5 Etiquette Tips for Virtual Fitness
If you’ve never tried a Virtual Fitness Class, it’s time! Many of us began dabbling Virtual Fitness when Covid-19 reached pandemic status in 2020. As fit pros, we dove in head first, and figured out how to tread water. Some days we nearly drown (OMG the Zoom Bombers!), but it was ‘good enough’ at the time. We were fit-pro life preservers in rough, uncharted waters.
Fortunately, the world reopened. Many returned to their local gym. But there is a huge subset that truly enjoys the safety, convenience and variety of options now available at their fingertips.
If you haven’t tried Virtual Fitness classes yet (especially with BodFit510’s fab team of coaches), it is time to give it a try!
When you join, here are 5 etiquette tips to follow:
1) Join On Time or Early. If you’re new, take this time to introduce yourself, and let the coach know of any injuries. For example, if you have wrist issues, we will give you alternatives for plank-related moves. Just like In-Person classes, we’ll use the first few minutes of class for a warm up, followed by a description of how the class will be structured, required equipment, etc. You don’t want to miss that! Now, that said, life gets messy, and it’s better to be late than absent. Out of respect for your schedule, we make it a point to start and end on time. If we see you join late, we’ll get you moving safely and quickly.
2) Turn ON Your Video. OK, this is a very subjective thing. We totally get the 97 reasons you may not want to turn on your screen. Some of those are totally valid and nobody should ever be forced to turn on their video. But, here’s why we want to see you: 1) to see how you are moving and ensure you are moving safely, 2) to ensure our verbal cues are effective, 3) to provide appropriate progressions and regressions, and 4) because teaching a class to a bunch of blank screens is SO HARD!
3) Turn OFF your Microphone. Well, after class starts, that is. Crazy things can happen in the background - barking dogs, crying kids, crying spouse, etc. Plus, if your microphone is off, you can sing to the music, curse at your Coach, or grunt as loud as you want. Send chats or emoji’s during class. It warms our hearts when members complain via chat - haha! Unmute yourself at the end of the class, and use this time to ask questions and generally connect with us and/or other participants.
4) Rule of 3. Try a class 3 times! Why? After 3 classes, you’ll have a decent understanding about the class format and instructor style. And, as polished as Live-Streamed fitness has become, sometimes crap happens. So judgement based upon a single class may be premature.
5) Spread the Word. We truly love helping others improve their overall health through fitness. If you like what we are doing, spread the word, write a Google review, and support a small business!
