CLEVELAND, Ohio — Since gyms and fitness studios are now closed, many instructors are taking to social media to teach their classes.

• Local instructors are teaching virtual classes— some you can take in real-time, live
• They say its an important time to keep a routine and keep moving
• They say social media is allowing them to continue that sense of community that they usually have in their studios

Studio owners say it’s important for our physical and mental health that we keep moving. 

“Right now in this time, we have a lot of time by ourselves. And it's important to move while we're doing this. It's really easy to get caught up on just being on our phones or computers, watching TV. So during this time when we are home a lot, we have that ability to work out,” said Callie Whyad, owner of Callie’s Pilates in Cleveland. This week, she started teaching her workouts via Instagram, free of charge. 

“Right away, I just knew I wanted to get some content out there so they could keep teaching,” said Yoga Strong and Barre Fly Owner Amanda Fulmer. The studio’s two locations employ about 55 people, who rely on classes for their income.

“And I knew people would want to support them because people love their fitness instructors and you know everyone is, has the spirit of generosity, and it has been overwhelmingly, like, so wonderful for them and for the studio,” said Fulmer.  

She set up a schedule of live classes on both Facebook and Instagram where you can make a donation to the instructor if you choose.

But Fulmer says its not just about keeping her business afloat.

“Just staying in a routine of staying moving, I know for me when I get into like a darker place instantly when I move, when I go to a class, when I take some deep breaths, I instantly feel better, so we're, you know, pushing out that message more than ever now,” she said. 

Fitness studios are often communities for both the instructors and the clients, and social media is keeping them close while psychically apart.

“I feel that the videos are bringing the community together, still, for us. My favorite part about the studio is how awesome all of our clients are everybody is becoming friends through pilates and it's my socializing, so this is like very hard for me as well, so it's been nice to have social media to still have that communication with each other,” said Whyad.