At-home workout videos have been around since the days of Jane Fonda in the 1980s, and with the growth of the internet, companies like Peloton and P.volve have continued to popularize and revolutionize this space.

Thanks to the improved accessibility of streaming technology, fitness instructors and studio owners can easily stream workouts to reach workout aficionados both near and far.

In this article, we’ll provide a complete run down on how to create live stream fitness classes in 2023. We’ll start by reviewing the basics of fitness live streaming before diving into a step-by-step tutorial on how to live stream fitness classes. To wrap things up, we will discuss the best platforms and cameras for live streaming fitness classes.

Table of Contents

• Fitness Live Streaming: The Basics
• How to Create Live Stream Fitness Classes
• Best Platform for Live Streaming Fitness Classes
• Best Camera for Live Streaming Fitness Classes
• Stream Fitness Classes on Maestro

Fitness Live Streaming: The Basics

Although at-home workout videos have been around for several decades, fitness live streaming has become very popular in the past couple of years. It became increasingly popular during the pandemic.

Fitness live streaming gave people a way to stay in tune with their wellness community when gyms and studios were closed due to lockdowns. Studios and instructors were able to continue to bring in income with virtual fitness classes, as well. 

Even though many studios and gyms are back in action, many have continued to include a virtual component in their studio offerings.

Benefits of Live Streaming Fitness Classes

There are tons of benefits to live streaming fitness classes for both fitness instructors and their students. Some of these benefits include:

• Reaching a larger audience
• Making fitness more accessible
• Accommodating the schedules of busy people
• Uncapping the earning potential of in-person classes 
• Making it easy to work out from wherever

These benefits are applicable to both individual fitness instructors and fitness studio owners.

Live Streamed vs. Pre-Recorded Fitness Classes

While we’re on the topic of fitness live streaming, it’s important to take a moment to break down the difference between live streamed fitness classes and pre-recorded fitness classes. There are some distinct differences between the two, but they are both very valuable for virtual fitness studios.

The obvious difference between these two types of video fitness classes is that live streamed classes are broadcast in real-time, and pre-recorded classes are recorded ahead of time and uploaded for on-demand access. 

The most significant benefit of live stream fitness classes over pre-recorded ones is that the real-time nature mimics in-person classes. This creates a sense of community and interactivity. 

Pre-recorded classes, on the other hand, have the benefit of greater flexibility. 

How to Create Live Stream Fitness Classes

Now that you’re more familiar with the basics of fitness live streaming, let’s take a look at the step-by-step process of creating live stream fitness classes for your studio.

1. Make a Plan

Every good business venture starts with a plan, so adding a virtual component to your fitness studio or training business should be no different.

Start by thinking of the layout of your virtual fitness classes. How will they be monetized? How often will you stream? Will you only stream live, or will you have replays available, as well?

Think about what kind of classes you want to stream to get started. For example, if you own a yoga studio, you could start with a restorative series or something more intense, like a vinyasa flow. You can build your offering as you grow, but starting with a niche focus can help you get your groove.

You should also think about how you’re going to bring customers to your virtual studio. Do you have an online following, or will you be starting from scratch? 

2. Choose a Live Streaming Platform

Next, you’ll choose a live streaming platform to host your virtual fitness classes. If you’re not familiar, a live streaming platform is a type of online video platform (OVP) that is specifically designed for hosting and managing live streams.

We will take a closer look at the best platform for live streaming fitness classes later in this article.

3. Build a Virtual Fitness Studio

Now, it’s time to set up your virtual fitness studio. This is the site where your students will access your fitness live streams. If you already have a site for your studio, you can embed your fitness streaming experience into a page of your site or add it as a subdomain.

As you create your virtual fitness studio, be mindful of the user experience. Easy navigation should be your top priority. You should also make sure that the virtual fitness studio looks and feels like your brand.

4. Configure Your Streaming Setup

After your site is set up, you’ll configure your streaming setup. First, you’ll need to gather your tools and equipment. You’ll definitely need a camera and an encoder. A tripod, microphone, and lighting equipment could come in handy, as well. 

Next, find a place that has plenty of room to record your fitness class. If you have a studio, that’s an obvious choice. However, you can make do in your home or another space, as well. As long as the space has good lighting or you have lighting equipment, you’re good to go.

To finalize your setup, you’ll need to connect all of your equipment to your streaming platform. 

Check out our live stream production guide to learn more about configuring a streaming setup!

5. Start Streaming

After your studio and streaming equipment are set up, it’s time to go live. On many live streaming platforms, this is as easy as clicking a “start streaming” button.

When you start your stream, remember to stay confident and have fun. Just like in your normal classes, your students will feed off of your energy, so keep it positive and encouraging.

Best Platform for Live Streaming Fitness Classes

As we mentioned, you’ll need a platform to host and manage your live stream fitness classes. There are tons of live streaming platforms on the market, so it is important to find one that has all of the features you need to manage a virtual studio.

For example, support for subscriptions or memberships is absolutely vital. If you host workshops, pay-per-view or ticketing support is important, as well. Some other valuable features to look for include white-label streaming, brand customization, video analytics, community management, and video website-building capabilities.

With that said, some of the best platforms for live streaming fitness classes include:

• Maestro
• Brightcove
• Uscreen
• Wowza
• OnZoom
• Vplayed 
• Muvi

We recommend attending demos and taking advantage of free trials so you can test different options to find what works best for you.

→ Try Maestro for Free

Best Camera for Live Streaming Fitness Classes

When it comes to choosing a camera for live streaming fitness classes, you don’t have to worry about investing in anything fancy. You can stream on something as simple as your smartphone or a wide-angle webcam.

As you scale your fitness live streaming efforts, you may want to invest in a more professional camera setup to capture your workouts from different angles, but you don’t have to worry about these to get started.

Stream Fitness Classes on Maestro

If you’re looking for a fitness live streaming platform with comprehensive monetization tools, website-building functionality, and total brand customization, Maestro is the solution for you.

Our platform also includes community management tools and powerful video analytics. This makes it easy to get to know your audience so you can better serve their needs. 

Sign up for Maestro to see how our platform can help you live stream your fitness classes.

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