man stretching right arm while sitting on the floor

During this unprecedented time, the world of Group Fitness and Personal Training is changing overnight. We know you want to make it simple for your clients and members to stay motivated, accountable and connected to reach their goals.

So how can you do that? Go virtual!

Lead a class or host a personal training session online.

Today’s technology offers creative options to host a live, virtual training class or session with your clients using Facebook, Instagram, Zoom or a host of other technologies.

Below is everything you need to know to set up virtual training, either live streaming or pre-recorded, to ensure that your clients stay fit and healthy.

HOSTING A VIRTUAL WORKOUT: THE BASICS

FILMING

Make sure you test before your workout goes live, learn the technology to ensure that nothing can go wrong during filming and don’t forget to make sure that the video and audio quality is set to the highest possible setting.

If you’re using your phone to film the workout, make sure it’s either attached to a tripod or that it’s standing on a stable surface. You don’t want the camera to fall during the workout!

woman doing workout at home
woman doing workout at home

LOCATION

Ensure the room has great or natural lighting. If the room is too bright or too dark, people will not be able to see what you’re doing. And ensure you’re filming horizontally to maximize your frame.

MUSIC

If you’re using music in your workouts, please ensure you have the appropriate licenses and remember that the music license for social and online platforms differs from the license for music use in-club and in-studio. Contact your employer or music supplier for more information.

HOW TO HOST LIVE, PUBLIC GROUP WORKOUTS

TRAINER+

canfitpro’s favourite Personal Training tool is Trainer+ where you can build virtual programs and workouts for your clients. It also comes with a robust exercise library you can draw from.

The web portal is designed for trainers to build content and manage clients. You can search through an exercise library and make workout and program templates.

The database contains over 1500 exercises with their corresponding video, but you can also create your own exercises. It also has a collection of existing shared workout, program and assessment templates.

Take 40% off Trainer+!

To access Trainer+ and receive the exclusive canfitpro discount, log into your canfitpro member portal.

Click “Resources” and access Trainer+.

To find out more about Trainer+ and what it can do, watch the videos on our website.

FACEBOOK LIVE

You can host a live virtual workout with your clients on Facebook through your personal or business page. Make sure you have your camera enabled. The best camera set up is always vertical or portrait.

You can host a live virtual workout with your clients on Facebook through your personal or business page. Make sure you have your camera enabled.

  1. Click Create Post at the top of your News Feed.
  2. Click, then click “Live Video”.
  3. Write a short description.
  4. Click “Go Live” in the bottom right-hand corner.

Note: Use the Google Chrome web browser to go live from your computer. Otherwise, you can use the app directly from your smartphone or tablet.

For more information on how to use Facebook, visit the Facebook Support Centre.

INSTAGRAM LIVE

  1. Tap  in the top left of the screen or swipe right from anywhere in the app.
  2. Scroll to “Live” at the bottom of the screen, then tap 
  3. The number of viewers appears at the top of the screen and comments appear at the bottom. Tap Comment to add a comment, and tap a comment and tap Pin Comment to pin it so that viewers can see it more easily.
  4. To turn comments off, tap  (iPhone) or  (Android) then select “Turn Off Commenting”.
  5. When you’re done, tap “End” in the top right-hand corner, then tap to confirm.
    From there, you can tap  in the top left to save it to your camera roll, or share it to your Story.
    It may take a minute for your live video to save to your phone, especially for longer videos.

For more information on how to use Instagram, visit the Instagram Support Centre.

HOW TO HAVE PRIVATE VIDEO CALLS WITH CLIENTS

FACEBOOK

To video chat on Facebook:

  1. Click at the top right corners.
  2. Open a conversation with the person you want to have a video call with.
  3. Click in the top right corner of the chat window.

For more information on how to use Facebook, visit the Facebook Support Centre.

INSTAGRAM

You can have a video chat with up to six (6) people using Direct Messaging.

To begin a video chat on Instagram, open the app in your tablet or mobile phone.

  1. Tap  in the top right of the app.
  2. Tap in the top right.
    Select people from the list or tap Search… to search for someone.
    The person or group you call will receive a notification that you’re calling them.

Keep in mind that anyone you’ve accepted a direct message from can video chat with you.

For more information on how to use Instagram, visit the Instagram Support Centre.

WHAT’S APP

To make a video call from What’s App, open the app on your mobile phone.

1. Open the chat with the contact you want to video call.
2. Tap Video call 

Receiving a video call:
When someone video calls you, you’ll see an incoming WHATSAPP VIDEO CALL screen, where you can:

• Swipe up to accept 
• Swipe up to decline 
• Swipe up to reply to decline the call with a quick message 

ZOOM MEETING

  1. Go to http://zoom.us and click “Sign In”.
  2. You can use the “e-mail” and “password” that you have created, or use your Google (Gmail or Google App) or Facebook account to sign in with.
    Note: If you do not have a current Zoom account, please click on “Sign Up Free” to create a new one.

HOSTING A MEETING

If you do NOT have the Zoom app installed, go to zoom.us and select “Host a Meeting” to start the installation.
If you DO have the App installed, see the steps below.

Open your Zoom app on your desktop and click “Sign In”.

Log in using the E-mail and password that you have created, or with Google (Gmail) or Facebook.

Click the downward arrow and select Start with video, then click New Meeting to start an instant meeting.

Please note that free plan has a 40-minute limit on meetings with three or more people. One-on-one meetings are unlimited.

For more information on Zoom, please visit the Zoom Support Centre.

We hope these tips give you a start on running your classes online!

Most importantly, have fun!

Keeping your workouts fun and engaging may appeal to a whole new audience that you haven’t worked with before, and who will look forward to connecting with you in person, once the fitness industry returns to a new level of normal.