The initial surge of customers during the New Year is exciting, but sometimes overwhelming. Health and fitness centers are on the forefront of the average person’s brain in the new year. In 2017, getting healthy was the #1 most popular New Year’s resolution. Health and fitness conglomerates like Planet Fitness saw a 79% average increase in new members in January 2017. It’s likely that your business also saw new member sign ups, more turnout for fitness classes, or more inquiries as to what your health center can offer the potential new client. The initial interest is exciting – and its likely that new potential member will join your club. The next steps to keeping them walking through the door are worth your effort in order to sustain all of the new faces.

Half of the people that join an exercise program will quit in 6 months, so what are you going to do to make them return again and again?

Keep your customers engaged, motivated, and happy with your services by always monitoring their progress. The best way to ensure they feel as if they’re a valued customer is to make sure they’re treated like one.

As a health club owner, you want to provide your guests with the most beneficial experience. Happy customers will lead to greater turnout, and your club will see in increase in revenue and memberships. You've considered leaderboards. You've hosted cook outs. You've lead more than a few group participation 5Ks. These can all work. Here's why a 3D experience is becoming a necessity.

In 2017, we saw spin classes become the new social hangout. HIIT, or high intensity interval training, was a savvy gym-goers favorite way to burn major calories and jumpstart their metabolism. And infrared saunas proved they can help tackle muscle pain and soreness while keeping your heart pumping. It’s safe to say these fitness trends are here to stay. However, for 2018, what can we expect to emerge with a hold on the club industry?

You might not remember Carli Lloyd, but you should. In 2015 she scored three goals in 16 minutes during the World Cup final against Japan, making her the first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final. Her secret is visualization; she takes time before each game to visualize various positive scenarios that could take place over the course of a game. The technique has been used by many successful athletes including Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tiger Woods.

Grant Roberts, celebrity trainer and the mastermind behind Hilary Swank's transformation for "Million Dollar Baby", reveals 5 key strategies to running a successful fitness challenge.