Week One, Lessons: What Members Loved & What We Tweaked
The first week of opening a new boutique fitness studio is exhilarating, educational, and yes, a little nerve-wracking. Protagonist Zurich flung open its doors and welcomed our first members not long ago, and we’ve just wrapped up Week One. How did it go? Well, nothing quite compares to seeing a concept come to life and people actually moving through the space we’ve obsessed over. But the real magic of Week One lies in the feedback. We learned so much from observing classes, chatting with members, and reviewing the performance data from our Reform RX machines. In true Protagonist fashion, we took that data and those comments to heart and made some immediate tweaks. Here’s a candid look at what our pioneer members loved in the first week – and what we’ve already adjusted to make Week Two (and beyond) even better.
Early Feedback: “Next-Level” Personalization & Tech
One of the things we heard repeatedly from members was how personal the experience felt, even in a group setting. This was music to our ears, as it’s exactly what we aimed for. People loved that coaches were using their names, giving specific corrections, and that our class sizes (capped at 10) allowed for that attention. Several commented that they’d been to other studios where they could kinda hide in the back, but here the coach was seemingly everywhere at once – adjusting form, offering modifications, or pushing someone harder if they looked too comfortable. It reinforced our belief that small, focused classes are worth it. We’ll continue to keep classes intimate and laser-focused on each individual’s performance.
The dual-method structure – combining Reformer Pilates and strength – was also a hit. A couple of our male members confessed they were skeptical at first (“Pilates? Really?” they thought), but after a few sessions, they felt the workout “in places I normally don’t, which is awesome.” One particularly athletic member said he appreciated the core activation from Pilates moves that then carried over into the strength portion of class – he could feel his form was better under the weights thanks to being more engaged in the midsection. That crossover effect is exactly what our method is about, so hearing it affirmed by folks in week one was fantastic.
And then there’s the tech – oh, the tech. Instant load adjustments and on-screen metrics were the talk of the locker room. For those unfamiliar: our Reform RX smart reformers allow push-button resistance changes (no fumbling with springs) and display metrics like output and heart rate. Members loved how easy it was to tweak the resistance on the fly during a set. One said, “I never realized how much time I used to waste changing springs; here I just tapped and kept moving.” The fluidity of that kept heart rates up and flow uninterrupted. This “instant load” feature got a big thumbs up because it meant more actual work in the session and less downtime – which busy professionals value.
They also enjoyed the immediate feedback from the screens. A member told us it was oddly motivating to see her wattage output dip and then will it back up by engaging more muscle – a real-time game of “keep the number up” that pushed her harder than she might have gone on her own. Another liked the recap at the end of class: the summary of calories, power, etc. gave him a tangible sense of accomplishment. He said it scratched his data-driven itch: “It’s nice to have numbers – I can literally see that I did 10% more work today than Monday.” This kind of performance review resonated with our target crowd (lots of bankers, consultants – they love their metrics).
However, one thing we noted: not everyone fully understood all the metrics on day one. Some were curious what “watts” meant in context or how to use the heart rate zones displayed. Coaches did explain on the fly, but we realized a bit of intro education could help. So we’ve decided to incorporate a quick primer before certain classes or perhaps a mini-workshop on understanding the Reform RX data – helping members translate “effort into decisions” as our blog by that name put it. Because when folks know how to use the data, it becomes even more powerful.
Feature Highlights: Recap Screens & Quick Adjustments
Members repeatedly highlighted two features as game-changers: the session recap screen and the quick resistance adjustments. Let's dig a little deeper into why these struck a chord and how we responded.
Session Recap (and How to Use It): At the end of each reformer class, when that summary pops up on the screen, you could see people’s eyes light up. It’s like getting a score or a report card instantly (in a good way). People were snapping photos of their results or comparing with friends (a little friendly competition brewing, which we love). But some did ask, “What should I do with this information? What’s a good power number?” This made us realize we should guide them in interpreting it.
One immediate tweak: our coaches now allocate a minute at the end of class to quickly debrief the recap. For example, a coach might say, “Look at your total power output – that’s a measure of the work you did. Try to beat that next time by even a few watts, maybe by adding a bit more resistance or pushing slightly faster on the sprints.” Or, “Check your heart rate recovery: see how quickly you came down from red to green zone during cooldown – that’s a sign of improving fitness.” We want members to leave not only knowing they worked hard, but understanding how they worked, and feeling excited to come back and improve specific metrics. We also plan to send a follow-up email to first-week members with a short guide on metrics (just a friendly PDF or blog link) – basically reinforcing what those numbers mean. That was a tweak we could do outside class to support their learning.
Instant Load Adjustments: This one was almost universally loved for the reformer portions. People mentioned it kept them “in the zone.” One member humorously said, “I used to dread when an instructor said add a spring – it broke my flow trying to yank those things. Now I just press a button and grunt through it.” We did notice one thing though: a couple folks were hesitant to change the resistance mid-exercise even if it looked too easy or too hard for them. They later said they weren’t sure if they “should” or if that would mess up the program. Our coaches clarified in class that yes, please adjust to find your challenge – that’s the beauty of this system, it’s built around you. Once they got the green light, they started using it more. So the tweak here was more in communication: coaches now explicitly encourage quick tweaks (“If those last reps were too easy/hard, tap that +/- and find what feels right”). We want to build a culture where adjusting is not just okay but expected – it’s how sessions are built around you.
This immediate adaptability – something traditional Pilates couldn’t offer as seamlessly – was one of the reasons we invested in Reform RX, so seeing members embrace it is huge. We foresee that as members get comfortable, they’ll leverage it even more, and our job is to nurture that by reminding them they have that control.
Small Changes We Made Already
We’re firm believers in continuous improvement, so even in one week, we implemented some tweaks thanks to member and coach feedback:
Music Mix & Volume: Day 1, a few folks mentioned the music was a tad loud or not quite their vibe. We use playlists tailored to class type (e.g., more upbeat for strength circuits, more flowing for Pilates portions). What we found was during hybrid classes with both reformer and floor work, the needed tempo varied. Our tweak: we adjusted the volume to automatically dip slightly during instructor demos or when giving instructions (so you hear us clearly) and pump during those all-out intervals when you need that push. We also fine-tuned the playlist transitions. One evening class we did a test where music went instrumental during core finisher to help focus – they loved it. So we’ll incorporate those kinds of dynamic music shifts more intentionally. It’s a small thing, but sound is part of the experience. We want energizing tracks when you need energy, and not to compete with the coach’s voice when technique cues are being given.
Session Timing – Added 5-min Buffer: Our first few classes ran right up to the 50-minute mark, and with people enjoying chatting after or asking questions, it created a slight bottleneck for the next class entering. We decided to pad our schedule with a 5-minute buffer between classes for now (so a class listed at 7:00 actually ends activity by 7:50, giving to 7:55 before the next starts setting up). This tweak ensures no one feels rushed out and new folks coming in aren’t barging into someone’s final stretch. Members appreciated that, especially those who had follow-up questions about their metrics or form – we had a few who lingered with interest, and we want to accommodate that curiosity.
Quickie Class Adjustments: We launched a 30-min QUICKIE class midweek and got feedback that while it was a fantastic burn, the warm-up felt a little too brief for some. We realized in a compressed format, we need to be even more efficient with warm-up. Our tweak was to combine mobility with dynamic moves to kill two birds: e.g., a world’s greatest stretch that segues into a lunge matrix – warming up and working out at once. We communicated to coaches to maybe shave one strength set (quality over quantity) to allow an extra minute of warm-up so everyone feels adequately prepped. It's a fine line in 30 minutes, but we prefer no one leaves with a tweak due to not being warm. This was implemented by the next QUICKIE and feedback improved (“Yeah, that felt just right, warmed up but still got plenty done!”). Good.
Instant Load Tip Signage: A fun observation – even with coaches cueing, a couple members forget or fumble which button increases vs decreases load on Reform RX (since it's color-coded). To make it foolproof, we’ve put tiny icon stickers (a plus and minus) on the buttons for each machine, as a quick-glance reminder. Some might laugh at needing that, but in the heat of exercise, anything to reduce cognitive load helps. This literally took us an hour to do for all machines and voila – no more confusion mid-set.
Hydration Station Relocation: Originally, our water cooler was in the lounge. We noticed people coming out mid-class to refill, which slightly interrupted their flow. It also risked sweat drops on the lounge floor, not ideal. So we moved a water station just inside the studio space corner. Now if someone needs a top-up, it’s a shorter trip and still within earshot of coach instructions. Small logistical tweak, but it helped – fewer missed cues, and ironically seemed to encourage quick sips (so perhaps better hydration).
Feedback Board: We put up a little whiteboard by the entrance with a prompt: “Tell us how you feel!” and some markers. We thought members might jot quick notes or one-word checkouts (spent! strong! need coffee!). Honestly, this was more a fun engagement thing, but it turned into useful feedback too. One wrote “More fans please ->” with a smiley. We realized the back corner was slightly warmer. We’ve since adjusted our ceiling fan to better circulate air to that spot. Without that scribble, we might not have noticed for a while. The board also allowed shy people to voice things they might not say aloud. So that’s staying for at least the first month as an informal feedback channel.
What’s Next: Looking Ahead
With Week One lessons in pocket, we’re already eyeing further tweaks and features. For example, some members are asking for specific class times or formats (we got a couple votes for an early Quickie at 6:30am for those who can’t do a full hour but want a jumpstart – we’re exploring that in the schedule). We also heard interest in workshops on nutrition or recovery – it seems our crowd is hungry for knowledge, not just workouts. That’s a later addition likely, but it’s on our radar.
On the tech front, we had a minor app scheduling glitch (some folks weren’t getting waitlist notifications properly). Our developer patched it quickly – by mid-week it was fixed – but we sent an apology and note to anyone affected. This taught us that transparent communication is key; members were grateful we acknowledged it instead of them wondering if they did something wrong.
In summation, Week One validated so much of our concept – but also humbled us with how much fine-tuning truly great service requires. And honestly, we’re excited about that. Every tweak we make is evidence that we’re listening and iterating to deliver on our promise: sessions built around you, in a place built for progress. Thank you to our founding members who sweated, smiled, and spoke up – you’ve officially become part of Protagonist’s origin story. As we step into Week Two, know that we’re taking all these lessons to heart. Keep the feedback coming, and we’ll keep making this the best training lab it can be.
Stay tuned for more insights as we continue the journey. And if you were part of Week One, pat yourself on the back – you survived the grand opening test, and you helped shape the future of this community. We can’t wait to keep improving together.
Protagonist Zurich | Reformer Pilates & Strength Boutique Studio