You have questions, we have answers. Group X expert Lori Lowell sheds some light on what she has seen in terms of great Group X that can help revolutionize and evolutionize your club. Also, don’t miss her weekly blog, launched each Wednesday at ClubSolutionsMagazine.com.
“If I was to implement one new Group X program/class this month, what would you recommend?”
LL: Power Tap. At this point I am looking for differentiation, quality control, wow factor and program revenue. Power Tap is a group cycle class on your own bike. In Power Tap a member brings their bike into the club and takes their back wheel home. Bikes are either brought in and kept at the club or brought in per class an hour in advance for set up. Power Tap is a way to become strong on your own bike and learn all the necessary strategies to grow as a cyclist or just learn how to ride the right way.
“How do I encourage members this month to engage in current Group X classes?”
LL: Group Fitness Orientation. GFO’s. Gotta have them. New members need to learn about what is available to them once the membership is sold. Teaching the power of group fitness is part of our member on-boarding process. We like to give our members destinations when coming into the club. They must know what they are going to do that day and it is set up for results. This gets new members engaged in the group setting.
“Throughout the month, how many times should I meet with my Group X instructors?”
LL: As a director? All the time! Group Fitness Directors are “full on,” in their jobs. The dolly dinkle director days are over. It’s time to raise the bar. Now, group fitness directors need to have “all hands on deck” assessing, meeting with, engaging and surveying their instructors and programs all the time. Oh yeah, newsflash – Group Fitness Directors need to be compensated accordingly. It’s a big job and your retention tool.
Standards of a Great Group X Department
1. A great director who understands the business of fitness and managing group fitness.
2. A pool of instructors who understand the mission, value and goals of the group fitness department and are coachable, willing to learn and have a strong toolbox of quality instruction skills.
3. A smart, thought out group fitness schedule that is set up for member results. Schedule first, instructor second.
4. Great branding, advertising, active social media.
5. Measurement of class statistics and instructor statistics (how many classes they taught and how many participants they had) Without measurement you have nothing to gauge the success of your group fitness program.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
