How to Start a Spin Studio

Did you know that at least 42% of the world’s households have access to a bicycle? 

Many people depend on cycling as a form of transport, mindfulness, and, most importantly, exercise. Unfortunately, cycling cannot always be conducted outdoors due to external factors like traffic and the weather. Yet due to the total body and endurance benefits cycling holds, many people have taken to indoor cycling, known as spinning.

Spinning studios are fantastic for the fitness industry, as they’re known to help increase the revenue of gyms by 55% as opposed to gyms without such studios. If you’re a health club owner or fitness entrepreneur, this is an avenue you should definitely explore to add to your profits.

In this article, we will look at what exactly spinning is, why spin studios have become so popular, and the steps you need to take to develop a spin studio. 

Skip ahead to:

• What is spinning? 
• Why are spin studios becoming so popular globally?
• Top Spin Studios around the world 
• How to start a spin studio 

What is Spinning?

Spinning is a form of indoor cycling which is predominantly a cardio-based workout. Participants in cycling classes sit on stationary cycles and pedal to loud music in front of an instructor to different beats, intervals, and speeds. 

Usually, the bike’s handlebars have a particular shape and pedal clips to attach their feet onto the pedals. All participants in an indoor cycling studio set goals before the class according to their heart rate and calories. 

Why are Spin Studios Becoming So Popular? 

Spinning is not a new exercise; it first officially came into existence during the 1980s as another technique to increase endurance. Today it’s so popular that Les Mills, a global fitness company (and ABC Fitness Partner), found in 2019 that 20% of the global fitness market was doing or considering spin classes. Since 2019 it’s surged in popularity even more due to its great fitness results and sense of community and enjoyment. Spinning is gaining a reputation due to the fact that:

• Anyone can do it: Spinning is an exercise class that isn’t specifically reserved for just athletes; it can suit anyone of all fitness backgrounds. Because of this, many people take part in these classes as they can cycle according to their ability and fitness goals.
• Low-impact exercise: As the bike is stationary, it’s a very low-impact exercise. This makes it an appealing exercise for people recovering from injuries, those at high risk of them, people who suffer from joint conditions like arthritis, and more.   
• Lots of calories burned: An average spin class only lasts for around 40 minutes. While the class is short, it can burn a lot of anything in the range of 400-800 calories in a session. This allows people to burn calories quickly and only spare a short amount of time out of their daily schedules.
• Supportive community: There can be anything up to 40 bicycles being used in a session in a spin class. When members are cycling in unison, they’re more likely to feel supported and want to do better, allowing them to maximize the most out of their sessions. Because of this, many people come back for repeat classes and leave gyms retaining their members.
• Music: Spin classes play a variety of music from dance to rock, which keeps students motivated and adds to the spinning atmosphere.

Top Spin Studios Around the World 

Spin studios are so popular that some iconic studios have set up their own franchises, allowing people to experience a variety of unique spin classes. Without a doubt, some of these studios have contributed to the growth of the spin industry. Here are four of the top spin studios that are taking the spin world by storm.

1. SoulCycle 

SoulCycle was first founded in 2006 and had over 99 studios across the United States, Canada, and the U.K. just before Covid-19 hit. Their spin classes focus on endurance, strength training, resistance training, HIIT, and lightweight training. SoulCycle targets the whole body, and they sometimes involve light hand weights. These classes have been incredibly popular with famous figures like Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Jay-Z, and the Beckhams. 

2. Peloton

Peloton is a world-renowned spin company that offers live virtual classes on their own spin bikes or in Manhattan, London, and Hudson Yards studios. The company offers various classes that suit different fitness backgrounds, from beginner to introductory, athlete, high intensity, and more. Peloton has been popular amongst many influential figures like Miley Cyrus, Usain Bolt, Scout Bassett, etc.

3. Firstlight 

Firstlight Cycle is situated in London, and they combine more than just spinning into their classes. They also implement wellness, mindfulness, and meditation into each ride. Firstlight does this particularly well by using sunlight stimulation to help target the senses during the spin class.

4. 1Rebel U.K.

Located in East London, 1Rebel U.K. offers 45-minute high-intensity spin classes. However, they also have studios located in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Australia. Their spin classes are hosted in the dark with an epic light show designed to make you feel like you’re working out in a club. 

Want to get your own spin studio on this list?

ABC Glofox is the spin studio platform that can help you sustainably scale your business. With our intuitive booking platform, global payments system, and 24-hour support, we’re here to help you thrive as a spin studio owner.

How to Start a Spin Studio 

Adding a spin studio to your services or starting one from scratch can be a lucrative opportunity for your business. To help you set one up, let’s explore the essential steps:

1. Start Running Local Spin Classes

Before your spin studio opens, you should run spin classes in your neighborhood at other gyms. Doing this will allow people to get a feel of what your services are all about. In addition to this, it will help you start to raise brand awareness without having to invest in a lot of equipment. Slowly hosting classes will allow people to know who you are, which will spark interest in your studio. It will also give you an idea of whether it’s the right modality for you. Make sure to take some time to test out the classes for yourself first before diving straight into starting your own spin studio.

2. Develop Your Skills

If you’ve not hosted spin classes before, you must build a foundation before opening your studio. After all, the spin industry is competitive, and you need to know what to look for. Only once you develop your skills can you hire suitable instructors to fit in with your studio’s values. 

3. Find the Right Location

For your spin studio to be successful, it has to be in the right location. In particular, you will want to be situated in an area many people can access via public transport or their vehicles.  In addition to this, you might want to have a studio with a good parking area so people can leave their vehicles there. 

Moreover, you want your studio to be visible so people passing by on foot could be interested in joining your spin studio. While thinking about your location, it’s also a good idea to think about your demographic. For example, if you want to target workers, you might want a spin studio in a business park. 

Read more: How to Choose the Right Location for Your Fitness Business

4. Layout 

Having a good design and layout is essential for any good spin studio. First of all, you have to make sure the room is positioned right so all participants can see the instructor clearly without anything obstructing their eyesight. To have a good idea of how large your studio should be, you should aim to have one bike for each 1.5 square meter of studio space.

For example, if you have a studio with 100 square meters worth of space, that will fit around 66 bikes. Also, note that you should keep the instructor’s bike on a small stage so people can see the instructor at all times. On average, the stage should be around 15-20cm high and enough to fit 2-3 bikes with multiple instructors if required. You should also consider enough room for the bikes and participants to implement social distancing when factoring in the layout.

5. Bikes

This is an essential part of setting up a spin studio: getting the right equipment. You don’t want a potential member or instructor to get injured. Moreover, the quality of the bike you use could dramatically impact the experience of your members. If it’s not good enough, it might persuade them to try spin classes elsewhere. It’s not unusual in some gyms for members to cancel their memberships due to bad-quality equipment.

On average, if maintained well, a high-quality spin bike will last around 5 years. When buying these bikes, you should aim to get ones with ANT and sensors. These wireless network protocols can help people track their performance and compete against others in the class (if they wish). The competition aspect alone can enrich the membership experience.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Buying Fitness Equipment

6. Decoration, Lighting, and Blinds

To host epic spin classes, it’s all about the atmosphere. This means you must have vibrant decorations and lighting that work together to provide the ultimate spin studio experience. You may wish to add carpets, colored walls, wall graphics, patterns, shapes, and more to provide a sense of energy and movement. 

If you plan to host a spin studio in a dark room, you will need great lighting to create an environment full of energy that makes people want to spin. Moreover, stage lighting is equally as important so that people can see the instructor. If you’re stuck for ideas on how to decorate your spin studio, try looking at a few others to gain inspiration.

7. A Great Sound System

An amazing spin experience is dependent on a good sound system full of loud and good-quality music. You should aim to install a sound system that provides nightclub-quality music, so members can feel totally immersed and hear the instructor. Remember also to position the speakers in the room correctly so the acoustics balance out well. 

8. Ventilation 

On average fitness studios should have a temperature between 18-20°C. Moreover, the humidity level should range between 40-60%. To help achieve this, get air conditioning installed in the studio to regulate temperatures in a packed class.

9. Get a Great Booking Platform

Nothing stops your members from coming in than not knowing your schedule or how to book classes. With ABC Glofox, you can give your members a seamless class booking experience: they can even choose their favorite spot for every class, ensuring your members feel catered to. Additionally, the ABC Glofox platform can automatically message your members to remind them of classes, discounts, and studio updates.

If you’re looking to add a more professional touch to your business, then ABC Glofox is the platform for you.

Pro Tip: Focus on Your Community

Overall, when opening a spin studio, you have to make your members feel like they belong: which is much easier said than done. First, you have to make sure you have the right location and experience to make sure you’re best suited to your members’ needs. Second, you must have a good layout and enough room to fit spin bikes while providing a show-stopping music and light show. 

Finally, you need to get your members engaged, inspired, and ready for more. Use your skills and experience to provide enjoyable classes and to keep your members inspired. With ABC Glofox, you can provide your members with this sense of community, helping them to feel more involved and engaged in your business.

Ready to take the next step in setting up your spin studio?