For businesses affected by a COVID-19 closure or shelter in place order, having a way to earn income via live stream can be a lifeline. Because your customers are staying indoors too, live streaming personalized training sessions, classes, and tutorials with them is a way to generate revenue and keep their goals on track. Visit our support article to learn more about how Vagaro’s new live stream integrations can help you sustain customer relationships. Click here to read a letter from our CEO, detailing how Vagaro is here to help your business get through this crisis.
In this article, you’ll learn about:
- Using a live stream virtual session to train remotely with clients
- Common household items that can replace gym equipment
- How your clients can combine fitness time with family time
- What you can do to keep your clients motivated and accountable
- Maintaining human connection with fun at-home routines
- Why safety still matters
The Coronavirus pandemic has caused most of the world to remain home and shelter in place. That means maintaining a regular fitness routine at home can present your clients with new challenges. With careful consideration, planning, and a few modern tools, you can help your clients overcome those obstacles, stay active while staying home, and develop a sense of control during these uncertain times. Here’s how to use Vagaro’s new Zoom integration feature to live stream personal training and fitness sessions with clients. Live streaming makes it easy to stay in touch and get a great workout at home until you can meet again face-to-face!
Live Streaming Is a Convenient Alternative or Addition
A live stream is when you record and broadcast live video on the internet. Your audience can be as small as one, or as large as your streaming platform supports. The only tools you need to begin live streaming personal sessions or classes to your customers are an internet connection, an internet-enabled device that’s capable of recording audio/video (like a laptop, smart phone, or tablet), and a platform (like a website or streaming app) to broadcast your stream. Once your live stream is set up, it’s easy to help clients get an effective, safe workout at home with the resources they have on hand. You’ll also be able to get creative and maintain accountability by making fun and family part of their at-home session!
Be Resourceful
When planning at-home workouts for your clients, it’s important to keep in mind that most clients probably don’t keep weights or cardio equipment in their home. Common household items, such as soup cans or books, are great alternatives to weights. Stairs are especially versatile and can be used for squats, push-ups, and cardio stair climbs. To make it even easier for your clients to get in a full workout, consider going equipment-free and offering sessions that focus exclusively on bodyweight exercises.
Get the Whole Family Involved
School closures and event cancellations can make it difficult for parents and families to find time for personal fitness. To help your clients, try offering family-friendly fitness options, such as partnered exercises, or a household fitness challenge. Getting everybody involved can help encourage your clients to combine their fitness time with family time, which is a win/win for everyone.
Foster Accountability
Without the ability to attend an in-person class, it can be easy for your clients to skip workouts. Try offering a low-cost reward, such as a free class or discounted rate to those who maintain their membership and participate in virtual training during the COVID-19 outbreak. These kind of incentives can help keep your clients motivated. If you feel that your clients may be more competition-driven, consider planning a post-outbreak event that your clients can train for and look forward to while they exercise from home.
Focus on Fun
When you can’t see clients face-to-face, it’s more important than ever to nurture human connections with your clients and switch up their routines. Not only will it keep their training exciting, but it’ll also make their virtual sessions with you feel more like a treat than a chore. An easy way to create some fun for clients might include making a themed workout playlist for them that you send prior to their session. Or if your clients have a home game system, try creating a gamified workout to keep things interesting. If your client has a pet, you can include them in their workout too—playing tug-of-war with their dog, or going “cat-fishing” with a feather toy can be interesting variations on their usual routine that are good for everyone in the household!
Stay Safe
As always, continue to encourage safety when working with your clients. With virtual training, make sure that all your clients have an up-to-date liability waiver on file. If they don’t, be sure to send one out, it’s a critical base to have covered. Remind your clients of the importance of proper form and offer modifications for those who may be new or have limited abilities. For clients who may be feeling unwell and are unsure if they should participate, the Mayo Clinic recommends following “above the neck” rule. Anybody who is experiencing respiratory problems should avoid exercise to prevent more serious injury or illness.
Keeping a regular fitness routine while staying home can be challenging, but with the right strategies and the help of a live streaming platform, you can encourage your clients to maintain their fitness and help make the days you’re away from your normal routine pass a little bit easier for everyone. Check out our support article for a step-by-step tutorial to get set up today!
Disclaimer: The content on this blog or contributed/associated with Vagaro, including, but not limited to, the text, graphics, images, links, and other material are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and does not constitute medical or professional legal liability advice. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk.
Header Image: Giorgio Trovato via Vagaro
Icons: Mia Montemayor via Vagaro
