enjoy the most about them?
  • What is the hardest part of being away from the gym?
  • Is there a certain teacher or class that stands out from the rest right now? Who is it and why?
  • Do they plan to come back to the gym? Why or why not?

Easing Back Into Things

This portion could be extra helpful in getting you and your members back into the swing of things once everything is back to normal. Ask them how you can help make them more comfortable when they return.

  • Would they like to see you clean more?
  • Would they like new class offerings?
  • Do they need to take it slow to help rebuild muscle tone or endurance? Or are they ready to jump in?

These are just some questions to get you started on your survey. We know you will think of many more great ones to add. We wish you every success during these uncertain times. Our hope is you come back even greater and that maybe a survey like this can help you achieve your goals.

COVID-19 Legalities

COVID-19 Legalities

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

Over the last couple of months, gym owners have had to quickly transform their studios from in-person training to virtual. If you are one of them, it’s possible during your transition you overlooked two factors: Liability and insurance coverage. 

Did your heart skip a beat reading those words? What about them? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone.

This is new territory for everyone involved. Between drafting emails and choosing video platforms, liability and insurance coverage likely are not at the forefront of your mind. Especially if you’re new to owning a gym and recently conquered all that legal mumbo-jumbo anyway. Or, if you’ve owned one for a while and are pretty confident about the language you have in place. However, a pandemic changes things.  Here are some things to consider.

Tweak the Language

As you know, accidents don’t only happen at gyms but your coverage might only protect you there. This is why any instructor who has ever considered hosting a boot camp at a local park has been encouraged to double-check their policy first. Well, the same is true for online classes. During COVID-19, many people are learning they are not covered at home and require a more blanket-coverage policy.

Now is the time to pull yours out and go over the language with a fine-toothed comb. You want to be sure it covers you anywhere, anyhow. No one knows for sure how long this virus is here for and you would hate to encounter a preventable setback early on, or at all.

Add a Disclaimer

If you’ve ever tried a workout video before, like P90X or Insanity, then you’ve seen an example of a disclaimer. It’s all the text that scrolls on the screen just before you delve in. What it’s telling you is: do not proceed before consulting with your doctor. It’s also telling you to stop immediately if there is any shortness of breath, chest pains, or nausea.

While that seems like common knowledge to many, it’s important to include. This is because not everyone doing your workout will be a pro-gym-goer. Some of them could be trying it out for the first time in several years, as a way to keep busy during the quarantine.

So, whenever you post pre-recorded videos, be sure to tag in a quick disclaimer. And if you’re instructing live, go over it each time before you start. Even if it seems redundant, it is necessary.

Have Conversations

Keep an open line of communication with your clients. Before you start online instructions, let them know it may be more challenging than what they are used to and tell them why. There isn’t the proper space and equipment at home like there is at the gym. Also, instructors aren’t able to watch over clients in the same way. That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to accomplish but they will have to be mindful and careful.

Teach your members to look for any signs of stress, encourage them to do modifications if need be, and to reach out with any questions or concerns they have.

Familiarise Yourself with Legal Terms

Familiarise yourself with specific legal terms like “Force Majeure”. It’s an unpredicted circumstance that prevents someone from being able to fulfill contracts. In this case, it’s your clients and their membership contracts with you.

In the upcoming weeks, it’s possible you’re going to discover many people are unable to pay you and you will have tough decisions to make. To waive or not to waive, that is the question!

Unfortunately, not every business is able to waive fees for their clients and that’s understandable. The hope is that those much-anticipated business grants will soon roll in and save the financial day. But, in the meantime, there are definitely some things you can do to safeguard yourself. One of them is by adding a clause in your contracts for any new clients that are signing up now.

What to Expect When Gyms Reopen

What to Expect When Gyms Reopen

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

Over the coming months, the UK will begin reopening business including those within the Fitness Industry. Fitness enthusiasts everywhere will be eager to get back to their gyms so they can reclaim their health and a sense of normality. But the burning question is, will it be like it was B.C (Before COVID-19) or will there be a new normal?

As a gym owner, here’s what to expect and implement in your own gym to help ease everyone’s minds while also keeping them safe.

Phases

You’re going to hear a lot about phases. Your gym won’t reopen in full force but instead in several installments.

In the first phase, you will see some social distancing still going on. You’re likely sick of that term by now but it is crucial in stamping out the virus for good, or else, the nation risks reinfection and another quarantine.

The first phase could look like:

  • A capped amount of guests each day
  • Limited workout areas
  • Arrows on the floors to help direct the flow of traffic
  • Empty workout equipment between every person who is on a bike or treadmill, etc.
  • Classes continuing to meet online, for the time being

New Employee Training

Plan a meeting with your employees before reopening. It’s okay to be honest with them if you are unsure how things will play out. This is a new situation for everyone involved.

One team building idea is to come up with a list of questions and concerns you think guests might have. Then, roleplay them together. It will help employees feel more prepared and confident and less silly when they have to say things like, “Excuse me, you need to be standing six feet apart.”

Cleaning

It’s no secret gyms were always one of the germiest places to hang out in. Whenever there are a bunch of people in one space, touching the same surfaces, over and over, there is bound to be germs.

We know that you know how to deep clean your gym and you take pride in doing so! But, whatever you were doing before should be ramped up now. And, don’t be shy in asking members for help. They should be willing to do their part, especially after being stuck at home for so long. They will have a newfound appreciation for being able to go to the gym again.

  • Set out spray bottles and paper towels for everyone to wipe down their equipment/mats before and after each use
  • Give special attention to all door handles, surfaces and bathrooms

Proper Hygiene Practices

In addition to wiping down equipment, remind everyone how important proper hygiene practices are right now. Ask them to:

  • Stay home if they feel ill or have been around someone who feels ill
  • Not to share towels or other personal items
  • Wash their hands
  • Use soap and water over hand sanitiser whenever possible
  • Avoid eye rubbing and face-touching

Follow the Guidelines

Because this is an ever-evolving situation, things can change at any time. So, it’s very important to stay up to date with any news.

6 Ways to Boost Gym Revenue During Covid-19

6 Ways to Boost Gym Revenue During Covid-19

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

Covid-19 is here and your gym is closed down for safety measures. So, you’ve moved classes online with various chat platforms and EZFacility’s new video library feature. But now what?

You’re absolutely right! Keeping members motivated and classes rolling are two important areas to focus on. But, you’ll still need to safeguard your long term goals. You can do this by bringing in steady revenue despite what’s going on.

In this post, we’ve put together a list of ideas that have worked for some of our other gym owners. Check them out and see if you spot anything you think might work for you too.

Discount Memberships

Don’t be afraid to temporarily discount your memberships and services right now. Especially as members make the move online with you.

It doesn’t lessen the value of your product at all. Instead, it allows members to hang on to their memberships during these uncertain financial times. It also makes sure you still have steady money coming in.

Rent Out Equipment

If you don’t want to discount your memberships just yet, you can look for enticing perks to offer up instead. One thing to offer existing members is the ability to rent out your gym equipment, for free! It could make working out from home that much easier -or enjoyable- for them. And again, it gives them an extra incentive to hang on to their membership.

Bonus Classes

While new sign-ups might be far and few between in the coming weeks, they aren’t impossible. So, don’t get discouraged.

Entice new members by offering a bonus with their sign-up.  For example, a package of 10 extra sessions that don’t include an expiration date. It’s something for them to cash in whenever things get back to normal. (And they will!)  You could also keep your referral program going strong with the same kind of idea.

Gift Certificates

Offer gift certificates that work like bonds. Meaning, whatever amount your customer chooses to purchase now can be used for higher value later.  

What this does is, it puts immediate money into your institution and keeps you going, with the promise of more worth to the customer later on. And who doesn’t want more when it comes to the gym? More classes, more personal sessions, and more merchandise? Yes, please!

Private Video Calls / 1-on-1 Sessions

Speaking of personal training sessions, another thing you can offer is private video calls. You’re likely already streaming free sessions to spark interest for new members and regular classes for existing members. So, how about tossing some 1-on-1 time into the mix for an additional fee?

These are just some of the ideas you can use to continue bringing money to your gym. Have you tried any yet? Let us know what’s been working for you.

Outdoor Workout Ideas

Outdoor Workout Ideas

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

With gym facilities closing across the country due to the Coronavirus, gym-goers are worried about how they will do their daily exercises. The truth is, many of them are used to gym life. They feel most comfortable with guidance and group settings. And they’re probably unsure of how to keep busy at home without the proper equipment or instruction.

As their gym owner, you can greatly reduce their worries by doing a few things:

  1. Stay connected through emails and texts with the help of your management software.
  2. Temporarily move your classes online.
  3. Give them alternative tips for staying busy in the interim, like some easy outdoor workouts.

Even for the most in-shape athlete, it only takes a matter of weeks to lose some or all of that hard-earned progress. And since no one knows for certain how long the coronavirus will be hanging around, it’s important to keep moving at home. Again, let your members know you’re offering online classes but, also give them ideas for working out on their own too.

Yes, social distancing means you shouldn’t be out in groups. That’s because the virus is able to spread from just a few feet of distance. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t go outside.

Check in with your members regularly. If they are feeling antsy being cooped up indoors, encourage them to take their workouts to their back gardens if possible. It will give them some much needed natural vitamin D, serotonin, endorphins, dopamine and so much more.

Here are ideas to offer them (and to practice yourself!):

  • Walk with the family after meals.
  • Go on a virtual walk/jog with a friend on Facetime.
  • Lay a blanket in the grass and do yoga sequences.
  • Get a little cardio and strength training going with gallons of water and canned goods in place of dumbbells.
  • Take a spin around the neighbourhood on bicycles.
  • Swim several laps in the pool.
  • Dust off the old jump rope.
  • Create a ninja warrior obstacle course in the back garden.

What kinds of outdoor workouts have you been doing at home? Share your ideas in our comments. After all, we are all in this together!

Tell us what you miss the most about being at the gym, we want to hear that too! Is it the instructors, a specific class, the snacks, social hour- or all of the above?

3 Ideas for Turning Your Gym Virtual During Covid-19

3 Ideas for Turning Your Gym Virtual During Covid-19

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

The Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to spread throughout the country, and the world. Each day, more and more businesses are temporarily closing their doors; Among them are gyms.

Social distancing might be one of our best chances of slowing the spread of the virus. But that doesn’t make the upheaval to daily routines any less irritating. Dedicated gym-goers are looking for ways to maintain a sense of normality.

Everyone knows the gym is about way more than physical benefits. It’s about the social and emotional ones as well. So, how do you keep your members moving and connected during this stressful time? The answer is by utilising the wonderful world wide web.

That’s right- the Coronavirus may have taken our toilet paper but it didn’t take our streaming networks. And it doesn’t have to take your muscle tone or fitness community either. For the time being, consider virtually running your gym with these tips.

Live Sessions

You can take the members out of the gym but you can’t take the gym out of the members! That means, your members should have no problem following you to an online setting for the time being. Especially since almost every household owns at least one computer or mobile device. They can easily jump on for a class and will likely be eager to do so. All you have to do is set one up and announce it across your social media and emails.

If you aren’t sure where to start, there are a ton of platforms available to you. Google Hangouts, Zoom, Discord, Skype and Facebook Live are all good options.

Skype is good for a more intimate class number. Google Hangouts and Zoom each have the ability to accommodate 100 people and more. Discord is perfect for running many channels and classes at the same time. Facebook Live is great when you want to share quick tips, moves or announcements but don’t need to see your audience. The rest let you interact with them.

Pre-Recorded Sessions

In addition to live classes, consider offering pre-recorded lessons too. Nobody knows for sure how long this situation will last. It’s upsetting, we know! But, preparing material for users to access whenever they like could be a real lifesaver. Your members will appreciate having extra workouts at their fingertips to keep their minds and bodies busy.

If you’ve been thinking of creating a Youtube channel, here’s your opportunity. You can choose to give clients exclusive access or leave your videos open to the public. Opening them up for all viewers could lead to a larger following and potential new member sign-ups when you get back inside your gym.

Blog Tips

Startup a blog or vlog where you can talk about anything you feel is interesting and relevant to the times. Things like tips and tricks for how to get moving with limited home space and supplies or, how to keep your body fueled with what’s in your pantry.

Another idea is to line up some beginner tutorials for anyone looking to safely test out a new indoor exercise such as yoga or dance. A lot of people are interested in learning something new but don’t normally have the time to do so. However, right now almost everyone is at home and able to learn.

Gym owners, we know you can’t wait for things to get back to normal and to be operating from your gyms. In the meantime, we wish you every success in making the most of the current situation. Check back for more updates!

How to Market Martial Arts To Adults

How to Market Martial Arts To Adults

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

The benefits of martial arts are endless. Not only do they help build up physical endurance, but they also teach discipline, confidence, and moral values. For these reasons, a lot of people are quick to enroll their kids in classes. (Which is never a bad thing!) However, many adults can also gain something from those same lessons.

School owners, are you interested in getting more adult students to sign up for your martial arts classes? We want to help you. There are ways to make your classes more appealing to adult students like by offering a free trial or adding in some evening classes. Read more here.

Plan it Right

You’ve heard it before: timing is everything.

Sometimes, adults are interested in learning but can’t make it to class at the regular scheduled time. That’s where children students have it pretty easy; They can join an after-school or summer martial arts program. Whereas, adult students have jobs and lives to maintain. Which is why finding the time to make it to a class is much harder.

Start by offering several evening classes. The later time slots should allow them ample time to fight traffic home, take care of their family responsibilities and still get to class on time.

Offer Family-Friendly Options

Many parents might jump at the idea of joining a martial arts class if they are able to bring their kids with them. Many parents don’t have anyone to watch their kids or don’t feel comfortable being away from them for a long time. You can help solve this problem in a couple of ways:

  • Offer evening childminding services at your facility for the children of your students. That way, while the parents are getting their workout in, the kids are doing homework, watching movies, or participating in other activities with a certified childcare worker.
  • Encourage family bonding time and advertise “Mummy and Me” or “Daddy and Me” sessions where the kids can work out alongside their parents.

Run Different Promotions

Consider running different promotions geared toward adult groups. Generally speaking, kids don’t have a problem jumping into new settings and making friends. But, adults tend to be more reserved and feel safest in numbers. Offering them the opportunity to bring along a group of friends, or a partner, could make all the difference for a lot of people who are scared to show up alone.

  • Group discounts:  If it’s a shyness factor, a group discount could be appealing for many martial arts students. For someone who has never done a martial arts class before, they might feel less uncomfortable being surrounded by a group of friends.
  • Couple Classes:  In martial arts, there are many times you get teamed up with a partner. Imagine being able to bring your partner with you. It could turn what would’ve been an awkward evening into a fun date-night routine.
  • Word of mouth advertising: Referral programs are great for everyone involved! Chances are, your students are already doing word of mouth advertising for you anyway because martial arts lessons are a ton of fun. So, why not offer them an incentive to tell more of their friends?
  • Free trial: This is for the person who knows about the benefits of martial arts but is still on the fence about joining. A free trial could be the push that’s needed to get started. It doesn’t have to be a long time offer, just a couple of free passes.
  • Charity event: Hosting a charity event where all of the guests are invited to participate in martial arts lessons could definitely spark some interest.

School owners, good luck on finding more adult martial arts students. One last tip is to be sure to include social media in your marketing efforts. Social media can help you pinpoint the target audience you are looking for.

Fitness and Gym Questionnaire Tips

Fitness and Gym Questionnaire Tips

« Blog | Written by Emily Duty | | (0) Comments |

As a gym owner, you’re bound to have a lot of questions about your services and how you’re performing, and who better to ask them to than your gym members, right? After all, they are with you each day and night and they likely have some beneficial feedback. It could help you identify what you’re doing right and what you need to improve on. The problem is, how do you ask them?

The answer is- with some questionnaires and surveys.

Questionnaires and surveys might sound like a big ask, but they don’t have to be. You can keep them quick and concise and even offer incentives for doing them, if you want.

They are great tools to use and can help you in two major ways. Not only do they gather important information, but they also make your fitness club members feel like their opinions are valued (because they are!). Both of those things combined lead to happier customers and can help increase retention.

Incoming Member Surveys

Why not kick it off with an entrance survey?

It can be short and sweet and still tell you a lot about what you want to know. Like, how your new member found you and if they are brand new to working out or if they are a seasoned pro. It can also help you to understand why they left another fitness centre and what they hope to gain from their experience with you.

Are you curious about what inspired them to reach out to you in the first place? That can be asked on an incoming survey as well. It’s never a bad idea to find out if your marketing efforts are getting good reach or if they happened upon you by chance.

Fitness Goal Questionnaires

Most people sign up for the fitness club with a specific goal in mind. So, ask them what theirs is!

When you know your member’s goals and what motivates them, you can better map out your class schedule and calendar of events with that information in mind. Maybe it will even allow you to uncover a trend worth looking into such as a new piece of equipment or a new class.

Knowing your members interests also helps you to curate special push-notifications and nurture emails on your software management program.

Teacher/Class Evaluations

Members start the gym for several reasons but ultimately they stay for one: the way they feel when they’re in the gym environment. A big part of that has to do with great customer service and the interaction they receive with your teachers during classes. Great customer service is a big deal.

Teacher and class evaluations can tell you which ones are preferred, why or why not, and if they are able to follow along, feel comfortable asking questions and if they’re being challenged enough.

General Feedback

A general survey is just you checking in with your members and helping you to create happier customers. You’re saying, “I’m happy you’re here and I hope you’re enjoying your time with us but if there is something we can be doing to make it even better, we’re all ears.”

Ask them how often they come, how they feel about parking, cleanliness, gym equipment, member perks, how you could increase referrals, and if there’s anything else they want to mention.

One Question Surveys

One question surveys are exactly that- a super simple survey with one direct question on it such as, “Did you enjoy the new class tonight?”

Members appreciate one question surveys because they’re quick and to the point and they never feel like a chore.

Cancellation Surveys

No one likes to see their customers cancel but you can turn it into a positive by learning something from it.

Sometimes, people leave the gym for circumstances out of your control like they simply need to cut back on their finances or they’re moving out of town. But if it turns out it does have something to do with your studio, a cancellation survey can address it so you can fix it for other members moving forward and increase retention. 

Ask them what the best and worst parts were about their time with you and how likely they’d be to recommend you to their friends.

Have fun creating your surveys, we know they will bring you some good information about your business and hopefully increase referrals.