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Hello, I am a new instructor for Body Vive and absolutely love the class. However, I think the marketing of this class really limits the participants that would like to take a class like this. Things such as the purple balls. Purple balls are not exactly masculine for those men who take the class. Could you offer black and purple balls like you do the tubing? I would also like to see plans for a little more energy for the Heart Fitness portion of the class. I am totally for low impact. However, the moves that I have seen are for the majority, feminine.  

The marketing pieces for this program will not draw people whose fitness level is above the beginner.  I really want to see that change.  This class is marketing as a 40's, 50's, and 60's crowd.  Well I am in my mid 40's and I believe it can still target those people but also satisfy the needs of people who are above beginner stages.  I really didn't want to put up Release 5 Posters in my gym because I don't think they portray the program at it's best.  We did post them because that was all we had. 

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Tina Richardson

I completely agree with you.  I too am a Body Vive instructor and the philosophy of the class I absolutely love but the marketing is not working - no-one seems to know what the class is about or who it's for.  Once I get them in the class I find that people are genuinely surprised at the workout they get - however, just by looking at the posters or the brochures turns people off who are young and/or pretty fit.  We had men start out in the class when we first launched it but then I have never seen another man in any of the classes after that.  It's all geared so much toward women and I know they don't feel comfortable doing some of the moves.  I also would like to see tracks more like track 4 and 5 in heart fitness rather than track 3.  I consistently have members rolling their eyes or sometimes even walking out after track 3, even though I try and make it fun and make them laugh while doing it.  It's not an easy track for people to love sorry to say. 

 All in all I love BodyVive and I will continue to teach it but if the marketing doesn't change I am not sure how long it's going to survive - at least at our gym.  The numbers I have to say are not doing that well - despite all of our constant efforts to bring people in and make it fun and exciting. 

 

Thank goodness I'm not the only one that thinks this way.  BV 5 was by far the best yet...but, really, will any guys do Copacabana??  We have Zumba at our gym...very popular.  I'm sure that the Zumba people think we are such lightweights with tracks like Smooth, Boogie Nights, and Copacabana.  Don't get wrong...I'm not opposed to dance moves, I just see women older than the ones I get in BV attending Zumba! 

 The marketing of this program is its biggest problem.  BV5 posters were much better but I still have brochures with old ladies on them.  I'm 52 (tomorrow!) and I'm turned off by them.  I, too, am concerned that its not going to survive very much longer at our gym.  I think the concept is awesome but the program director and the choreography team are being too low level with it.  Get some newer, fresher music...there is plenty out there without vulgar language...and stronger moves.  People want to be challenged. 

 We've already bought purple balls...there's no way my gym will spend money now on black balls (good idea OP!).  I just hope I can keep teaching long enough to get my money back on this program.  I don't mind purple, but the color should be deep, strong purple. 

Program Director?  Are you listening??

And, another thing while I'm on this rant:  I KNOW that the program is targeted toward getting new people into group exercise but who wants to attend a class when there's only 3 people in it?  Interactive cardio becomes quite the dud with fewer than 10.  We need a way to appeal to a cross section of regular GX people AND new people.  I really think that BODYPUMP does that...people can control how much weight they lift, so any fitness level can get something out of it.  The same goes for RPM. 

Done now.

I agree with everyone.  As a new instructor myself, (we just trained on BV5)  I have not seen any of the previous releases.  It is very difficult as an instructor to get the point across that they are responsible for thier intensity.  I was told that as a rule, you should demonstrate mainly the mid range of intensity while occasionally showing the options for both high and low.  I was amazed by how closely the participants watch and follow our every (and I do mean EVERY) movement, when I change intensity, so do they.  This makes it hard because there are some people who are brand new, and some who are used to super mega impact cardio.  I love the idea behind the program, and also love that it gives people a little of everything in one class, but there has to be a way to bring it up just a little.  It seems like we went from Attack to the opposite extreme, with nothing in the middle.  I am hoping that the numbers continue at our gym, and even grow, but I don't see that happening if we can't figure out a way to make it appeal to a greater population.

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Live for the unexpected.

I probably have to agree that the way BV is marketted that LM has given the wrong image to BV.  LM has always been great at targetting everyone from beginners to advanced people for all their programmes.  So why target beginners and "older" people if you like for BV.  Hey I'm one of those older persons and I am able to get a good workout.  Many younger people are starting to try BV at our gym and are amazed at how hard they  can actually work and comment on the fun factor.

mancinilott, when your members get used to you, believe me they will learn to take the options.  I always tell my classes whether BS, BB or BV, the best classes I teach are the ones where everyone takes the level they feel best or most comfortable doing, and as an instructor you know you're doing a great job if you look out and there are 3 or 4 different levels of activity going on, it does and will happen for you too.  Just trust in yourself and your members.

 I guess it is up to us and our GFM to really promote this programme,and keep reminding our regulars and those who come to try it out and are pleasantly surprised to spread the word and let others know they it's not for the faint hearted, you can get a good workout, perhaps emphasis the strength work.  Don't know but I would hate to see this programme fold at our gym, it has so many benefits for us all>

 

Hi Vive!

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Always Be the Best You Can, Never Ever, Ever Give Up! Dare to be Different!

As a GFM, I'm doing everything I can to promote the program within reason.  The problem is that it requires resources to be more effective and the numbers aren't justifying the expense.  Heck, we didn't HAVE to spend a lot of money on BODYPUMP...it is a fantastic success because the program itself is successful. 

Another issue I have is that we are sending big $$ each month to LMI and not getting much in return.  THEY need to give us something to SELL or I can't justify the spending.  I had 5 people in class yesterday.  2 new people...they liked it, but I don't know if I'll see them again.  I've had a pretty good amount of new people coming thru the last several weeks...they come ONCE and I haven't seen them again (except in BP!)

 I'll continue to give it all I've got but I have a feeling that I will be pulling the plug on this program by spring break.  I hate that because I invested so much into this personally.  I was also the one that convinced the gym to bring it on...I'm so disappointed. 

Agreed... BV has an image problem. I feel that it's being sold short. It's not just for 40, 50 and 60 year olds. It's a low impact class that lets you get in that complete workout in an hour. I believe in this program, but it's discouraging when only 2 people attend on a Saturday morning. I see lots of new faces, but only a few returns. The whole program needs to be turned up a notch! Stop with the oldies (and fizzing)!

 

Personally, for me, I feel Body Vive target audience isn't just the baby boomers(aka 40s)

I'm turning 30 this year, and to me, personally I feel Body Vive, if you asked me to try this out when I was turning 20.. I would come back to it.

MAJOR FACT : I am a guy.

Yeah, sure there are those 'strange' things like Copacobana, but I feel if the instructor coaches it well, it does become fun. Look around, many of the top dancers are males! That guy who did that TV reality Ballroom Bootcamp!!!

As a new instructor myself, I am trying to find ways to deliver the class so that members will really reap(aka get the idea) the full benefits of the program, which is FULL OF OPTIONS, for those who need the low options, and for those who need the full options. Our audience here, most of them, if you offer them the low options, they'll stick with that, and end the end of the class, tell you, "That was too easy"... (banging head against wall)

When we did our first 'preview' class to our members here, a lot of them didn't get the purpose of the ball... Which after thinking back, yes, we didn't really emphasize on the purpose of the ball... But then again, with the pressure we were all facing... Hiak!

I was sweating like mad by the end of the warmup, then again, I am an instructor, so subconciously I am 24/7 squeezing that purple ball... keeping set shoulders, abs on.. etc.. I'm off topic!!

Sum it up... Body Vive can cater to people who are new to exercise, never done a class before, people who are recovering from surgery(we had a participant who just had an operation and is just starting back gym - she enjoyed it! Better than Balance!), and of course, people who want cardio, but find BS or BA too high impact.


 Alex

PS

The purple colour... Well, I don't find it that appauling... :p But the poster, yeah, it's kinda wrong... 

As a GFM I'm in total agreement with you all, especially as I'm also the one who convinced the owners we needed this program! We're paying so much for it each month as it's stand alone so there's no reduced rate?!?!?

I sweat and get a great workout while I teach BV but I'm also struggling to get members in the door, luckily it's a female gym so I have no issues with whether males come or not (Saying that though, I taught it at a different gym yesterday and had one male - I felt kind of weird with the figure 8's for Smooth).

Posters and brochures totally need revamping - let's get Mark Nu'u on them, he'll bring in lots of girls!!

The choreography is getting better in intensity and there are more options for everyone but if we are to keep investing in this program we need the major publicity that was promised to us here in Australia. What happened to our program ambassadors???

Hope someone in LM land is hearing all we have to say, hint, hint!

Meg

Some very wise things have been said here.

One can only hope that powers that be at LMI read these and take note.

Don't forget to also BLAH these opinions. 

in2insight:

Some very wise things have been said here.

One can only hope that powers that be at LMI read these and take note.

Don't forget to also BLAH these opinions. 

Good point, in2insight, will add a comment on BV 6 Blah due to do so shortly.  If we all mention something on BLAH, it can't be missed, and marketing for the programme has to change.   Yes, what did happen to our BV ambassador and marketing here in Australia, only saw stuff in mags when Vive first hit our shores nothing since!  I love teaching BV and like Meg I sweat, so far we are lucky numbers remain good. 

Hi Vive!

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Always Be the Best You Can, Never Ever, Ever Give Up! Dare to be Different!

Body Vive Is strong at my 9:30 am tues and thurs classes. Full house unless we are iced out, they will come in snow too.  I have a great mix of ages from  just out of high school to upper 80's and a broad range of fitness levels. Triathletes  to  newbies.  Just no men.! We launched with men but they were uncomfortable. There are men in our tues night class but the class ranges from 6 to 14 people.

 I always start with a low modification and increase the intensity as we go thru the combos. I never stop cueing for more or less intensity. Use your legs, bend your knees and go deep! The people who say it's not enough are the ones that aren't loading the legs. We coach make eye contact , connect and everyone will feel like they have been instructed to their personal best. I know what you mean about following every movement. I use alot of hand signals and so does the rest of my class. It shows that they are really paying attention to everything you do! 

I agree with the marketing and image problem, it needs to change. No one wants to be on the old and deconditioned people train. That said, in your club it's up to you to change that image.

I have just tried Vive, I think its a great fun workout! I participate in all the Les MIlls classes and found this class is a great reviver class. If you've trained particularly hard previously and maybe feeling a little jaded it will certainly get you going again. Also great to get technique back on track and you can work to your own level (our instructor seems to break a sweat). I think it would be an excellent lunchtime workout energizing you for the remainder of the day. It would be interesting to know calories burned in comparison to other classes.

Cardio - Yes it's mild compared to Body Attack/Body Step/Heck Even Body Jam. But I feel people in the gym have forgotten that to workout for fitness you don't have to push your limits that hard. Not unless you are training for a competition. Personally, for me, I won't mind doing Body Vive on a daily basis just to get my day going, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do this until I'm all old and creaky :p

Flexibility - Because of the tai chi and yoga elements incorporated into the program.

Coordination - The strength tracks, yes, they do work on muscle toning, but even a simple thing like in Body Vive, the Bow And Arrow sequence with the mini squats, not everyone can coordinate their hands and legs. But because the movement is a small and can I say slow, people can get a chance to catch the movement. And for me(so far, with BV 05), the Tai Chi is as the DVD says, good for eye and hand coordination.

Bare in mind, the focus on Body Vive isn't so much about burning that annoying calories(yes it's still a benefit). But it's about leaving the class feeling FIZZING WITH ENERGY!

I do believe that the gym marketing people will have to be very careful when trying to sell Body Vive classes to members(even now, sometimes I cannot hold myself from laughing when I hear them trying to sell an ongoing Body Balance class as a calorie burning program instead of a Mind And Body class..)
 

Vive Strong!