Although we’ve officially said goodbye to 2020, we’re still in the days of Covid-19. 

And that means that big gyms and fitness studios are still shaky. It also means now is the perfect time to offer virtual fitness classes for your fitness community. 

We’re giving you the details on how to offer those virtual workout sessions for your client base. 

‍Decide What Kind of Virtual Classes You Want to Offer

When you take your fitness business online, you’ll need to decide how you want to offer your virtual classes. 

You have two options -- on-demand classes or live stream classes. Ideally, you should offer a mixture of both to reach more of your audience. 

On-Demand vs. Live Stream Classes

• On-demand classes - filming a workout session beforehand and uploading later to be re-watched at any time. 
• Live stream classes - filming a workout session in real time. Your client will need to be online at the same time you are online and hosting your workout. 

Like we said, though, it’s best to offer a mixture. 

So, how do you know when you should offer a live stream class, and when should you offer an on-demand class? 

A big key is knowing your fitness community. Do you have a lot of stay-at-home moms who need to get a workout in whenever they find the time? Or do you have more clients who have a fixed schedule for work and need a workout at the same time every day? Knowing who your clients are will help you decide when to offer on-demand workouts or live stream workouts. 

But, to get you started, here are some suggestions for when to offer each! 

Offer On-Demand Classes When:

• You don’t care when your clients watch your workout videos. 
• You want to take the time to film many clips and edit for the best ones. 
• You want to have a workout of the day that your clients can do whenever they have the time. 
• You want to reduce the risk of burn-out (having on-demand classes means passive income). 
  
  

Offer Live Stream Classes When:

• You need to offer a class at the same time every day.
• You want to motivate your clients through your workout in real time.
• You don’t want to edit your workout video, and you need something up on your site quickly.
  
  

Like we said earlier, you’ll probably want to offer a mix of on-demand and live stream classes to reach more of your audience. You can read more about why you should offer both here. ‍

You can even offer either on-demand or live stream classes as a perk for different membership packages. 

Ultimately, knowing your ideal fitness persona will be the best way to decide which type of virtual fitness classes to offer and when. 

Create an onPodio Account

A quick and easy way to get started with offering virtual classes and workout sessions for your fitness community is to make an onPodio account.

You’ll be able to upload your classes directly to your onPodio website, so your clients can find them quickly and easily. And you can offer both live stream and on-demand classes through onPodio. No having to juggle two different platforms to offer the best services for your clients. You can manage it all right through your onPodio account. 

Want to go ahead and get started? Click here to sign up for FREE. 

Set Up the Right Space

Before it’s time to record your on-demand class or go live with your clients, you need to set up the perfect space. 

If you’re ready to leave the amateur status behind and level up your brand, you’ll need to look the part to your clients. And, trust us, you won’t look elevated if you’re practicing a yoga flow in front of a pile of dirty laundry. 

Set up the right space before you start recording. Start by picking a space that is clear of clutter behind, in front of, and beside you. Depending on your unique fitness brand, a blank wall might make the best backdrop for your classes. Not only does it make you look more professional, it also helps your clients focus on what’s really important. 

Consider a spot with great lighting, too. You can use natural light from a window or invest in some ring lights for your spot. Either way, make sure you give great lighting so your clients can clearly see your routine and your form. 

For more tips on setting up the perfect spot, check out this blog post. 

Use a Mixture of Learning Styles

This one can be tricky as you navigate teaching fitness classes online. But it’s definitely something to  figure out so you can provide your clients with the best possible experience. 

Here are a few tips so you can include different learning styles throughout your virtual fitness classes:

Audio Learning Style

If you’re offering a live stream class, make sure you’re talking to your clients. Unless you’ve set up (and tested) music for your live stream workout, you won’t have it to fill in any empty spaces throughout the workout. So definitely talk more often than you think you should. Give shoutouts to your clients, encourage them, and hype them up to get them through your workout session.

Visual Learning Style

There are a few ways you can go about this one. If you’re offering an on-demand class, you might consider adding subtitles to your virtual fitness class. This will make your classes more accessible. And it will definitely help your clients who are visual learners instead of audio learners. They’ll be able to read instructions, while also watching you go through the motions. 

Kinesthetic Learning Style

Before moving through a workout routine in your online fitness class, educate your clients by showing them what area of the body your routine is focusing on. This will allow your clients to understand on a much deeper level than just going through the motions. 

If you want to read more about how to use different learning styles in your virtual fitness classes, read this blog post here. 

Upload Your Classes or Go Live

This step might be a no-brainer, but we’re saying it anyway.

Once you’ve decided on live stream classes, on-demand classes, or a combination of the two, and once you’ve created your onPodio account, you need to upload your classes (or go live). 

And we’ve made that incredibly easy with onPodio. It takes about 30 seconds to get through the steps. 

How to Upload Your Classes to onPodio:

1. Go to “On Demand” in your onPodio portal.
2. Click the + button to add a new video.
3. Select “Upload” and choose the video you want to offer to your clients.
4. That’s it! 
   

As far as we can tell, online workout sessions are here to say. But it’s a different beast to teach a workout routine online than it is in a gym or studio. 

These tips on how to offer a virtual fitness class for your community should definitely help you! 

Want to make offering virtual fitness classes even easier? Click here to sign up for your FREE onPodio account. 

Not sure if it’s right for you? Click here to schedule a FREE consultation call to discuss your fitness brand needs.