Fitness Professionals and fee requirements for Online/Zoom sessions/in person classes

Fitness Professionals and fee requirements for Online/Zoom sessions/in-person classes 

Should all fitness instructors charge $50 and up for in-person and online classes? 

That is a big question that is met with outlining mixed responses. 

Teaching via Zoom, I have realized that all wellness and fitness instructors should be paid at least $50 and more for their sessions. Whether online or in-person, this is based on knowing the time, effort, and extra bits that go into every prep before, during, and after a fitness session. 

The main discrepancy comes from a clear line that divides all fitness instructors based on specific workout regimes they offer. 

As a yoga and meditation instructor, I was charging $35 based on my Zoom sessions and regardless of the hours I spent with my clients. 

 

This made me think, What's In the Middle?

 

I have also hired a few instructors to work in my fitness company, which is why I know first-hand the commitment to delivering quality services, even online. 

I have also gleaned that paying them an appropriate service fee makes them feel valued as professional personnel, allowing all customers to receive even better services. 

 

Now I must admit; that fitness instructors also have to show professionalism. Personal Trainers, Yoga teachers, therapists, and doctors must show up on time, services have been agreed to, and timings agreed. 

Fitness Instructors also have to show up and be present. I have also dealt with instructors who are not as professional as others. 

This is not to say they are not good, but I think the pay rate has much to do with their performance. 

 

We all should set a standard. 

 

Reasoning and Unfair Transparency 

 

Wellness has become a number one priority for everyone at the moment. Our wellness professionals need to set a standard and not settle and accept anything that devalues their profession and undermines their skills. Even though prices can be different depending on the trainer's experience, the trainee's progress and the frequency of workouts, a great trainer will cost around $50-$100 an hour. Clients can always opt for cheaper, inexperienced trainers but could compromise a quality workout. In our current financial crisis, the message of supporting small businesses rings loud and clear. Its been beneficial to local companies, with both parties deeming it a win-win. But for some reason, some people think differently about fitness. 

Although several agencies have listed wellness maintenance as an essential aspect of staying healthy during this pandemic, the notion of devoting the same level of financial support to independent fitness studios or certified instructors teaching fitness online as one would for in-person classes seems to have consumers (those who have moved to work from home while retaining their income) on a pause, even though studio overhead fees haven't been on hiatus as well. 

This is conjoined with the notion that fitness instructors should conduct their classes based on the "pure joy" of doing their job. What this doesn't take into account is the value of training which I've mentioned afore, and more to the point, our financial obligations as instructors. Would a surgeon knowing his total worth, teach a spinning class for 45minutes and create the music and regime for the time stipulated while still paying attention to all the present paying clients? It's hard work, and everyone deserves payment for their efforts, not their time spent in a particular career field. 

 

Understood surgeons save lives; however, don't we? Has this pandemic not taught us that staying fit and healthy will HELP you? 

 

Studio owners are responsible for hiring the BEST group fitness instructors and teaching up to 20 people in a class. 

What do you think the pay scale should be for those instructors?

 

I have been teaching varying classes over the past few years, all of which required me to take additional courses and pass written exams to accommodate and serve my clients well. All these also required a different skill set for each class, constant learning and most of my time and financial resources. 

For many years, I have taken what was offered instead of what I deserved because I loved what I did and how I impacted and helped other people, so my needs were always pushed to the far end while my clients came first. 

This was never an issue until we hit a global pandemic which saw a shift in how we would typically conduct business. 

It was the same amount of effort (minus the driving). Still, it involved correcting, teaching, setting up space or converting our own spaces into conducive home studios, setting up the internet, paying attention to every client, and trying to give them the quality of service they have become used to receiving. Our skill sets were tested tremendously with every class and session. Since hiring more instructors, I have value and appreciate their effort and time, especially their commitment to helping clients during this precarious time.

 

Conclusion:

 

We have seen social media change, whether online yoga classes, personal training sessions, meditation classes, kickboxing classes, fitness classes, or HIIT classes. The fitness industry relies on social media, inspiring greater accessibility and content for the future. Thus, we can hope that this more inter-personal look at wellness and fitness humanizes fitness professionals to a point whereby clients reconsider their stance on in-person classes and online session pricing and instead think of all the nitty-gritty parts of the highest quality service for them in the safety and comfort of their homes.