Your Blueprint to Creating Captivating Online Fitness Courses and Yoga Teacher Training

Last Updated on 1 October, 2024

In the bustling landscape of today’s fitness industry, standing out is more than a goal—it’s a necessity.

Offering online fitness courses and yoga teacher training programs can set your studio apart, catapulting your reach from local to global. This strategic move does more than expand your audience; it positions your brand as an authoritative voice in the wellness domain, fostering a larger, more engaged community.

Imagine the impact of offering not just workouts to clients, but pathways of professional and personal growth to staff and aspiring instructors. By integrating online fitness courses and yoga teacher trainings into your offerings, you transform your business into a beacon of opportunity. This move towards digital education opens doors for them to certify no matter where they are in the world.

Moreover, in an era where boutique fitness studios are the norm, members’ expectations have skyrocketed. They seek not just classes, but transformative experiences led by highly skilled instructors. By investing in the continuous improvement of your trainers through comprehensive certification programs, you’re not just elevating their expertise; you’re elevating the entire client experience.

In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the blueprint for creating impactful fitness training courses online, unpack the myriad benefits it brings to your business, and provide insights into leveraging this digital evolution to foster a more engaged, educated, and expansive community.

Get ready to redefine the boundaries of what your fitness business can achieve.

Here’s what we’ll discuss:

• The benefits of offering fitness courses and yoga teacher training
• Yoga teacher training basics
• Fitness course building essentials
• Step by step: How to build a yoga teacher training fitness training course
  • Step 1: Research industry certifications, standards, and requirements
  • Step 2: Identify your audience
  • Step 3: Create a course outline
  • Step 4: Get started on content
    
• How these steps apply to other fitness instructor training
• WellnessLiving is here to support your training efforts

The benefits of yoga teacher training and other fitness training

Offering yoga teacher training and specialized fitness certifications isn’t just an add-on to your studio’s services; it’s a transformative strategy that propels both your business and community forward. Here’s how these programs can significantly benefit your studio, instructors, and members:

• Enhanced Instructor Quality: Certified instructors bring a higher level of expertise, ensuring personalized and impactful sessions for members of all abilities.
• Diverse Class Offerings: Trained instructors can design classes for specific groups, such as seniors, post-natal attendees, and beginners, diversifying your studio’s offerings.
• Member Satisfaction and Retention: Quality training leads to satisfied members who are more likely to achieve their goals, resulting in increased loyalty and retention.
• Professional Development: Investing in your staff’s education fosters a culture of growth, boosting morale and enhancing your studio’s community.
• Positive Studio Environment: A well-supported and educated team creates a welcoming and motivating atmosphere, enhancing the overall member experience.
• Revenue Growth: Certification programs introduce new revenue opportunities by attracting individuals seeking career advancement in fitness.
• Brand Differentiation: Offering these programs sets your studio apart as a leader in education and professional development within the fitness industry.
• Community Building: Encouraging members to become trained instructors not only expands your community but also deepens their engagement with your studio.

Yoga teacher training basics

How long is yoga teacher training? This is one of the most common questions students have. The length of your yoga teacher training depends on the yoga style you specialize in and which certification or school you choose. Vinyasa, power, and hot yoga teacher training are the most popular.

You might be wondering, what is 200-hour yoga teacher training? The 200-hour yoga teacher training program is for students who are getting certified for the first time. It includes foundational topics like anatomy, sequencing, the philosophy of yoga, and how to make hands-on adjustments for students. There are also the longer, more advanced 300-hour and 500-hour yoga teaching training programs. All these programs are under the Yoga Alliance, arguably the most recognized yoga training entity in the United States.

You should also be familiar with the term Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). RYTs are certified by the Yoga Alliance and have completed specific training and a certain number of hours.

However, you can also get yoga certifications and the knowledge needed to teach from other yoga schools. With that in mind, you can very well build your own yoga teacher certification course with the right tools.

Fitness course building essentials

A reliable learning platform

The best online fitness courses prioritize flexibility. This way students can take the training/classes when it best suits them. The platform you use to host your courses should make it easy for students to take online classes and track their progress. You might keep in-person and live virtual classes relatively small so every student can get the most out of each one.

Consider building an on-demand library as well. This will make your courses even more accessible and boost your revenue with more students in each program without sacrificing quality.

If your course includes it, be sure to use a platform that supports written content. This will make it easy to keep every part of your course engaging. The platform should also make it easy to access and revisit lessons.

An easy-to-use booking app

Registering for and accessing classes should be as simple as possible. When you offer students a user-friendly mobile app, they’ll be able to book their own classes conveniently. They can also peek at their progress and review material as needed. An app can work wonders for customer retention for these reasons.

The right setup

When you’re ready to shoot video content, the right setup is crucial. It will help you avoid technical difficulties and delays during live classes. A good set up should include durable fitness equipment, a distraction-free set, and reliable cameras and sound equipment.

Step by step: How to build a yoga teacher training course

Step 1: Research industry certifications, standards, and requirements

When planning to offer educational programs through your studio, it’s crucial to ensure they comply with all relevant standards and regulations. This diligence guarantees that your students leave the course not only satisfied but also fully prepared to teach. To achieve this, you should start by identifying the authoritative organizations related to your discipline within the regions you operate. For instance, in the fields of yoga or Pilates, are there recognized bodies that certify instructors’ qualifications locally?

Understanding the legal boundaries of what you’re permitted to teach is equally vital. Depending on the regulations, you might have the opportunity to design courses that elevate students to instructor-level proficiency. However, in certain situations, the final step of certification might necessitate involvement from these official entities. By guiding your students towards these governing bodies for their certification completion, you ensure they achieve recognized qualifications, enhancing their credibility and career prospects in the field.

Step 2: Identify your audience

Before diving into the development of your course content, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your target audience. Identifying who your classes are intended for and engaging with them directly can provide invaluable insights. Whether your focus is on yoga, personal training, or group fitness, getting to know your audience’s preferences is crucial.

By understanding what your audience is most interested in, you can tailor your offerings to meet their needs more effectively. This knowledge is not only beneficial in determining the subject matter of your courses but also in deciding how to structure them.

For example, understanding your audience’s goals and preferences can guide you in balancing in-person and virtual class offerings. It can also help you determine the most suitable times for live classes, the ideal length for each session, and other logistical aspects that contribute to the overall effectiveness and appeal of your courses.

Step 3: Create a course outline

An outline is a great way to flesh out ideas and keep your content organized. It will also give you a clearer concept of what you need to focus on, and which areas need more research. The outline phase is also the perfect time to get specific about your course’s objective.

You can create outlines using something as simple as Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Be sure to cover the foundations for first-time learners. That includes anatomy, the philosophy of yoga, and meditation. It also includes how to modify poses to cater to different students, how to use props, and how to adjust students in class.

Step 4: Get started on content

It’s time to execute your plan. Remember that your content needs to be informative and engaging. In yoga training especially, some classes will cover more abstract topics like meditation and the philosophy of yoga. Therefore, it’s important to make your content interactive when possible. Feel free to inject some personality into the classes too.

How these steps apply to other fitness instructor training

• Provide guidance for your instructors. There are a lot of different recognized programs out there. Although you can’t necessarily offer your students certain certifications, you can help them understand which fitness instructor certification they should get.
• Focus on flexibility. No matter what type of training your instructors are looking for, flexibility is key. Your staff or future instructors likely have busy schedules outside of the studio. Having a range of online and in-person classes to choose from is ideal, allowing you to offer your trainings globally.
• Understand your potential students. Get to know your audience. What specific areas of their practice do they want to work on? Do they want to cater to specific groups of members? Once you understand their goals in more detail, you can offer the classes they really want.

WellnessLiving is here to support your training efforts

At WellnessLiving, we want to help you expand your business and boost revenue. Fitness or yoga instructor training is an excellent way to do both.

WellnessLiving’s FitLIVE is the perfect place to start. You can use this feature to run online workshops and classes including fitness courses and teacher training. Then, use the FitVID on Demand feature to store your videos. Your members and staff can use this on-demand video library to conveniently take and revisit classes of your training courses.

FitLIVE, FitVID on Demand, and other WellnessLiving features can help grow your business. Book your free no-commitment demo to see how.