Guest post by Kim Bielak, founder of Class for a Cause and National Fitness Day
For years we’ve been celebrating everything from “National Pancake Day” to “National Wine Day,” but have you ever noticed that of all these holidays, one was quite clearly missing?
Until this year, there was no special day dedicated to celebrating the wellness and fitness industry, which has boomed in recent years. When I started charitable organization Class for a Cause earlier this year to promote ways to work out and do good at the same time, I was simply looking for a date to get everyone to class at the same time. But when I discovered there was not yet a single day dedicated to fitness, I saw an opportunity – a need even – to create the first one to unite fitness studios across the country and celebrate all the benefits that fitness brings to our communities.
On May 10, the first National Fitness Day will take place in the US as a single day to celebrate the strength and empowerment we all find through fitness, and for people across the country to get their sweat on. We want to fill the streets with runners and the studios with friends, all while encouraging people to give back to the movement that has generated such a positive impact for them.
There’s no better time for your studio to get involved, and here are just a few ways you can take action and celebrate:
Spread the Word
It’s been a few months since those New Year’s resolutions, so National Fitness Day is a great opportunity to drive traffic to your studio, especially now that summer is just around the corner. Encourage members to work out on the 10th and sign up for class in advance. Spread the word through channels like your newsletter, social accounts, and instructors to drive the holiday’s momentum. When partners across the industry come together and rally their communities at same time, we can create an impact far greater than anything each of us can do alone – from inspiring people across the country with a unified voice, to simply motivating people to bring their friends and fill up class that day.
Organize a National Fitness Day Event
Beyond driving traffic, National Fitness Day is a fun and exciting way to bring your community together. Host a dedicated class, offer a special National Fitness Day sale on memberships or merchandise, or even get your instructors involved for a workout or other instructor-appreciation event. This is a great opportunity to kick off an annual tradition you can look forward to for next year and beyond.
Celebrate on Social Media
Show your fans what you’ve got going on all day using the #NationalFitnessDay hashtag in social posts, snaps, and even live streams of the action, and give your fans a shout by reposting their photos, as well. Want to get more creative? Bring some of your partners together to collaborate, or take the opportunity to share your own studio’s story and talk about the impact you personally think fitness is making today.
Give Back
Finally, one of the best ways to celebrate National Fitness Day is to simply give back. The event was founded through the charitable organization Class for a Cause as a single day to celebrate the positive impact of health and wellness. That said, we can’t ignore that the trend in boutique fitness is not evenly spread across all communities and demographics. That’s why we’re also encouraging people to come together and sweat for good, partnering this year with Girls on the Run to raise money for their after-school programs. You can take part by offering to donate some or all of your proceeds on May 10 to Girls on the Run or another charity of your choice, or encourage members to buy a Class for a Cause shirt. For a roundup of all the classes offering a donation, visit the Class for a Cause site.
Have questions, or want to donate proceeds from a class? Email kim@nationalfitnessday.org!
