The Benefits of Going Online
As the leaves fall and the light shifts, October invites you to pause to gather what nourishes you and gently let go of what doesn’t. It’s a month for warm hands around tea cups, for journaling by candlelight, for remembering that rest is not a luxury, but a return.
October teaches us that letting go is not loss, but grace. Trees don’t mourn the falling of their leaves; they surrender them, knowing rest is part of the rhythm.
Planning for 2026 Starts Now
The world of events including fitness and wellness continues to evolve at an incredible pace. As the year races by and 2026 planning is already underway, the strategic question is no longer if you should go online, but how to build a business that offers grace and flexibility to both your clients and yourself.
The rise of the digital class is upon us. Even before the pandemic, the fitness and wellbeing sector was looking at virtual options. Virtual is an industry set to keep on growing too: Data from Global Marketing Insights suggests that on-demand streaming will rise by 28% between 2020-2026, with live streaming classes rising by 35%.
As workdays have become more flexible and lifestyles adapt, the way in which people consume workouts has changed. Delivering online classes isn't just about adapting; it's about embracing a structure that offers more freedom, control, and revenue.
Five Reasons Why Going Online Offers Grace (and Growth)
1. Meet the Need for Immediacy and Flexibility (The Gift of 24/7 Access)
The culture of immediacy, fuelled by on-demand TV like Netflix and next-day delivery services, has seeped into fitness. By creating a library of on-demand content, you are offering the ultimate form of flexibility, aligning perfectly with October’s theme of intentional rest and movement. People can work out whenever they want: between meetings, at lunchtimes, when they can’t sleep, or when the baby is napping. On-demand content takes away the constraints of rigid timetables and opens your classes to people 24/7.
2. Monetise Your Work for Longer (An Income That Works While You Rest)
Traditionally, group exercise instructors only made money when their live classes were live. Now, on-demand content allows you to monetise your classes for longer periods of time. For example, if you live-stream a class to 10 people at £3 each, you then upload that class to your on-demand library and charge £2 per stream. If another 15 people do that class over the coming days, you've quickly made an additional £30 off your initial class. Do this to another 3-4 classes per week, and your income can quickly rise, giving you a reduced workload through cutting down your live class timetable.
3. Break Down the Fear Barrier (The Grace of Anonymity)
When you’re a complete beginner to group exercise, it can feel very daunting. Online classes now break down the fear barrier, allowing newbies (and existing members) more control over their experience. One-way video streams like Facebook Live allow people to work out without the worry of being seen.
Zoom gives attendees the opportunity to work out with their camera off when they want anonymity or when they don’t feel like getting out of their pyjamas. Online classes are a great way of getting people ready to attend live classes down the line, getting to know the moves, and, most importantly, getting to know you as the instructor.
4. Expand Your Local (and Global) Reach (Your Studio Has No Walls)
In a recent survey of instructors, nearly 20% of those who had taken their classes online had seen an increase in participants. Going online means people in places beyond your usual locale can enjoy your group ex classes. If you're based in Cardiff and live-streaming, people in Birmingham, London, Edinburgh, or anywhere can join in! What’s more, if they enjoy them, they’re more likely to investigate your on-demand content too and click the ‘buy now’ button again.
5. Future-Proof Your Business (A Sustainable Rhythm for Growth)
The truth is no-one knows what the future holds. Going online is a sustainable way to build your business beyond external crises. Your group exercise business can benefit from an on-demand content library for additional revenue. You can also live stream your face-to-face classes when you're back in venues, allowing those Edinburgh-based participants to continue enjoying your Cardiff classes.
Get Out There and Do It
While you may not think you can compete with the likes of Apple Fitness+, you have one huge asset that they don’t have: you. In a 2018 survey of group exercise participants, the second biggest motivator for attending classes was the instructor. You have a unique opportunity to promote yourself with personal touches like welcoming people as they join your live stream, replying to comments, following up with personalised emails, and giving the best class experience every single time.
Ready to go online? This season, we invite you to embrace intentional retreat and an intentional business model that allows you to work smarter, serve more people, and find grace in your schedule.
And if you need a place to land, know that I am here. The kettle’s on. I am listening. You are always welcome.
