Hand-in-hand with the pandemic, prioritizing well-being is predicted to be top of mind for members this year. So how can gyms and health clubs incorporate well-being into their programs and services? And how can staff, trainers and instructors help play a positive role in member well-being?
With the amount of people who left gyms in the last year, it is now more important than ever to deliver a quality, well-rounded experience. Whether it be members who stuck it out through the pandemic, or new members who are returning to gyms, everyone has had a tough go over the last twelve months.
Below are three ways health club professionals can help members on their journey to prioritizing well-being this year:
Provide Transparency in the Struggle
As fitness professionals, there is a tendency to feel like you need to have all the answers or live a perfect example of a healthy lifestyle. Our clients tend to view us as super humans, never falling off track with our workouts or diets due to stress, hectic schedules, kids, lack of motivation, etc.
Sharing the struggles you have encountered over the last year can be a powerful way to deepen the relationship with your clients. Sharing similar difficulties and feelings towards them can be a great common denominator between you and your clients to further your understanding and trust.
Work Together Toward Common Goals
Once you have been transparent and shared in the struggle with your clients, it is time for the fun part: work toward common goals as a team. This has taken on a life of its own at our clubs in the new year. We recently began working with Gym Boom to take our personal training program back to where it needs to be after the past year. I highly recommend everyone check them out if your personal training revenue isn’t where you want it to be.
As we headed into the new year, our business, our members and staff were ready to move on and take back control. Rallying to all regain our heath and fitness together, members and staff, has been a powerful way to engage and motivate everyone involved.
Through our members only Facebook groups, we have shared struggles, progress, workouts, meal prep pictures and ideas, and motivation. Our members knowing we are in this with them has improved commitment level and the results obtained – both financially and with consistency and effort.
Be Vulnerable
When our clients start seeing us as “real” it creates a completely different dynamic that is beneficial to all parties involved. The relationships take on a deeper meaning that is rewarding to be a part of.
I encourage anyone who feels like they need to have all the answers and be a symbol of discipline and consistency to embrace being more open and honest with everyone about their own struggles. If you can be vulnerable and let your clients in, you will be surprised with what happens. We are all in this together.
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Ryan O'Toole is the regional manager for Anytime Fitness Cheswick, Leechburg and Kittanning, and the founder of Culture First Fitness. He can be reached at ryan@culturefirstfitness.com.
