Four Strategies to Building a Loyal Fitness Community

If the Covid-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that humans are meant to be social, and social connections are critical to our survival and happiness. We need to be seen and understood, and finding people who share our experiences, values and interests reminds us we are worth it and never alone. Being a part of a community provides us with this much needed feeling of belonging. 

Learning how to build a fitness community can be a huge struggle as a business owner. The top priority should be keeping your members engaged, happy and coming back for more. When things get tough whether through a workout or even in life, your fitness community can help push you through and keep you on track. 

In this post, we will discuss the importance of having a gym community, along with four strategies to building a strong, loyal, and efficient fitness community at your space. 

Why is a Gym Community Important?

Being part of a strong fitness community can be extremely beneficial. Whether you are just starting out on your fitness journey or a gym veteran, having a supportive and encouraging community around you can make all the difference. From providing fitness accountability to sharing tips and advice, there are many advantages of being part of a fitness community.

Motivation

One of the biggest benefits of joining a fitness community is that you’ll have the motivation you need to stick to your workout goals and training. You become part of a supportive group of people who are all trying to achieve their physical fitness goals. You’ll gain moral support and encouragement from the members of the supportive community, as well as valuable feedback on how to reach those goals.

Accountability 

This can come in the form of friendly reminders from fellow members or check-ins from certified trainers and coaches. Having community accountability helps keep us motivated and on track. With consistent encouragement from those around us, we are more likely to stay committed and achieve our training goals.

Social Aspect 

A fitness community surrounds you with like-minded individuals who share similar values, interests, and goals as you. By connecting with other members of your fitness community, you can build relationships that last beyond the gym. These connections give you a sense of belonging and purpose that can greatly improve your overall mental health and well-being. This can be especially beneficial for those who may feel isolated or disconnected from their current social circles. 

Four Strategies to Build a Strong, Loyal and Efficient Fitness Community

1. Encourage Social Interaction 

Creating a sense of community and connection among members can be an incredibly powerful retention tool and is integral for long term success. Have your coach or instructor organize a team-building “finisher” or game at the beginning or end of your workout to get your members talking and engaging. This will help everyone feel comfortable and accepted within your community. 

2. Promote Community - Hosting Events

Hosting regular events is a great way to build bonds and community within your business. Host fun events where members can meet and connect with others outside their normal class times.

Here are some examples:

• Host a barbecue after a Saturday morning class.
• Plan a beach day, hike or kayak trip. Invite members to bring their spouses and kids.
• Find a local healthy cooking class and invite members to join.

If you can get members to spend time together outside of the gym, you’re on your way to successfully creating more than a gym community. You’re creating a gym family.

3. Utilize Social Media and Celebrate Members Success 

To further reinforce a sense of community, focus on celebrating member successes and feature members on your website and social media channels. This will foster a sense of pride in the community and encourage members to feel invested in ‘their’ studio’s success. Creating a supportive and engaging environment for your members will absolutely lead to increased retention rates. 

4. Creating Challenges/ Competitions 

Consider creating challenges or contests that encourage members to work together and achieve common goals. This helps build camaraderie and a sense of healthy competition among members. Connect people to something bigger than themselves. Members versus trainers, gym versus gym, everyone versus heart disease, etc. Get creative and design some fun challenges for your community.

Summary:

Whether you are on a journey to lose weight or reach your fitness goals, it can feel like a lonely road without support from other like-minded people. Even though your goals are individual and no one else can do the work for you, there is power in building a fitness community to support you every step of the way.

In fact, many people who have reached their fitness goals agree that they couldn’t have made it on their own. A fitness community brings accountability and enjoyment to the process, making it easier to stay consistent with your commitments.

There are an endless number of strategies to build a strong gym community. They don’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. Open the floor for sharing ideas and involve members and coaches. If everyone is engaged, you’ll have a flourishing, happy, warm community where everyone feels welcome. Not only does that create an unforgettable member experience, but you’ll also create gym loyalty for years to come.