Are you still thinking about whether you should start virtual workout classes? You might think it’s a bit too late to do it. Or if you want to do it, you feel that it’s overwhelming with all the technical setup. But the truth is, there are still lots of gaps to be filled. And as long as you do it right, there are still lots of opportunities, even if you’re just starting out. In this guide, we'll explore why virtual workout classes are essential for fitness instructors and how to implement them easily but with scaling in mind.
Why Virtual Workout Classes Matter
Virtual workout classes are more important than ever, especially for instructors looking to expand their reach and earn more money. It opens tons of possibilities.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider setting up virtual workout classes for your studio or your practice:
Global reach potential
As a fitness instructor, you’re no longer limited by your geographic location. The internet has made this possible, but global adoption reached new heights in 2020 when the COVID-19 quarantine left everyone with no choice but to work out at home.
Since then, the online/virtual fitness market has expanded from $21.04 billion in 2023 to $28.89 billion in 2024, showing a remarkable annual growth rate of 37.4%. Looking ahead, the market is projected to reach $81.47 billion by 2028. This forecast indicates substantial opportunities for fitness instructors entering the virtual space.
Personalization opportunities
Virtual workout classes offer unprecedented personalization opportunities through data analytics and AI-driven insights. Instructors can track individual progress, customize workout intensity, and provide targeted feedback based on each participant's fitness level and goals.
For example, Peloton has successfully combined personalized virtual training with their equipment. This level of personalization helps maintain client engagement while delivering better results than traditional one-size-fits-all approaches.
Revenue stream diversification
Virtual fitness platforms enable instructors to develop multiple revenue streams simultaneously. This includes on-demand classes, live streaming sessions, digital workout programs, and subscription-based content libraries.
For example, Yoga With Adriene has successfully diversified her revenue streams through multiple channels:
- YouTube ad revenue from her channel with over 12 million subscribers.
- Premium membership platform "Find What Feels Good" offers exclusive content.
- Merchandise sales, including yoga mats, clothing, and accessories.
- Brand partnerships and sponsorships with wellness companies.
- In-person yoga events and retreats.
This multi-faceted approach has allowed her to build a sustainable business model while maintaining her core mission of making yoga accessible to everyone.
Types of Virtual Workout Classes
Virtual workout classes can be delivered through different formats, each offering unique advantages for both instructors and participants:
Live Online Classes
Real-time interactive sessions where instructors can provide immediate feedback and corrections. These classes create a sense of community and accountability through direct interaction between instructors and participants.
For example, Barry's Bootcamp offers live streaming classes where instructors call out participants and help them with the correct form.
Pre-recorded On-demand Classes
Professionally produced workout videos that participants can access anytime, anywhere. These offer flexibility for different time zones and schedules while providing a consistent, polished experience.
For example, Les Mills On Demand offers over 1000+ workout videos across fitness categories like BODYPUMP, BODYFLOW, and GRIT.
You can use membership sites like Uscreen to host your on-demand classes. These platforms provide features like secure video hosting, payment processing, and member management. This allows you to focus on creating quality content while the platform handles the technical aspects.
Virtual Reality (VR) Workouts
Immersive fitness experiences using VR technology to create engaging, gamified workout environments. These classes can transport participants to virtual locations while tracking movements and progress in real time.
For example, Supernatural VR offers immersive workouts in stunning virtual environments like the Galapagos Islands or Icelandic glaciers.
While you’re probably not hosting a VR workout any time soon, it’s good to know the technological developments in online fitness and the different types of online workouts people enjoy.
Hybrid Classes
A combination of virtual and in-person elements allows instructors to serve both local and remote participants simultaneously. For example, the instructor can be at home with students accessing the class in their own home while others are in the gym studio with a screen. It’s a rare setup but is still an option for many instructors and students.
Technology Requirements
It’s time to think about the tech and start preparing. You might get overwhelmed with all the options. And that’s totally okay. It’s best to start simple. You can always scale later once you have the experience and data.
Platform selection
First up is to decide which platform to choose. The platform you choose dictates many of the features you have access to.
Here are some popular platforms to consider:
- Zoom: Great for live classes, easy to use, and widely adopted.
- Mindbody: Comprehensive platform specifically designed for fitness businesses.
- Uscreen: Specialized in video streaming and membership management.
When choosing a platform, consider factors like ease of use, pricing structure, technical support, and integration capabilities with your existing tools.
Equipment needs
The equipment you choose will depend on the type of classes you’ll host and how your classes want to be perceived. Do you want to be considered a high-end instructor with high-definition resolution and fancy lighting? Or do you just want to get the job done?
You'll need these types of equipment to deliver high-quality virtual workout classes.
- Camera: A good HD webcam (like Logitech Brio) or any camera that can record in 1080p quality for clear video
- Audio: A clip-on microphone (like Rode Wireless GO II) or a desktop USB microphone (like Blue Yeti) so students can hear you clearly.
- Lighting: An 18-inch ring light and two basic light boxes to make sure people can see you well without shadows.
- Internet: Fast internet with at least 50 Mbps upload speed. Use a cable connection instead of WiFi for better stability.
- Backup gear: Keep spare equipment ready if something fails: an extra camera, microphone, power backup (UPS), and mobile hotspot for internet backup.
Remember that while having professional equipment is great, you don't need to invest heavily when starting out. The most important thing is to begin with what you have available:
- Your smartphone can serve as a decent camera, especially with an iPhone!
- Your phone's earbuds with a built-in microphone can work as a starter mic.
- Natural light from a window, plus a basic desk lamp, can provide adequate lighting.
Focus first on delivering valuable content and building your audience. As your virtual fitness business grows and generates revenue, you can gradually invest in better equipment. Many successful fitness instructors started with basic setups and upgraded over time as their needs and resources expanded.
One last thing: if you’re live stream your online classes, the technical setup might be a little different, as it requires more internet bandwidth. It’s best to do more research for the specific class you want to host.
Membership management systems
Once you’ve done a few virtual workout classes, you’ll eventually want to invest in a membership management system. This way, you can easily get paid and manage your classes.
When selecting a membership management system for your virtual fitness business, consider these key criteria:
- Payment Processing: Look for platforms that support multiple payment methods and currencies, especially if you plan to reach an international audience.
- Scheduling Features: Ensure the system can handle both live and on-demand class bookings across different time zones.
- Integration Capabilities: Check if the platform can integrate with your existing tools like video conferencing software and marketing systems.
- Analytics and Reporting: Choose a system that provides detailed insights into member engagement, revenue, and class attendance.
- Mobile Accessibility: Ensure the platform offers a mobile-friendly interface or dedicated app for both you and your clients.
- Customer Support: Consider the availability and quality of technical support, especially if you're new to virtual fitness.
For example, Uscreen is a comprehensive solution combining membership management with video hosting capabilities. You can run your entire virtual fitness business with this tool.
Audience Engagement Strategies
Engaging your virtual fitness audience requires different strategies compared to in-person classes. The key is creating an interactive, supportive environment that keeps participants motivated and returning for more.
Interactive elements
Make your virtual classes more engaging by incorporating these interactive elements:
- Real-time polls and surveys: Use quick polls during class to check energy levels, difficulty preferences, or music choices
- Chat interactions: Encourage participants to share quick wins, ask questions, or give virtual high-fives in the chat
- Virtual challenges: Create friendly competitions like "most reps" or "best form" to boost motivation
- Breakout rooms: Use smaller groups for partner exercises or team challenges
- Live shoutouts: Recognize participants by name for good form or hitting milestones
- Interactive demonstrations: Ask participants to demonstrate exercises or share their workout space
These interactive elements create a more dynamic and engaging virtual workout environment. But make sure to use them to enhance the experience and not to distract the students from the workout. For example, start a poll at the beginning or end of the class and not during the workout.
Community building
Building a strong virtual fitness community is essential for long-term success. Create dedicated spaces for members to connect, share progress, and support each other through:
- Private Facebook groups: Create an exclusive community space for members to share wins, ask questions, and connect
- Weekly challenges: Organize group challenges that encourage interaction and friendly competition
- Virtual social events: Host monthly virtual meetups, Q&A sessions, or wellness workshops
- Member spotlights: Regularly feature success stories and transformations from your community
Remember to actively moderate and participate in these community spaces to maintain engagement and foster meaningful connections between members. This connection will also motivate them to go to the classes each week.
Community building can be resource-intensive and time-consuming. It’s something that you can invest in later on once you have more students.
Feedback implementation
Creating a feedback loop is often overlooked when running virtual workout classes. But this is such a critical step to improve your virtual fitness classes and keeps members engaged.
Consider these feedback collection methods:
- Post-class surveys: Send quick feedback forms after each class to gather insights on class content, pacing, and technical quality.
- Monthly check-ins: Schedule one-on-one consultations with members to understand their progress and needs.
- Analytics review: Monitor class attendance, retention rates, and engagement metrics to identify areas for improvement.
Use this feedback to refine your class format, content, and delivery methods continuously. Make sure to communicate changes back to your members so they know their input is valued and implemented.
Implementation and Best Practices
Implementing virtual workout classes requires careful attention to several key areas to ensure consistent quality and smooth operations. Let's explore the essential practices and systems to help you deliver an exceptional virtual fitness experience.
Automation systems
Implementing automation systems can make it easy for you and your students. Plus, it helps retain your students so they keep coming back to your classes. Here are key automation strategies to consider:
- CRM automation: Use customer relationship management tools to automate class scheduling, appointment reminders, and follow-up communications.
- Payment systems: Set up automated membership renewals and payment processing to ensure consistent revenue flow.
- Content delivery: Create automated systems for delivering workout plans, nutrition guides, and other resources to members.
- Workout libraries: Develop an evergreen content library with automated recommendation systems based on member preferences and history.
By automating these routine tasks, you can focus more on creating quality content and engaging with your community. In the beginning, you’ll most likely do a lot of these things manually. And that’s totally okay. Automated systems don’t happen overnight. It’s a process that takes time and lots of planning. For example, initially, you just need to focus on automating class reminders and payment renewals.
Quality standards
Regardless of workout type, you must maintain a certain quality level. Consider these essential quality benchmarks:
- Video quality: Ensure clear, steady video with proper framing and lighting to demonstrate exercises effectively.
- Audio clarity: Maintain consistent, clear audio levels with minimal background noise and echo.
- Class structure: Follow a well-organized format with proper warm-ups, clear exercise progression, and cool-downs.
- Technical reliability: Regular testing of equipment and backup systems to prevent disruptions during class.
Regularly review and update these standards based on member feedback and industry best practices to ensure a professional and effective virtual workout experience.
Note that there might be unique quality standards that you have to maintain depending on the type of class you offer. For instance, if you teach yoga classes, you'll need to ensure students can see the subtle alignment details in poses. Or, if you offer spin classes, you'll want to make sure your bike setup and form demonstrations are clearly visible from multiple angles.
Class Specifications
When planning your online workout classes, you need clear rules about how they'll work. These rules help everyone know what to expect and give them a good experience.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when structuring your classes:
- Class Duration: Offer varied session lengths (30, 45, or 60 minutes) to accommodate different schedules and fitness levels.
- Class Size: Limit virtual classes to 15-20 participants to maintain quality interaction and proper form monitoring.
- Session Types: Provide both beginner-friendly and advanced options to cater to different fitness levels.
- Break Intervals: Include short water breaks and recovery periods during longer sessions.
These specifications should be clearly communicated to participants before they join, along with any required equipment or space needs. Consider creating a detailed class description template that outlines these parameters, making it easy for potential participants to determine if the class suits their needs and schedule.
It’s still basically the same with your in-person classes, where the rules are laid out, but with a few modifications for online classes.
Content management
If you’re offering memberships with access to pre-recorded or replay classes, there are also best practices to keep in mind.
Effective content management for virtual fitness classes involves systematically organizing and maintaining your video library. Consider implementing these key practices:
- Content categorization: Organize classes by type, difficulty level, and duration for easy navigation
- Regular content audits: Review and update your video library periodically to ensure all content remains relevant and meets quality standards
- Metadata management: Use clear titles, descriptions, and tags to make content easily searchable and accessible
Remember to regularly back up all content to prevent any loss of valuable workout materials.
Final Thoughts
If there’s only one thing to take away from this post, it’s this: start small with the resources you already have while keeping the best practices in mind. Choose the platform, equipment, and tools you already have, but with the hopes that it will accommodate your needs as your community grows. Be relentless in getting feedback and keep improving each class.
If you do these things well, online workout classes can be a great way for fitness trainers to reach more people and make a bigger difference in their lives. It's a simple but powerful way to help people get fit and healthy from anywhere in the world.