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Group CV: Integrated technology
Virtual classes, networked bikes and heart rate monitors: how can club operators make use of today’s technology to maximise the impact of group exercise classes? Kath Hudson reports
Going virtual
Operator: Edinburgh Leisure
Supplier: Les Mills
Les Mills believes virtual classes can broaden the audience: its research found that 92 per cent of the participants enjoyed the convenience of doing a virtual class when it suited them, while 89 per cent said it would encourage them to go on to try a live class having built confidence during the virtual programme.
It has therefore invested in this area with the recent launch of Les Mills Virtual – a Les Mills masterclass offering with classes delivered on-screen by international trainers. Five programming options are currently available: Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Balance, CX Worx and Sh’Bam.
“We can’t escape from the speed at which technology is progressing, so we’ve decided to embrace it,” says Les Mills CEO Keith Burnett.
Edinburgh Leisure has been trialling Les Mills Virtual at Craiglockhart Leisure Centre since April. “Attending a live class can be daunting for those who have never been before,” says fitness manager David McLean. “The virtual class offers a taster and many people then progress to live classes. The sound, lighting and clarity of the film is incredible: the classes are so immersive that you really feel you’re in a live class.”
McLean also believes running virtual classes will prove a cost-effective way to help retention: “We offer 15 virtual classes a week with an average of two participants per class. That may not sound like much, but it’s 30 more people who we’re able to offer a class to at a time that suits them. If we have more than 12 regularly attending any virtual class, we consult with customers and replace with a live instructor.”
The social aspect
Operator: Hartham Leisure Centre
Supplier: Trixter
Hartham Leisure Centre uses Trixter XdreamV2 bikes – with their integrated screens allowing for virtual reality cycling, including ghost racing and live multi-player mode – to add an element of competition and to spice up small group training, with regular race nights and interclub challenges.
“The element of competition adds something new. It brings the gym floor to life and is a huge motivator for many customers,” says Ian Ling, Everyone Active fitness manager at Hartham Leisure Centre.
“Providing a social element to training is the key to keeping people involved and coming back for more. Customers want something fun, different and engaging – they want to be motivated and stimulated both physically and mentally.”
The centre offers a class in the morning and afternoon, and has found many customers plan their workouts for the week around the sessions, with around 10 people in each class.
Tracking effort
Operator: Village Hotels
Supplier: MYZONE
Village Hotels installed MYZONE across the group in February 2013 to enhance its indoor cycling offering, but it has since become an integral part of its overall fitness product, mainly because it allows the instructors to keep track of members both in and outside of the facilities.
“We’ve experienced first-hand what an impact the technology has. It motivates members by providing real-time and ongoing feedback, and allows group exercise instructors to deliver more effective coaching,” says Chris Southall, leisure and spa director of Village Hotels.
Simple colour-coded feedback is personalised to the effort each individual is putting in to the workout, with a game-based points system designed to reward effort and maximise the effectiveness of every session.
“Prior to introducing MYZONE, we had no way of providing accurate feedback to users on the effectiveness of our group fitness products, as tracking was limited to CV equipment or reliant on self-reporting,” says Southall. “However, we now provide instant feedback to our members, letting them know exactly how hard they’ve worked in every class and how many calories they’ve burned, which in turn helps prove the value of our group fitness offering, both in our studios and on the gym floor.”
Tracking effort
Operator: Village Hotels
Supplier: MYZONE
Village Hotels installed MYZONE across the group in February 2013 to enhance its indoor cycling offering, but it has since become an integral part of its overall fitness product, mainly because it allows the instructors to keep track of members both in and outside of the facilities.
“We’ve experienced first-hand what an impact the technology has. It motivates members by providing real-time and ongoing feedback, and allows group exercise instructors to deliver more effective coaching,” says Chris Southall, leisure and spa director of Village Hotels.
Simple colour-coded feedback is personalised to the effort each individual is putting in to the workout, with a game-based points system designed to reward effort and maximise the effectiveness of every session.
“Prior to introducing MYZONE, we had no way of providing accurate feedback to users on the effectiveness of our group fitness products, as tracking was limited to CV equipment or reliant on self-reporting,” says Southall. “However, we now provide instant feedback to our members, letting them know exactly how hard they’ve worked in every class and how many calories they’ve burned, which in turn helps prove the value of our group fitness offering, both in our studios and on the gym floor.”
Introducing competition
Operator: Cycle Rhythm
Supplier: Keiser
Cycle Rhythm in Essex, UK, uses Keiser’s new M3i bikes and brand new iKeiser group exercise projection system to bring a competitive element to its classes.
“The screens give the users feedback on information such as calories, distance and power generated,” says the club’s project manager Lucy Edwards. “A leader board system is in operation, so people can move up and down and race against their friends. It adds an element of fun and competition.”
The classes have a capacity of 54 participants and are currently running at 40–45 people per class. “We believe the technology is a huge draw, as it’s different from what’s on offer at standard indoor cycling classes in the local area,” says Edwards. “Feedback from customers suggests they’re motivated by the Rhythm Board and look forward to trying to work their way up the ranks and set personal bests. Customers are sharing their performance data on social media too, and seem to be very excited about the feature on offer at the studio.”
A popular application is the team-racing mode, where the room is divided into four groups to race against each other. The power generated in the groups is averaged, so even if there’s one person in each group it still works.
Data for results
Operator: MSF Fitness
Supplier: Wattbike
Telford club MSF Fitness uses Wattbikes to help people reach their training goals. The Wattbike studio launched in June last year and demand has led to a 50 per cent increase in the number of classes over the last six months, with 25 classes a week now on offer.
“Wattbikes allow us to integrate all abilities in one class, from a 65-year-old lady to a GB athlete,” says club owner Mark Fenn. “The data we work with ensures everyone works to their own ability without overtraining. The bikes allow us to do fitness tests, for example, so we can ensure each individual is set the right heart rate and power zones in which to work.
“We can also work on pedal technique to make sure people are engaging the right muscles, and that has transferable benefits to other training.”
Fenn says the Wattbikes allow the club to offer a very bespoke service, which has led to people getting great results. “One of our elite riders won the Shrewsbury Grand Prix, while another member went from suffering from pneumonia to completing the Ride London 100 within 16 weeks,” he says.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
New product innovations
Les Mills has worked with Reebok on The Project: Immersive Fitness, which takes virtual workouts to the next level through the use of 360-degree cinema technology. Moves are choreographed to the music and graphics, which are projected on floor-to-ceiling screens. Participants might find themselves cycling up a glacier, sprinting around a velodrome or dancing in a festival dance tent. It will be on general release next year.
New from Matrix Fitness, in partnership with the Indoor Cycling Group, is the IC7 bike. It features a Coach By Color training console: five coloured, user-friendly zones that allow users to quickly see their power and heart rate output, so they know whether to put in more or less effort. The instructors are also able to see the data.
New this year is the Polar Flow for Club, an iPad app that allows anyone wearing a Polar H7 heart rate sensor to see their live heart rates on screen, together with the heart rate zone they are in. This allows the instructor to guide class members to achieve their training goals. The system also allows classes to be scheduled, instructors assigned and members to view data via the Polar Flow online training community.
WebRacing has added a real life video and music module, making it easy to click between WebRacing and real life video. The system also allows the creation of video and music playlists, so instructors can build videos of climbs and scenery. A heart rate monitoring package is currently in development.
