• EDUCATE. EMPOWER. SUCCEED.
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Login
Club Solutions Magazine
  • Topics
    • Leadership
    • Marketing & Sales
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Education
    • Club Solutions Leadership Summit
    • Club Solutions Leadership Retreat
    • Pickleball Innovators
    • The Leadership Accelerator Video Series
    • Club Solutions Book Club: High Road Leadership, John C Maxwell
    • Club Solutions Book Club: The Advantage
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier Voice
    • Supplier News
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
    • Thought Leaders: A Virtual Roundtable Series
    • On-Demand Webinars
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Leadership
    • Marketing & Sales
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Education
    • Club Solutions Leadership Summit
    • Club Solutions Leadership Retreat
    • Pickleball Innovators
    • The Leadership Accelerator Video Series
    • Club Solutions Book Club: High Road Leadership, John C Maxwell
    • Club Solutions Book Club: The Advantage
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier Voice
    • Supplier News
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
    • Thought Leaders: A Virtual Roundtable Series
    • On-Demand Webinars
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Club Solutions Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Get Members Involved In Group Ex Classes

Tyler Montgomery by Tyler Montgomery
November 19, 2009
in News
0
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

shutterstock_9617824Getting members into fitness classes can be a hassle. However, by developing classrooms that are welcoming to members, clubs will be able to involve more members in their group exercise classes. Mona Zignego wrote ‘Six Tips for Making Your Fitness Class Participants Feel at Home,’ for Fitcommerce.com. Take a look at her tips to help your club boost exercise classes in your clubs.

1. Get to Class Early

Even if you’ve heard this before, it doesn’t make it less true. Getting to class early ensures you will have time to get set up for class and greet newcomers. This is doubly important in classes like Spinning where the newcomer may not know how to set up their bike, or water aerobics where they may be feeling uncomfortable and self conscious as they have to put on a swimsuit before the start of class.

Do you blame them? Do you like walking into a room with no idea of where to go or what to do? Make your classroom a welcoming environment for your first timers. Treat the exercise room as you would your home and welcome your new students in. Show the newcomer where you will be teaching and then guide her to an appropriate place in the room where she can work out for the duration of class. This can alleviate that initial awkward feeling.

2. Remember the New Student’s Name

This may be the single most important way of helping your new students to feel comfortable. Dale Carnegie in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, says, “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Using and remembering a student’s name shows you care. It makes the student feel unique, important and maybe even a little impressed with the power of your memory.

3. A Quick Introduction To A Warm And Welcoming Veteran Class Member Or Two Can Help The Newcomer Feel More Comfortable And Less Conspicuous

Connecting and getting to know another student can help the newcomer to ease into class. The new student may feel more comfortable and less like an outsider in your room after chatting with another member of the class.

4. Before You Begin Class Give Your New Participants An Overview Or A Description Of What You Are Going To Do That Day

The plan for the class does not have to be a deep, dark secret. 2006 ACE Group Fitness Instructor of the Year and founder of Sunshine Fitness Resources Shannon Fable says, “Give your students a road map for your class.” Divulge to your new and old students alike not only what you are going to do that day but how long each part will take. If you are teaching a cardio segment followed by toning tell them that; and then explain to them how long each part will last.

Letting the newcomer know what to expect from your class can alleviate anxiety and can also allow the new participant to better pace themselves throughout the workout. New and old students alike will benefit from knowing what they are doing, when they are doing it, and how long it will take.

5. Make It All About Them

Privately asking your new student a thoughtful question can really show them you care, create a warm environment, and possibly pick up a few things they may have neglected to mention on their health history form. For example, after the introductions have been made you could say, “How are you feeling tonight?” or “Is there anything you would like to let me know about before we start class?”

Though I have been teaching for many years it never ceases to amaze me how much I can find out from just talking to my students. Things they may not write on their health history forms can come out with more direct questioning. For example, recently I had a man who filled in that he had never had a surgery on his health history questionnaire. As we spoke before class, he mentioned he had had a surgery after a car accident many years ago. Why he neglected to write that on his health history form I’ll never know! Listening and learning about your students helps you to understand them better and confirms the class is about them and for them.

6. Last But Not Least- Smile

Just because we are serious about fitness doesn’t mean we can’t crack a smile. Take it from The New Teacher’s Complete Sourcebook from Scholastic. They advise teachers to smile to let new students know the instructor is comfortable and happy. This translates to comfortable and happy new students. What a cheerful thought!

As instructors you want to make your room as warm and welcome an environment as possible to encourage and motivate your students to make coming to class a part of their exercise routine. Getting to class early, letting people know what to expect and remembering students’ names are just a few small courtesies which can go a long way toward making your new students feel welcome and comfortable in your class. In turn this will keep them coming back raising them to greater heights of health and fitness. And in the end isn’t that what we are all about?

Stay ahead in the fitness industry with exclusive updates!

Tags: Customer Service BlogGroup ExerciseHealthHealth & FitnessManagementMarketing AlertsRetention
Previous Post

Can Exercise Really Wear Out Our Bodies?

Next Post

Blogging Basics for Health Club Owners

Tyler Montgomery

Tyler Montgomery

Related Posts

FTC’s “Click-to-Cancel” Rule
News

Court Strikes Down FTC’s “Click-to-Cancel” Rule

July 9, 2025
Fitness Ventures
News

Fitness Ventures Opens 60th Crunch Fitness Location, Marking Major Milestone in Nationwide Growth

July 1, 2025
Barry's
News

Barry’s Announces Leadership Transition as it Enters a New Phase of Global Expansion

June 26, 2025
D1 Training
News

D1 Training Surpasses 150 Locations

June 24, 2025
Bryan Thomas
News

Fitness Ventures Promotes Bryan Thomas to Chief Fitness Strategy Officer

June 20, 2025
Meet the Moderators of the 2025 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat
News

Meet the Moderators of the 2025 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat

June 16, 2025
Next Post

Blogging Basics for Health Club Owners

Comments 0

  1. Emily says:
    16 years ago

    As a past instructor, this was something I did, and was expected to do at all my classes, now as a member at a large chain – only 2 of the maybe 10 instructors that I have come in contact with have even introduced themselves….. how can I pass on how great the class was if you don’t introduce yourself? any of this would have been nice…. really???

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GET UPDATES IN YOUR INBOX

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

The Current Issue

July/August Issue 2025

July/August Issue 2025



Browse

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • The Magazine
  • Club Solutions On-Demand
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Club Solutions Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Leadership
    • Marketing & Sales
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Education
    • Club Solutions Leadership Summit
    • Club Solutions Leadership Retreat
    • Pickleball Innovators
    • The Leadership Accelerator Video Series
    • Club Solutions Book Club: High Road Leadership, John C Maxwell
    • Club Solutions Book Club: The Advantage
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier Voice
    • Supplier News
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
    • Thought Leaders: A Virtual Roundtable Series
    • On-Demand Webinars
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Club Solutions Magazine. Published by Peake Media.