Participation in group fitness classes at Westmoreland Athletic Club in Greensburg, was on the decline, according to executive director Laurie Corbett, and the club wanted to find a way to increase participation and introduce new people to its classes. Says Corbett, “We needed to add some variety, and introduce club members to the various formats of the classes we offer.”
What the club came up with is a monthly class called Tag Team. Corbett explains: The group fitness instructors get together and choose a theme for the class, including music and class content. The theme is then used as a backdrop for the class, which includes more than one instructor. The class typically starts out with a warm-up, then a hi/lo-impact segment, moves into kickboxing, thento step,then toa weight segment, and ends up with yoga or a Pilates mat class segment.
The Tag Team class lasts about two hours. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. Says Corbett, “We choose one evening the last week of every month to offer the class. The day varies so that participants who may not be able to attend, for example, on a Wednesday, can still have the opportunity to try the class.”
To make the class festive, the room is decorated to go with the chosen theme, and instructors wear coordinating outfits. Sometimes refreshments are served.
Some of the Tag Teams Westmoreland Athletic Club has offered include the following:
Rock and Jam through the Decades. Each instructor chose a decade from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s or today. Music and the instructors’ outfits fit that particular era. The room was decorated with old 45s, albums, posters, cut-out music notes, etc. “We had instructors from a Madonna look-a-like, to a Disco dresser, to [one] with bobby socks and a pony tail,” says Corbett.
Boot Camp. This class had a military theme, from the camouflage decorations and outfits, to music from the Village People (“In The Navy”). Nets, Army duffel bags and Army rations decorated the room, and promotional signage throughout the club read, “We Want YOU to come to the Tag Team class,” and depicted a large finger pointing. “We held this class around Memorial Day, tying in the patriotic feel and USA spirit,” says Corbett.
Fiesta Tag Team. “Latin music is very popular, and [we had] a hit [with] our Fiesta Tag Team class,” says Corbett. Sombreros, crepe paper and pinatas adorned the room, and light refreshments were served, including sangria punch (fruit juice and Crystal Light), fat-free tortilla chips and salsa.
Beach Party. This class playedBeach Boys music, and people actually sang along. Beach towels, beach chairs, sunglasses and paper mache suns decorated the room, and sliced fresh fruit was served afterward.
Tag Team Goes to the Movies. Corbett explains, “We chose music from favorite movie soundtracks for this one. A local video rental store donated the large promotional movie release posters for our decorations. We also hung videocassette boxes from the ceiling.” Popcorn was available during “intermission” (when instructors or classformats changed), and at the end of “the show.”
Plans for future Tag Team classes at Westmoreland Athletic Club include a country/western theme with music from country artists. Decor will include hay bales and cowboy hats.
Corbett offers advice for clubs who want to increase their group exercise participation numbers by beginning such a program: “Using your imagination, the possibilities keep growing. [Our program] started out with lower participation, but it is growing. About two weeks before the class, signs are posted throughout the club advertising the class. Instructors announce at their classes when the next Tag Team will be held. Members are encouraged to bring a friend. The class is open to all of our members, regardless of the type of membership they have. (This encourages membership upgrades.) The atmosphere in the classes is exciting and motivating, even for those not brave enough to enter!”