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We want to give you a quick update on what’s happening behind the scenes here at the PILOXING Academy in preparation for our LiveStreaming Platform. 

We’ve been hard at work finding the BEST solutions and resources and testing, testing, testing all the info we promised to deliver. We spent last week testing lights, sound, audio, hookups and logins to the platform so that you don’t have to, and making sure we found the simplest, budget friendly solution for your online classes.

The plan is to launch as soon as possible. We know you want this NOW! But there’s no reason for us to be hasty in middle of all the hustle. We are taking the time to make sure we do this right thinking of this as an investment for the long run, not just a quick fix. We don't want to just throw something up and risk you losing your clients because of low-quality and confusion.

Although teaching PILOXING programs online, on-demand or live streaming, is not permitted under your license, last week we announced that we are offering our PIA members a temporary permit to teach online classes on other websites UNTIL the launch of this new platform. These classes may NOT be posted publicly. You may however live-stream on PRIVATE pages on the following websites/platforms:

• YouTube (private page only)
• Vimeo (private page only)
• Skype
• FaceTime
• Zoom

Remember, you may NOT use FaceBook, Instagram or any other social media to live stream or post recorded classes.

We have seen that a ton of you have begun to take advantage of this opportunity to keep your classes going, maintain some or all of your income and provide important movement for your students during this challenging time. Keeping with your regular exercise routine is essential to ward off sickness by boosting the immune system.

Here are some tips for how to launch, host, charge for and promote your online classes

• Find an Online Platform to Host Your Classes: We have had much success with ZOOM.com. There are many other platform for online streaming that may work just fine. Make sure you use a platform that has good audio including music and voice.
• Set Up Your Film Area and Equipment: Make sure you all of you can be seen. We recommend bright lighting be used in your location, as this allows your webcam to perform to its best.  If you have strong lighting behind you, pointing towards the webcam, your participants will not be able to see you clearly (you will be silhouette). Check your sound / music levels to ensure that people can easily hear you whilst the music is playing. This is critical for all PILOXING programs.
• Promote Your Classes: Only offer FREE 5-10 Minute Promotional Workouts (not pre-choreographed programs like PILOXING) to promote your new online business and classes. This short workouts will get student's blood pumping, allow you to connect with your community and raise spirits. Post a short 30-60 second commercial of you teaching class using several short clips spliced together. This is not a workout, just a teaser to entice your clients to register for classes. 
• Determine Fee for Classes: You may choose to keep the same pricing as offered when students are taking in person classes. You may find that you need to slightly reduce your class fee to assist clients to financially afford to attend classes during this potential financial crisis. Offering FREE classes may actually backfire. One thing we noticed that instructors are giving away content for free. We can totally understand how this might spike your anxiety and make you feel like you should be doing this too. We also get that as instructors we want to support our communities and give back where we can. While free content is a great lead generator, a fantastic way to gain exposure and stay in front of your clients and customers, it doesn’t actually solve anyone’s problem. Giving away your classes can actually do a disservice to your business and in fact can devalue the ENTIRE fitness industry. Why would people come back and sign up for memberships and online subscriptions if they can find loads of FREE content online?
  
  

IDEA Health & Fitness Association has created IDEA’s COVID-19 resources page to help keep you abreast of what’s happening specific to COVID-19 in the fitness industry as well as globally. This page contains information to educate and motivate you and your clients.  This page is updated daily with new information and resources to keep you informed and help you pivot your business strategy accordingly. Visit IDEA’s COVID-19 resources page. As this crisis evolves, they will continue to provide updates to keep you informed. If there is a resource you feel would help the community, please share it with us at member@ideafit.com.

 

 

A lot has happened in the last several weeks. IHRSA is here to keep you up-to-date on the latest regarding how coronavirus is impacting the fitness industry. 

 

Current Alerts:

• The latest on the economic relief package Congress is considering. 
• How you and your members can help the industry recover. 
• The latest states to issue health club closings. 
• And more. 

Federal

Congress is working on a third economic relief package for businesses and industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, it looks like the relief package will not be ready until tomorrow or this weekend. IHRSA and our team in D.C. are working to ensure that any relief package includes health clubs, studios, and fitness industry suppliers. 

In just two days, fitness industry professionals have sent over 13,000 messages to Congress! Let's not stop there; we must continue to make our voices heard and demand relief for the industry.