live streaming video classesMake the most of your online fitness workout by being ready for it! Avoid missing the first several minutes while scrambling to adjust your screen, your space, and get equipment together. Here are things you’ll need to prepare for your Zoom workout session.

Zoom Workout Equipment Checklist

  • Mat

  • Two tennis balls

  • Two yoga blocks

  • Stability ball

  • Four-foot rod, staff, or dowel

How to Prepare for a Zoom Workout

Here’s how to prepare for your Zoom workout so you can make the most of your training session.

  • Test your ZOOM login ahead of time.

    If you’ve never logged into zoom before I recommend you test it well before time for your session to get the hang of it.

  • Prepare your workout space.

    Make sure you have at least a 6’ x 8’ space where you can work out in front of an open zoom screen. It is less disruptive to the class if you’re prepped and less stressful if you don’t have to figure it out while class is going.

  • Set your screen about 3 yards away.

    This way your whole body will be visible in the Zoom window whether you are seated or standing.

  • Please be aware of the noise you are making.

    In a group class structure, please be considerate to the other people in the class by being as unobtrusive as possible. If you are making or have a lot of background noise, please “mute” yourself. Or if you are making too much noise I will mute you.

  • Be patient with yourself and the process.

    If you are not able to relax your nervous system, your body will not allow you to feel the stretches. This is a complete mobility system that takes time for your body to master. I expect students to understand about 10% of what we do each day. So do not expect to understand it all until you’ve done it for a year. The CARS illustrate how much body control you really have — if you can’t isolate each joint independently, your body control is not as good as you think it is.

  • Pull yourself out of position if it doesn’t feel right.

    Make sure to protect your body while holding yourself in these positions. While using irradiation, this can be very challenging. So make sure you are in a semi-comfortable position allowing you to sit for several minutes while doing the PAILS and RAILS. Part of what we’re doing here is working to improve your intuitive connection with your body. Pay attention so you can pull out of a position if it is making you stiff or doesn’t feel right. Making sure you are not hurting is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

  • If something doesn’t feel right STOP IMMEDIATELY…

    and start doing some CARS until you feel OK. Go at your own pace, don’t push it, don’t try to make it look like mine — just see what feels right for you. The goal is for you to learn to listen to your own body, improving your intuitive connection with your body, and only you can do this. This is done by slowing down enough, being quiet enough to listen to your own body.

KES Fitness Online: August News

We’re still running live streaming video classes! In July we shared the news that our gym and our current Zoom video personal training system is getting an upgrade. It’s really coming along and I’m excited to share the news.

Creating an Online Fitness System

online fitness sample screenOver the last few months, I’ve spent literally hundreds of hours learning everything about audio and video technology, learning and perfecting new skills and techniques. I’ve had to learn how to effectively train through video, whether live or pre-recorded. I’ve discovered that it demands more verbal communication and a much different presentation for a camera than the in-person training sessions I’ve been doing for well over a decade. There have been so many trials and errors along the way while filming. Like half a day spent preparing an audio/video/lighting setup for a half-hour workout recording session and completing it after a few false starts, only to find that my mic wasn’t on the whole time!

Aside from my own study, I’ve sought out advice from other gym owners I admire and experts in other fields. I’ve gotten valuable advice from video, web, business, digital marketing, traditional marketing, and social media pros about how to put together a great program for my clients. And it’s really coming together.

The bottom line is that I want my clients to have the best possible experience with their online workout with me and feel the personal attention I’ve given each session, so that all this work results in my clients feeling stronger and moving better!

Watch Facebook for Announcements

We’re still watching for guidelines for gyms and making our own decisions about what we feel will be a safe reopening for us and everyone who comes to the gym/dojo. Please follow us here or on Facebook for what’s next.