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Our current memberships policies allow for members to participate in body fitness classes free of charge (yoga, aerobics, spin cycling, Pilates and kid's classes). We are investigating the possibility of charging a nominal fee for classes, above membership dues. Q: If your facility has looked at the same topic, what in the end prompted you to make the change, or shelve it to maintain free body fitness class programming?

I would continue to keep those classes that you already are offering to members free-but run them as very basic classes, classes that anyone can participate in. Making members pay for something that was already free would be very distrubing to them. Then in order to create revenue, I would start to offer higher levels of the same classes for a fee. Promote the classes as progressive in terms of skills and results. Make the class valuable to the members and don't be afraid to charge a fair fee. Then build on those classes with other interesting offerings to create excitment. Don't be afraid to interview people who have unusual ideas for a class. You never know what will be a hit. As long as it is safe and legitimate I try to offer a broad spectrum of modalities.