Online fitness classes are one of the best ways to learn something new related to health. The question is, what are People Looking for in Online Fitness Classes?
Over 2.3 million fitness classes are being offered online, and these classes vary greatly in terms of what they deliver.
From yoga and Pilates to prenatal and mobility programs, there’s a huge variation in what these health and fitness classes can offer people.
To do that, you need to know what are People Looking for in Online Fitness Classes? And the only real way you’ll know is by checking out what’s trending on Google.
Look at the benefits of online training vs live training.
While in-person fitness classes can be a great way to build muscle or lose weight, many people are turning to online classes for flexibility and affordability.
According to a recent survey from FitFluential, which polled 2,000 people, 60% of people have attended a fitness class online in the past year.
Also, 53% of respondents said they use a personal trainer at least once per year, and 20% said they had done so monthly.
But are the offerings of fitness providers online as valid as that in-person?
While online classes offer flexibility and convenience, they also carry certain drawbacks.
Benefits of Online Training
Flexibility
One of the biggest advantages of fitness classes is flexibility. While some in-person classes require you to reserve a spot, most are first-come, first-served.
Online classes, on the other hand, can be initiated at any time.
With the ability to fit a class in before or after work or at a convenient time on the weekend, online classes offer more flexibility than in-person classes.
In addition, online classes are easier to schedule within a busy lifestyle, with multiple options offered each day.
Convenience
Another huge advantage of online classes is convenience. The location is no longer an issue, and classes can be attended at any time of day.
Whether it’s because of scheduling conflicts, a physical disability or the desire to try out a new class, convenience is a huge benefit of online classes.
Cost
Cost is another huge benefit of online classes.
You don’t have to worry about driving to the gym or paying for parking with online classes. You also don’t have to pay for a gym membership and can buy classes a la carte.
Benefits of Live Training
For years, gym-goers have flocked to live fitness classes. But can the same be true for virtual fitness classes?
The answer is a qualified yes.
When it comes to exercise, the research shows there are benefits to training with others, including greater motivation, increased intensity and socialization, says Brandon Arnold, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of kinesiology and community health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
“[The research] shows that when people train in a group, they have higher adherence to exercise, higher exercise intensity, and more positive experiences,” he says.
“Some of these social aspects may be enhanced with online classes,” Arnold says. “People can train with people online, but there is also the added benefit of interacting with instructors, who may be more approachable and available.”
But even though the technology is there, virtual fitness is still in its early days, and people are still figuring out which virtual fitness classes make the most sense.
“People use a lot of technology, and [fitness] is an area that people are just beginning to explore,” says Eric Wilson, PhD, a researcher in the University of Michigan’s Department of Kinesiology and Community Health. “There are still a lot of questions that need to be addressed, but we sense that this is a very promising area of technology.”
Why do people take online fitness classes – what’s the value to them?
The fitness industry is a $73 billion industry, which is driving its growth in online fitness.
The fitness industry is booming. 65% of people in the United States are overweight, and 39% are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A big factor is that exercise is hard to fit into a busy schedule. According to the National Recreation and Park Association research, 61% of adults work more than 50 hours per week, and 41% work more than 60 hours per week.
That’s why fitness programs and classes, both online and in-person, are so popular. They’re convenient, and they offer people a sense of community.
Fitness classes provide a “social” benefit, according to research published in Health Psychology. People doing group exercise are more likely to stick with it, according to the study, and less likely to drop out.
Online fitness programs also appeal to people’s desire for variety. According to research published in The Lancet, people who exercise regularly tend to have the same exercise routines and get bored with them. Online fitness class options allow people to explore new styles and interests.
Online fitness programs also appeal to people with busy schedules. They don’t have to commute to a class, and they can watch classes from the comfort of their own home. And, with today’s technology, people can quickly search for classes that fit into their schedule.
In addition to convenience and variety, online fitness classes offer people a sense of community. By joining an online fitness community, people can ask questions, get advice, share successes, and make friends.
Fitness is also about feeling good. According to research published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people who exercise regularly are more likely to have positive emotions.
What are People Looking for in Online Fitness Classes?
As more people choose to work out from home, studios like Orangetheory Fitness and The Barre Code are thriving, but what does their research say about what’s driving this growth?
It’s easy to see why people are choosing to work out at home. It’s convenient, affordable, and, if done correctly, it offers the same benefits as going to a fitness studio.
A survey from Equinox Fitness revealed that 90% of people prefer to work out at home. And according to FitClick, 67% of fitness seekers prefer to work out at home.
But 30% of those surveyed expressed a preference to workout in a studio, suggesting that people who go to studios value the social interaction with other members more than those who prefer to workout at home.
