The Importance of Community

At Hybrid Fitness, we believe that community is one of the most important things in a gym. Members who feel like they are part of a community are likelier to stick with their fitness goals. They are also more likely to be motivated and supported by their fellow members.

There are many ways to build a community in a gym. One way is through group fitness classes, which we have seen work in our clubs.

Group fitness classes are an excellent way for members to meet people with a common purpose. Through challenging sessions, our members build a rapport with one another and build a support network of motivated mates, pushing each other on during sessions.

Another way we build our community is through social events. It's not just about the grind but about the unwinding too.

At Loughborough, for example, we run regular social events at our partner, The Phantom; our team and members get to spend time with each other away from the gym and get to feel like they're part of something more than a gym.

Other things we do to foster a community environment and ensure our members enjoy their training experience and get maximum value from their membership:

• Create a welcoming environment. We make sure that your gym is clean, well-lit, and inviting.

• Hire friendly and knowledgeable staff. Our staff are always on hand to answer members' questions and provide them with the support they need.

• Competition. Deep down, everyone likes a little competition. We constantly run small challenges across our clubs, often in the form of member vs staff. Leader boards and PB boards also feature in our S&C classes.

Building a community in a gym takes time and effort, but we've found that it's more than worth it. Our members are more engaged, have made real friendships and know they have community support.

Our members feel like they are part of something more than a gym; they are chasing their fitness goals in an environment they want to train in, with people they want to train with. That's not to say you can't do your own thing at Hybrid Fitness. Train your way, but there's a community there if needed.

Here are some of the benefits we've seen after developing our communities:

• Increased motivation

• Increased accountability

• Increased support

• Better member retention

It's the Hybrid Fitness way.