Are you a gym owner, fitness instructor or trainer, dance teacher or yoga teacher? If so, you have certainly encountered a lack of motivation for physical activity among your members more than once. It is a difficult situation for both parties. And for you, it is also a challenge, because motivating clients to exercise is part of your job. And you certainly want to do it the best you can, this is when your work makes sense!
So how can you positively influence the enthusiasm of your clients? Can you learn to do it? Are there any methods and techniques worth knowing? Read our article and spread your energy, passion for fitness and well being to others.
Key Takeaways
- You certainly encounter in your work, whether as a personal trainer or a group exercise leader, days when clients don't feel like exercising. There may also be members who don't feel like doing physical activity at all, even though they have set themselves the goal of, for example, a weight loss program.
- To motivate your customers to exercise, fortunately, you have a whole range of strategies and behaviors, including finding and referring to extrinsic goals, finding enjoyment in social interactions, or indicating that physical activity is a path to the customer's health, well-being and makes sense.
- The latest research from fitness organizations, especially those focused on the large group of clients: millennials and Gen Z fitness preferences, speaks of the trend of making life easier. Use it - introduce a booking membership app, easy payments, the ability to make up classes. All of this will make clients more willing to be physically active.
- Gym workout motivation depends very much on the personality of the trainer. If you are a gym owner, send your employees to a sports psychology course. As a trainer, observe your teaching habits and strategies, your ability to appreciate, praise and make the clients feel great. If necessary, change something.
How to Motivate Someone to Workout
To motivate someone to work out, start by:
- Highlighting the benefits, such as improved health, energy, and mood. Observe intrinsic goals of your clients, every person has them different.
- Encourage them to set small, achievable goals to build confidence.
- Offer support and make the experience fun by choosing workouts and activities they enjoy. Explore what they like.
- Lead by example, and remind them that consistency is key. Help them to stick to the routine – progress comes with time.
- Celebrate their victories, no matter how small, and create a positive, encouraging environment.
Exercise Motivation: Guide for Gym Owners and Trainers
Running a successful gym isn’t just about offering the best gym equipment brands or tailoring an individual exercise program. It’s about creating a motivating and engaging environment that keeps clients coming back and helps them reach their fitness goals.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to help gym owners and personal trainers foster a culture of motivation, utilize modern tools for easy management, and boost gym member retention.
1. Motivate Gym Clients for Physical Activity
Motivation can fluctuate, and it’s important to understand what drives your clients and tailor your approach to meet their needs.
Here are some proven methods of keeping or gaining exercise motivation.
- Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Help clients set specific, measurable, and time-bound goals. This could be anything from losing a certain amount of weight to running a 5K or lifting a certain weight. Break big goals into smaller, manageable steps to ensure clients feel a sense of achievement regularly.
- Celebrate Milestones: Recognition is key to motivation. Whether it’s a client hitting a personal record, sticking to their routine for a month, or simply showing up consistently, celebrate those wins. Publicly acknowledging success, whether through shout-outs or gym social media posts, reinforces their progress.
- Create a Community: Fitness is more fun when it feels like a community effort. Organize group workouts, social events, or challenges to foster camaraderie and social interactions. Clients will feel more motivated when they have a group to support them.
- Provide Regular Feedback: Offer constructive, positive feedback during workouts. Be specific about what they did well and where they can improve. Showing genuine interest in their progress builds trust and keeps them motivated.
- Variety, Variety, Variety: Clients will lose motivation if they get bored. Keep workouts fresh by introducing new exercises, challenges, or classes. This not only keeps clients engaged and intrinsically motivated but also helps them break through plateaus.
2. Step in the Client’s Shoes
A day when a client doesn’t feel like physical activity… There will always be those days when clients feel like skipping their workout, whether due to stress, fatigue, or other reasons.
This is a great technique not only in your exercise profession, but also in any conversation with people. Feel what the other person feels and what they want to hear. If you step into their shoes, here’s what you might say.
Encourage People to Explore Their Possibilities and Feel Great
“Hey, I know it’s been a tough day/week, and the last thing you might want to do right now is hit the gym. But let’s think about how you’ll feel afterward. The energy and positivity you’ll gain from just showing up and giving it your best will last way longer than the comfort of staying home. Plus, every time you push through, you’re building mental strength just as much as physical strength. I believe in you, and I’m here to help you every step of the way. Just take it one step at a time, and let’s get through this together.”
Reassure them that it’s okay to take it easy sometimes, but showing up consistently is what leads to long-term results.
3. Make It as Easy as Possible and Enjoyable
Clients are more likely to stick with a gym if the experience is seamless and user-friendly.
For instance, researchers indicate that gyms utilizing online booking systems experience up to a 30% increase in class attendance. This boost is largely due to the ease of access and the ability for members to book classes at their convenience, without the need for direct interaction with gym staff. (Source: cowlendar.com)
Implement these tools for maximum ease:
- Booking Software: Implement an easy-to-use gym booking system so clients can schedule and manage their workouts. Allow them to book classes, personal training sessions, or even cancel or reschedule if needed. This minimizes friction and helps them stay committed to their schedule.
- Billing Software: Simplify the payment process with automated gym billing software that handles subscriptions and payments. Clients will appreciate the convenience of hassle-free billing, and it reduces admin time for gym owners.
- Social Media for Engagement: Consistent social media activity can help keep your gym in the forefront of your clients’ minds. Share success stories, tips, fitness challenges, and motivational posts. Creating an interactive social media presence makes clients feel connected to your gym even when they’re not physically there.
- Success Stories: Share testimonials and progress pictures from your clients. People love seeing real-life success stories because they inspire and show what’s possible. This will motivate others to push harder and can create a sense of community within your gym.
- App for Engagement: A custom branded fitness app can be a game-changer. Use it to send push notifications for class reminders, updates, or motivational messages. It can also allow clients to track their progress, book sessions, and participate in challenges, all from their mobile phones. Can you imagine how much a customers’ loyalty to your brand increases when they see your logo on their phone? That is, on the device they use every day and glance at so often?
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4. Make Data-Driven Decisions Thanks to Reporting Software
Using data to understand client behavior improves engagement and retention. Implement a gym reporting software to:
- Track Attendance: Identify when clients are more likely to miss workouts or skip classes. If you notice a drop-off in attendance after a certain period or on specific days, you can address the issue before it becomes a trend.
- Monitor Client Trends: Understand client preferences and workout patterns. For example, do certain classes attract more clients on certain days? Knowing this helps you schedule more of what clients want and potentially modify least busy gym times.
- Customize Communication: Use data insights to reach out to clients who haven’t been attending regularly. You can send personalized emails or messages to encourage them to return, remind them of their goals, or offer a special incentive.
Data-driven decisions ensure you’re constantly adapting and providing the best experience for your clients.
5. Control Canceling and Postponing Classes
While it’s important to be flexible with clients, limit the frequency of class cancellations or reschedules to maintain accountability. Here’s how you can manage this:
- Use Fitness Scheduling Software for Class Management: Allow clients to cancel or reschedule sessions within a certain window (e.g., 24 hours). This ensures you’re not left with empty slots but also offers them the flexibility to change their plans.
- Create a Cancellation Policy: Implement a clear and fair cancellation policy. For example, after a certain number of cancellations, a client might lose their spot in a popular class or incur a small fee for last-minute changes. This creates accountability without discouraging clients from rescheduling when needed.
6. Implement a Quick Course for Trainers
The trainers are on the front lines, directly interacting with clients. Effective communication with gym people and keeping their motivation is the most important in this profession.
Here’s a quick guide to help them communicate effectively, praise, appreciate, keep the enjoyment and motivate:
- How to Talk: Encourage yourself (if you are a trainer) or your trainers (if you are a gym owner) to keep communication positive, clear, and supportive. Focus on the effort in physical activity, not just the result. Use phrases like “I can see you’re pushing yourself,” or “You’re doing great, let’s keep that momentum.”
- Praise Strategies: Always be specific in your praise. Instead of saying “Good job,” try “I noticed how you pushed through that last set – amazing work.” This reinforces the behavior you want to see and helps clients understand what they’re doing right.
- Appreciation Strategies: Make clients feel valued by showing genuine interest in their fitness journey. Ask about their personal goals and celebrate their wins. Let them know their commitment is recognized, whether it’s in the form of verbal praise, a social media shout-out, or a small reward.
- Motivation for the Next Class: After every session, encourage clients to keep coming back. Help them visualize their future fitness success, and remind them of their goals. For instance, “Next time we’ll focus on pushing those weights even higher. You’ve got this!”
The tone should always be encouraging but realistic, helping clients feel empowered to take ownership of their progress.
Keeping Motivation of Fitness Clients: Summary
Running a successful gym involves much more than:
- having the right gym equipment brands,
- having a nice and broad offer of workouts,
- hiring certified and experienced trainers who lead the classes,
- advertising the gym in different ways to reach the target audience,
- keeping a gym health and safety checklist fulfilled.
Gym owners and trainers can ensure that their clients not only show up but also stay committed to their fitness journeys:
- by fostering a supportive atmosphere and an environment full of motivation and enjoyment, with no pressure,
- using the right tools to streamline management,
- actively engaging with clients.
With the right approach, your gym can become a place of transformation and motivation for all clients.
Slogan Ideas to Motivate Fitness Clients
“Bring a friend to become your workout buddy!”
“Encourage a friend or family member and get a gym referral program discount!”
“Bring your kids and our childcare service will let them play when you train!” (if you run a gym with childcare)
“Take part in a group workout and pay less!”
“Join our 6-week challenge and build habits that stick!”
“Book your favorite classes for the week in advance and never miss a workout!”
“We make workouts enjoyable! Join our themed fitness week with music and fun challenges.”
FAQ
When you are a personal trainer, motivation starts with understanding your client’s goals and making physical activity enjoyable. Encourage them to find a workout buddy for accountability and introduce them to group exercise sessions to keep things engaging. Personalized encouragement, tracking progress, and celebrating small wins help clients stay committed.
A great way to encourage someone is by reminding them that physical activity is a journey, not a race. Suggest finding a workout buddy to make training more fun and social. You can also invite them to try a group exercise class for extra motivation. If they need guidance, recommending personal trainers can help them reach their goals faster.
“You’re doing great! Every bit of physical activity gets you closer to your goal. Have you thought about getting a workout buddy? It makes training more fun! You might also love group exercise—the energy is contagious. And if you ever want expert advice, personal trainers can help take your workouts to the next level!”
Creating an exciting atmosphere is key! Remind everyone that physical activity is about progress, not perfection. Encourage members to push themselves while also having fun. Suggest bringing a workout buddy for extra motivation. Highlight the benefits of group exercise, such as the shared energy and support. And don’t forget to remind them that personal trainers are available if they want personalized guidance.
