How to Execute Online Fitness Classes

With clubs having to temporarily shutter facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on-site fitness-center usage came to a standstill. But novel ways were found to bring exercise regimens to members as they sheltered in place.

At The Landings Golf Club, wellness operations moved outdoors. “We now safely conduct almost 40 group fitness classes per week in our parking lots and outdoor pools, with an average participation of 30 members per class,” Director of Wellness Lukasz Monka reported in April. Small group and personal training activities were also conducted outside and made available via live streaming. “To add more options, we started to pre-record group fitness classes and a workout of the day, which allowed members to follow along at their convenience,” Monka added.

The Landings Club also planned to launch a “Gym to Go” initiative, alllowing members to select equipment from a provided list to use at home. The staff would disinfect and set up the requested equipment for retrieval at a reserved time slot outdoors on club grounds.

To help its gym-going members stay in shape, Mizner Country Club launched a YouTube channel dedicated to fitness. “Through our apps, we [sent] programs, [created] workouts of the day and [encouraged] our members to engage through digital challenges,” said Fitness Director Paul Raymond. Yoga and “bootcamp” classes were also are offered through Zoom. 

At Traverse City Country Club, the personal-training staff uploaded exercise videos to the club’s YouTube page, and the golf and fitness staff created weekly golf-fitness webinars. 

Once stay-at-home orders could be lifted at these clubs, management planned to adjust safety protocols accordingly while also retaining options developed during the shutdown. 

“Programs we once ran indoors will be led outside, for proper spacing and comfort to our members,” said Diane VanderVeen, Traverse City CC’s General Manager. At The Landings Club,  Monka reported, “Current online streaming classes will be added to regular in-person classes, to ensure a larger reach.”