5 Tips To Teaching Fitness Pilates Classes Online

Following Lockdown more and more instructors see the benefits of bringing their Pilates business online now, find out how you can bring your teaching online and reach a wider range of audiences than ever before!

Pilates teachers across the world have been taking their Pilates classes online to continue helping clients achieve their wellness goals. Using platforms such as Zoom and Facebook live allows you to live-stream classes and make Pilates widely accessible to everyone, no matter where you are in the world. This has opened up windows of opportunity for Pilates teachers; many now see it as a business maneuverer that they will continue with post-pandemic.

Read our 5 top things you’ll need to make your online pilates business a success:

1. Choosing a Platform

There is a range of platforms available for you to be able to teach online classes, such as:

• Zoom
• Facebook Live
• Vimeo
• YouTube

Most platforms offer a free basic package, however, there would normally be a time or storage limit which you may need to upgrade to in time.This is often cheaper than hiring a venue and teaching live classes.

2. Insurance

Make sure that your insurance covers you for online and on-demand teaching. A simple call to your insurer will ensure that you have sufficient cover. I have used FITPRO insurance for over 20 years now and find them fantastic.

A waiver is also a good ideas for example ‘always make sure you are working out in a clear space with plenty of room and a well lit area”.

3. Booking Platforms

There are several options available when setting up your online classes. Advertise your class across social media, take payments via BACS transfer or PayPal and manually send out the class links to your participants either in a private Facebook group or via email. Once businesses start to pick up, you may want to have an online booking system that you can integrate into your websites.

Having a booking system takes away some of the admin and most sites allow you to integrate zoom and YouTube so that links are sent out automatically too and you can later build platforms for viewers to view their workouts on your website in a members area.

4. Studio Space

You do not need a fancy Pilates studio, all you need is space to be able to demonstrate the Pilates movement which can even be outdoors in the garden in the summer! Try and keep a clear and smart space to look as professional as possible.

5. Equipment

You can start your online business with your laptop or phone, an internet connection, and the space to be able to teach.

Once you are set up why not invest in a microphone and perhaps some lighting to ensure a high standard of delivery, we suggest getting in touch with Stuart at Sound Dynamics to help with sound set up and you can buy simple soft boxes for £50 off Ebay/ Amazon for nice professional lighting.

Some of the key benefits of bringing your Pilates business online are:

1. Teach from home…Save on travel costs and travel time.
2. More time to teach more classes at different times of day.
3. Your services are more accessible to more people.
4. Less expense in venue hire/ finding the right venue.
5. Bring people together to practice from all over the world and build a community.
6. Offer recordings if people cannot make the live on an online dashboard or via link.
7. Keep participants engaged in-between sessions in interactive Facebook groups.
8. Option for participant video still allows for interaction, try and get them to switch cameras on.
9. Teach 1-2-1s or group classes, so many options in delivery methods.
10. Teach virtual retreats, team teaching or online challenges to grow your audience.
11. Reach more people across social media.

We hope this blog has been helpful today!

If you need more help going online with your Fitness Business why not join my Fitpro Supporters group on Facebook for only £3.49 a month, get access to a whole online training dashboard, an interactive and helpful group and daily training videos CLICK HERE

Join a virtual training course this spring on Zoom:
✅Fitness Pilates training course 21/22 May
✅Fitness Pilates Training Course 25/26 June

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👉Level 3 Pilates diploma 6/7/8th May
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