Author: Lisa S

How Yoga Can Help Your Depression

Posted on by Lisa S

Yoga is an ancient practice and it is believed to help people cope with their depression in a natural, healthy way. Because of the mindfulness inherent in yoga, it can help distract you from your problems and focus on yourself instead. It also helps relax you so that you get a good night’s sleep.

For some people, starting out small can be beneficial in helping alleviate mild symptoms of depression. Yoga’s benefits for mental health have been proven. Studies have shown that five minutes of yoga per day can be beneficial for mental health. It isn’t any wonder that the yoga business today is flourishing!

Yoga can ease your racing thoughts and allow you to relax.
Oftentimes, people with depression have racing thoughts about the past or worries about the future. Yoga is a great method for bringing these thoughts to a halt and letting you be present in your body.

There are several simple yoga postures that can help you calm your mind and enjoy this moment. If you’re feeling anxious, try sitting in hero pose, with your knees pressed against the floor and your feet tucked behind your butt. Train yourself to sit still while focusing on how your legs feel as they touch the floor. If you get distracted by worrisome thoughts, redirect yourself to concentrate on what it feels like to breathe and sit still in that position.

Another posture that is often used for relaxation is the corpse pose (lying flat on your back). While doing this pose, focus on each breath as if it were a wave from an ocean that was just coming up onto shore—and then receding back out towards sea again—and let yourself be carried away by each breath until you fall asleep or wake up again energized and ready for whatever comes next!

Breathing exercises are calming and can help you feel more engaged with the world.
To do this, focus on your breath. Breathe in from your nose, hold it for four counts and breathe out through the mouth for eight counts. This helps calm the nervous system. You can do this anywhere, anytime, whether you’re at work or brushing your teeth before bed. You’ll start to notice that as you focus on breathing deeply, your mind starts to clear.

Yoga is a natural, safe, and healthy way to cope with depression. Unlike prescription drugs, yoga does not come with harmful side effects. This particularly makes it beneficial for people who must exercise caution when taking new medications. It’s also a holistic approach: Yoga’s benefits extend to the body and mind, meaning it can address both physical and mental symptoms of depression.

Meditation stops your thoughts from wandering into the past or future and enables you to focus on the present.
Meditation is a central aspect of yoga. It allows you to be in the moment and clear your mind. Meditation can help you feel more connected with the world. This can reduce feelings of isolation that sometimes accompany depression. You may even find that you’re better able to focus on things and feel calmer after incorporating meditation into your life.

As with any new practice, meditation takes time and effort to master, but it’s worth it!

Is yoga good for depression?
Of course! The benefits of yoga for depression, anxiety and stress cannot be overstated. It may not be the only solution and is never a substitute for therapy, but it can certainly be an aid in your journey to overall well-being.

3 Advantages Of Integrating Fitness Software On Your Brand Website

Posted on by Lisa S

As a fitness entrepreneur, you’ve probably already realized how a fitness software helps improve your branding. Now, when you choose a fitness studio management software, you’ll want to make sure that the service includes integration of the software on your brand website. The advantages of fitness studio software are many but it’s only truly effective when it can be used via your website.   Software providers like My Best Studio seamlessly integrate the software onto your site at no additional cost.Here are the benefits of software integration on your fitness studio website

A One-Stop-Shop
When you integrate your fitness studio software with your website, you give customers the chance to book classes, view schedule availability and more, all in one place.

Fitness is a unique industry that has seen a major digital transformation over the past few years. With the rise of boutique gyms, more and more people are looking for ways to track their activities outside of going to the gym or traditional team-based sports. The need for integrated software that allows people to schedule workouts, manage their health information and pay for classes has never been greater. As a fitness business owner or manager, it’s important that you find ways to capitalize on this growing trend by integrating your workout schedules into your site so customers don’t have to go anywhere else but your site.

A Better Experience For Your Customers
Another one of the benefits of having your fitness software integrated into your brand website is that it will provide an overall better experience for your customers. The best software will be easy to use, efficient, and allow users to access it from anywhere and on any device.

The easier you make usage of your fitness software, the happier your customers will be using it. They want a convenient experience, so give it to them by integrating all of their needs right on your website. With everything in one place and with software accessible from anywhere at any time, they’ll have no choice but to keep coming back again and again.

It’s Cost-effective
The consumer and the business owner both save money by integrating the booking process into your website. With fitness studio booking and scheduling software, customers can easily book their classes, sessions, or appointments at their convenience, and you don’t have to hire additional staff to handle the scheduling of these activities. All you need is a smartphone or tablet for online check-ins. Your clients can then log on via computer at any time to reserve future spots in whatever class they choose.

Reasons Why Starting A CrossFit Studio Is A Great Idea For Entrepreneurs

Posted on by Lisa S

As an entrepreneur, the last thing you want to do is start a business that will be irrelevant in just a few years (or even months). That’s why it’s important to consider the longevity of your concept. CrossFit has been around for over ten years and has gained significant popularity in that time. CrossFit isn’t going away anytime soon and here are a few reasons to start building a crossfit gym.

You can make a difference.
If you are looking to make a difference, there are so many ways to do so when you own your own CrossFit gym. You can help people transform their health and overall fitness. You’ll get the opportunity to change people’s lives for the better, and that is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Great revenue earning potential
 There are tons of money-making opportunities associated with running a successful crossfit gym. You can sell training programs, nutrition programs and clothing to your clients. Some of these items can be delivered in person, while others can be delivered online. When it comes to crossfit gym marketing, you have the space on your website and in your training facility. There is also a need for seminars as well as products and services that support the CrossFit industry, such as supplements and equipment. With CrossFit software, you can monitor your revenue at any time, as well.

CrossFit studio management services
With the availability of specialized CrossFit studio management software, a lot of the heavy-lifting is done for you. From class bookings to schedule management, salary payout, or payment reminders, it can all be customized and managed from studio software such as the one offered by My Best Studio.

 Be a part of a CrossFit community.
Cross Fitters are known for creating a community of their own. They spend much of their free time in class, honing their skills and getting stronger physically and mentally. This means that they will look to you as an owner, coach, or trainer to help them out when they need it. It also means that you will attract people with similar interests, who may also be struggling in life or want better things for themselves.

In conclusion, starting a CrossFit studio business is the perfect venture for entrepreneurs who are looking for something exciting, fresh, and new. And could there be a better way to get in shape yourself?

Design Tips To Build A Great Fitness Website

Posted on by Lisa S

Building a custom website design is key in attracting new members to your gym and retaining existing members.Your website needs to stand out from other gyms’ websites and attract people who are looking for a place where they can get fit with other like-minded individuals without spending too much time or money on equipment or facilities.

By building an engaging website design for your fitness center that reflects its culture, you can establish an online presence that attracts customers who will stay loyal over time because of what it offers them socially as well as physically!If you’re wondering how to design a fitness website, here are some important web design tips you should make note of.

Make it visually compelling.
The first step to making a fitness website that’s well-designed is to make it visually compelling, and you do this by incorporating high-quality images and video throughout the site. The best fitness website designs use high quality photos that show your gym/studio or some of the exercises being performed by your clients so visitors can get an idea of what it’s like to work with you. If possible, try using video clips as well which will help showcase your facility better than any picture ever could!

Top fitness website designs also make sure to use white space in a clean and simple layout. White space is one of those things that gets overlooked on websites, but when done correctly can really make an impact on how people experience your brand online. Too often people think more content equals success – not just from a user perspective but also from businesses seeking leads and conversions because they feel like adding more information about their services makes sense for SEO purposes (search engine optimization). The truth is there needs to be just enough content for users without overwhelming them with too much information right away because this will reduce conversion rates or engagement levels overall which ultimately hurts our bottom line goals so always keep those considerations top-of-mind while working through wireframes / mockups before finalizing them into live designs!

Match the design and photography with the culture of your fitness studio.
Use images that are relevant to your fitness studio. Website designers always recommend that the photos you use throughout the website should be of your studio, or at least have a similar style. For example, if you have yoga mats for sale in the boutique of your studio, don’t place images of equipment on the page unless it’s being used by people who look like they’d actually attend your classes (i.e., no pictures of bodybuilders selling yoga mats). Use images that are relevant to your culture. If you’re a high-end boutique fitness studio that is all about community, use images that capture this message (think: photography of people doing their pushups together on their hands and toes) Remember to use high-quality photos: blurring and pixels will ruin your site!

Give users a way to contact you – easily.
This is probably the most underestimated design tips for websites. Your contact page should be easy to find, and it should contain your phone number and email address. Even better, provide a contact form so users don’t have to actually type an email message. Some people like maps, and if you’re a brick-and-mortar gym or fitness club where members meet for group sessions or personal training, add a map to your site. This way people can easily get directions to your gym.

If you’re looking for budget web design services for your fitness studio, My Best Studio offers comprehensive affordable website design and development services along with its fitness studio management software services.

Pole Dancing Offers The Best Health Benefits – Here’s How

Posted on by Lisa S

Pole dancing offers a wide range of benefits for your physical and mental health. Here are some of the benefits of pole dancing and the reason you should be heading to that pole dancing studio soon! Read on and you’ll  discover why the pole dancing business is flourishing.

Pole dancing burns mega calories.
 If you want to burn calories and get that ever-elusive, tight tummy and butt, pole dancing classes will do the trick. However, the number of calories that you burn depends on a few factors: your weight, how hard you work out, and if you have had anything to eat before class.

On average, a one hour pole dancing class could help you burn 500-700 calories. This is because the exercise is highly efficient in toning your muscles while burning fat.

To put it into perspective: 1 pound (454g) of fat gives approximately 3500 calories. So, if you take 3 one hour classes per week for 2 months (8 weeks), you will lose about 6 pounds (2.7kg) of fat!

It requires mental strength and concentration, which can help reduce stress.
 If you choose to learn pole dancing, then you are going to discover how much it can help improve your mental strength. Yes, the benefits of a pole dancing workout even extend to mental health. When you practice pole dancing techniques, you will be amazed at how quickly your ability to concentrate improves! Pole dancing requires concentration and physical control, and the mental benefits of pole dancing are real as dancers must be aware of their body positions and movements while they are performing throughout the entire routine.

You get a serious muscle workout.
There are multiple benefits of learning pole dancing, but the best of all is that it is a full-body workout. Not only are you using your arms, shoulders and core to grip the pole and maneuver your body, but you’re also using each major muscle group in your lower half. When done right, all of these muscle groups work together to make for a safer, more effective workout. While the primary muscles used involve pulling your weight up and around the pole, others come into play, too—especially those in the hips and lower back, which help with balance as you swing from side to side or hold yourself inverted on the pole.

You’ll be forced to focus on your breathing.
Breathing is essential for any physical activity, but it’s crucial when it comes to pole dancing—which involves dramatic movements that put your body weight on one arm! If you’ve ever tried a new exercise class, you’ll notice that the instructor often reminds you to focus on your breathing. This is because deep breaths help us relax and keep our minds clear. Pole dancing is no different. In fact, given how challenging pole dancing can be, focusing on your breathing will help prevent you from getting dizzy as soon as you flip yourself upside down. Many pole dancers recommend breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth while doing moves such as spins or tricks to build up strength and avoid injury.

Wondering how pole dancing changes your body?
Experience the benefits of pole dancing exercise. Find classes near you and sign up today!

Equipment & Essentials for An Indoor Cycling Studio

Posted on by Lisa S

Are you an entrepreneur looking to set up an indoor cycling studio?
Here’s a quick run-through of the main equipment and essentials you will need to get your cycling studio up and running in no time! 

 Bikes
 When it comes to indoor cycling essentials, the most important piece of indoor cycling training equipment is the bike. You can’t turn a wheel without a bike, so how do you choose the right one? You might think they’re all pretty much the same, but quite a few different types of bikes are available.

  • Upright: This type of bike mimics traditional road and hybrid bikes. The rider is seated with their legs straight down and their back at an angle to provide support while keeping their upper body open for breathing.
  • Recumbent: In this style of bike, the rider reclines into a seat that supports their entire body. They then push on pedals positioned in front of them rather than below them like on an upright bike.
  • Indoor cycle trainers: This type of stationary bike uses special software that functions as an avatar for your ride experience complete with scenery and other riders from all over the world. Some even have built-in resistance controls so you can adjust your workout intensity by “shifting gears.” It makes sense to invest in the best indoor cycling gadgets and equipment as that makes all the difference to the customer experience.

Flooring:
The flooring of your indoor cycling setup is vital to your business in that it should provide a non-slip surface for riders. It should also be elastic enough to absorb the shock of a cyclist’s movements, reducing the chance of injury. For example, if you plan to offer more low-impact cycling workouts such as recumbent or upright stationary bike group fitness classes, non-slip flooring isn’t as necessary. Flooring that absorbs sound and is comfortable to stand on for long periods would be more beneficial than non-slip in this scenario.

Sound system:
Another critical element of your cycling studio is the sound system. Music can be used as a tool to motivate your members and can be an additional safety measure in case of an emergency. It’s recommended that the sound system should output at least 100 dB of sound pressure level (SPL) at the furthest point from your speaker. Generally, speakers should be placed on either side of where riders will sit for class. If possible, speakers should be positioned about 8 feet off the floor and angled down towards riders to improve intelligibility.

Water bottles & Towels:
The water bottle and the sweat towel are two essentials that no cyclist should be without. It’s crucial to stay hydrated throughout your workout, especially when it involves high-intensity cardio like indoor cycling. Meanwhile, a sweat towel is essential because you will sweat—a lot. A few strategically placed towels around the studio will go a long way in helping members have a more enjoyable experience.

Cycling Studio Software: 
This is the key to running a successful indoor cycling studio. It allows you to manage bookings and payments, track class attendance, and provide members with the best experience possible. The most advanced class management software, like My Best Studio goes beyond simply taking bookings. It integrates other software systems like POS, allows you to automate communication, syncs with your website and more. This reduces manual work and gives you more time to focus on making sure your customers have an amazing experience when they ride at your studio.

Why Your Fitness Studio Needs A Brand Website

Posted on by Lisa S

You’ve put in blood, sweat, and tears to build and run your fitness studio, but you’re finding that it’s hard to attract new members. Have you considered how a brand fitness website could be the solution to your problem? Whether you are just starting out or are an established business owner, everyone needs a web presence. If you are an entrepreneur who owns a fitness studio, your website is the cornerstone of your business. Interested in knowing more about how to get your own brand website? Check this out

If a potential customer wants to learn about your studio and its services, it’s much easier for them to visit your site than pick up a phone and call, write you an email, or leave you a note on social media. Let’s face it. People are busy. They’re on the go and they need to know who you are and what you’re all about fast! Nothing screams instant credibility more than your very own branded website.A solid brand fitness website conveys everything about your business to viewers in one place. It’s all there: hours of operation, class schedule, location information, pricing and more. All the contact information they need is readily available too.

A professional brand website for your fitness business helps you communicate with the world.Your fitness studio’s website is the most important marketing tool for attracting new customers. A professional-looking site can set your studio apart from competitors, display a clean and inviting atmosphere, and enhance current members’ experience (and loyalty).

Most fitness studios are missing a huge opportunity by not having an online presence. With a fitness business website, you can continue your brand image outside of the studio walls so that consumers can find out more about you and your services.

Here’s a quick 3-point checklist to ensure a winning fitness studio website:
  • A clear, easy to follow and understand fitness website design that allows you to showcase your studio’s personality
  • Flawless user experience so your website is easy to navigate and explore
  • Clear call to actions that convert potential customers into paying ones.
  • Easy discover ability on search engines, so potential customers find you as the solution to their fitness needs.

Your fitness studio is one of your biggest investments. It’s the place where you go to fulfill your passion and help others fulfill theirs.Knowing how to get the most out of your website will help grow your business, increase revenue, and make life easier for you. Looking for health and fitness website design inspiration or end-to-end website design & development services for your fitness studio? Don’t waste another minute. Get started today.

Dance Fitness Classes Even The Worst Dancers Will LOVE!

Posted on by Lisa S

Dance fitness classes are a great way to get fit because it’s fun and active. When you dance, you are using your entire body for balance, coordination and body control. You work out more than just your legs and arms. Dance Fitness helps you burn fat, improve posture, tone muscles, reduce stress and get fit.Got two left feet? Don’t worry! Dance fitness takes away the pain out of dancing!

You know that exercise is important, but it’s hard to get inspired. That’s where dance fitness workout programs come in. You don’t have to be a great dancer.  You don’t even have to have any dance moves (but you will after you try it!). And best of all, there are no special clothes or shoes involved. While you’re still getting physically fit, you’ll also become more confident, learn to listen to your body and the rhythms of music, and maybe even make some friends along the way. Here are some popular types of dance fitness that even the worst dancers are guaranteed to love!

Cardio dance
cardio dance class will get your heart pumping and the sweat dripping. This fun and upbeat dance workout is the perfect way to get your heart rate up. Twerk it out to fun hip-hop music, plus get some good arm and leg work on with great music and a high energy instructor!The workout will improve your strength, flexibility and endurance. You will use your own body weight for resistance, which means it’s perfect for all fitness levels.

Zumba
Looking for dance inspiration? Zumba dancing is one of the most popular dance cardio exercises. Zumba combines fast and slow Latin and hip hop moves with simple dances to create a high-energy aerobic dance workout that is fun to do. It’s safe, effective, and easy to follow and the best dance workout program to potentially burn up to 1000 calories an hour!

Pole dance
Pole dancing is a fantastic way to get fit and gain strength while having a ton of fun.Whether you want to get in shape, burn calories, stay fit, or just feel feminine, it is the best dance workout program to effectively strengthen your core and upper body while also helping you achieve flexibility. A pole dance workout combines Pilates, TRX, yoga, and strength training. It is challenging, liberating and a great deal of fun!

If you’ve been searching for the right dance fitness classes online, we hope this article helps you make your decision. Get up, get fit, get moving!

How To Breathe Effectively While Working Out

Posted on by Lisa S

You’ve heard it said on the news, you’ve seen it in popular magazines, and you’ve watched it in those exercise videos — one of the important things you can do for yourself is learn how to breathe during workouts.  While most people have that part down, they don’t really understand what proper breathing really is. There are some people who take shallow breaths during their workouts, while there are others that take deep breaths. If you don’t breathe during workouts correctly, how are you going to get the results you want?

Breathing effectively is one of the most often overlooked aspects of a workout routine. Most people are taught that breathing matches their workout intensity, but that’s not always the case. Check out these tips that will teach you how to breathe properly during workouts and get the most out of your workout routine.

Breathing when you’re planking
As soon as you start an abdominal exercise, your muscles naturally begin to contract to prepare for movement. The rectus abdominis and obliques (the muscles on the front of your torso that are responsible for crunching your body in half or pulling your belly in tight) also contract to help maintain this balancing position. Breathing can help these muscles stabilize and prepare for the upcoming movement.

Breathing when you’re doing weights
 Often times, we’re too focused on what muscles we’re working instead of focusing on our breathing. Rather than focusing on your biceps, inhale as you lift the weight and exhale as you lower it. This is the best way to breathe during workouts. It will help with your focus, keep you from straining yourself and possibly hurting yourself, and get the most out of your exercise!

Breathing when you’re doing an HIIT workout
 When you’re performing high-intensity interval training, learning the proper way to breathe during workouts is key to getting the most out of your workout and avoiding injury. With high-intensity workouts, it’s common to feel out of breath fairly quickly. If you reach a point where you’re too out of breath and find that you’re starting to lose your form, slow down until you can resume again.

Breathing is one thing we tend to overlook when we’re working out, even though it’s the single most crucial tool to putting in a quality effort — and keeping the body healthy. And while you may have spent months or even years perfecting your squat technique or counting push ups at the end of a workout, you may be forgetting to take one factor into consideration: The importance of proper breathing.

So how do you breathe while working out? We hope this article has helped you identify any mistakes and breathe better!

What Features Should You Look for in a Fitness Management Software?

Posted on by Lisa S

Creating and running a successful fitness studio, health center, or small business takes a lot more than just training methods and enthusiasm. That’s where investing in a good fitness software comes in. Here’s what you should be looking for.

A software that helps you run your day-to-day tasks effortlessly
Fitness management software handles a lot of day-to-day tasks that management teams need to keep the facility running smoothly.It’s not hard to find software that lets you manage your fitness center. Most fitness software bundles include the major industry staples—member information, signups and billing, class scheduling, and daily operations like the cash register. It’s when you start adding specific needs that you need to look closely at what each vendor offers.There are so many features that you can look for in a fitness management software program. It’s important to ask yourself, what value will the added features bring?

A software that has the right tools & is easy to use
You’ll want to start by jotting down mental notes about what you want your fitness studio management software to be able to do for your business. Tools you should consider include: a client sign-up process, comprehensive reports, a logging feature for classes and personal workouts and/or training sessions, text messaging capabilities as well as e-mail integration, an interactive calendar feature, and an automatic payment processing system.Basically, you want it to be easy to use, efficient and advanced in technology, and holistic with new tools that aid in tracking your business’ progress. Now, before you go ahead and hastily choose a software service, remember to check that the price is both competitive and all inclusive. Many fitness software providers advertise a low sign up fee and then hide their most valuable features behind paywalls. Or they offer a fitness class scheduling software and nothing more! Don’t fall into that trap!

A software that offers dedicated customer support
Apart from the must have features, another key and often ignored aspect of fitness studio management software is customer support. Software often needs to be updated to fix bugs and ensure its running smoothly. Having access to either automated software updates or a dedicated customer support team can make all the difference and ensure you do not run into issues every now and again.

A software that is affordable and comes at a fixed price
The arena of fitness center software is quite vast. You can either opt for a comprehensive system that can help you with all your business needs, or you can go for scaled down features and find something more easily affordable. But to be honest, why should you have to choose one or the other? Why can’t you have both ?Are you looking for a fitness management software that has all of the features your fitness studio needs at an affordable price? My Best Studio is a leader in fitness software and provides many great features! Check it out here