Whether they’re working out at home or in the gym, it’s more important than ever that fitness professionals keep their clients training. As we’re sure you already know, keeping members engaged and motivated isn’t always easy - especially recently, and especially for professionals working in the Box space.
After all, so much of Box’s appeal rests on the community spirit that you foster in your facility and the heavy weights that members access inside your club.
But before you start thinking this is going to be harder than your first MU, take a second to stop, read this blog post and learn more about how to inspire your Box clients to work out from home with the same energy they bring to your facility. In the long-term this will lead to loyal clients, a steady stream of revenue and an engaged community that brings in even more members.
How to do Box workouts at home
Step one is figuring out how to get your clients to keep up their regular WODs at home. That means providing them with the right resources to carry out their usual workouts.
You’ve got a few options here. Of course, certain workouts (such as those involving Olympic weightlifting) might understandably be a little more tricky to recreate outside of the facility. However, the beauty of Box is that there are so many exercises that can be done at home. Start with these workouts. Build your own home programmes for clients.
You can write these on the board as you would usually and take photos of it to share with your community. Keeping them engaged digitally is crucial here . Whether you post regularly on your Box’s WhatsApp group or motivate them via a video live streaming session at the same time as their usual Box class, use technology as your tool to keep clients engaged.
How to create a Box plan without equipment
Working with a software provider like Virtuagym can also help with this. You have the capacity to create your own in-app workouts that can be assigned to your clients. The app moves through the workout exercise-by-exercise and pauses and breaks can be altered to suit your needs. Plus you can schedule live streaming sessions directly through the app.
You can also communicate with clients via the app, enabling you to check in on their progress and make sure that everyone is keeping up. Ultimately, it comes down to using your expertise and imagination to create bodyweight workouts that will make your members as sore as their favourite weight lifting class.
How to keep clients engaged with your Box studio
Now you’ve taken your first step towards ensuring your members can work out at home.
In this section we’ll take you through the ways you can level-up their workouts and maintain their interest long-term.
Start a fitness challenge
One of the most fun and rewarding parts of Box is the community spirit - and the competitiveness that comes with it. We’re naturally much more motivated to workout if we feel as though someone else can see how well we are doing.
Set your members challenges . How many T2B’s can they do? More or less than at the start of lockdown? What does their HSPU look like? Get members to record the progress and upload the evidence online.
It’s all about staying in touch with members and encouraging them to turn to you to celebrate their successes. You could even implement real-life rewards for winners. Use your app to ensure your members join “Fitness” communities, engage and challenge each other to stay fit and healthy, and win prizes via Virtuagym- that means no heavy lifting from you.
Take your classes outside
You could also try taking your classes outside. If you do this in the carpark to your facility or in a nearby open space you could even bring along some heavy equipment - your members will be grateful for this after so long without it!
Rent your equipment out
If members are really struggling without your facility, you could consider renting out your equipment or loaning it to those that really need it. Take deposits and keep a strict log of who has what.
With the right equipment and some good weather, your clients will be just as happy embracing Box outside your facility. But they’ll still have that crucial attachment to you and your brand - literally, through your equipment. And even better if your weights and equipment are branded with your company name or logo.
Alternatively you could set up a webshop in your personalized app that sells members the crucial equipment they need to level-up their home workouts. This could be a great opportunity for upselling and generating additional revenue, plus it gives your members access to excellent equipment too.
Use an app for Box at home
All in all, it comes down to staying in touch with your members and clients, and connecting with them from afar. Technology is going to be crucial for increasing engagement and participation. In particular, utilizing an app with a coaching feature like Virtuagym, is a sure-fire way to ensure that you’re with your members 24/7.
