Will Virtual Instructors Replace Aqua Teachers? | Sam from HydroHex — Transcript

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1. 0:05Hi everyone. I would like to introduce
2. 0:07you to Sam. He is the business
3. 0:10development manager for Hydrohex.
4. 0:13Welcome, Sam.
5. 0:14>> Thank you. Great to be here.
6. 0:17>> Hydrohex is a digital aquatic exercise
7. 0:20platform that delivers structured
8. 0:22pool-based workouts through a large
9. 0:24screen displayed on poolside. It
10. 0:27provides participants with a visual
11. 0:29guidance, exercise demonstrations,
12. 0:32timings, and workout progressions. The
13. 0:34system is designed to support a range of
14. 0:37aquatic fitness programs while offering
15. 0:40facilities an alternative or
16. 0:43complementary approach to traditional
17. 0:45instructor-led sessions.
18. 0:47As technology continues to play a
19. 0:49greater role in the health, fitness, and
20. 0:52rehabilitation in part of our industry,
21. 0:55Hydrohex is representing an interesting
22. 0:57development in the aquatic sector.
23. 1:01Today, I would like to explore how this
24. 1:03platform and how companies are using
25. 1:06Hydrohex and see how the future of
26. 1:10virtual aquarobics is going to lead in
27. 1:14our industry.
28. 1:15So, welcome, Sam. Welcome for our chat
29. 1:18today. And
30. 1:21is there anything that you would like to
31. 1:22add about Hydrohex?
32. 1:25>> Uh
33. 1:26yeah, I think you covered pretty much
34. 1:28the basics. Um we are a finished based
35. 1:30company um founded in in 2018, more or
36. 1:33less.
37. 1:34And and yeah, we are on live across one
38. 1:39200 a bit more over 200 locations across
39. 1:42Europe and and now growing growing
40. 1:45steadily in in the UK and German market.
41. 1:48>> Amazing. So, with the development of 200
42. 1:53locations,
43. 1:55from the data and experience, do you
44. 1:57have a particular user group that is
45. 2:00more in engaged with the screen led
46. 2:03classes than others?
47. 2:05>> Mhm.
48. 2:06Uh well, we've we've done some some uh
49. 2:10researches especially in the UK market.
50. 2:13Uh we conducted a use
51. 2:15user survey
52. 2:16uh across 150
53. 2:19regulars, so hydro x regulars. Uh what
54. 2:21we found out is that over 85 of them
55. 2:24were women aged uh 50 plus, uh which
56. 2:27then again closely reflects the very
57. 2:29traditional aqua audience.
58. 2:32Mhm, but what's interesting though isn't
59. 2:34just just who engages. Um it's how
60. 2:37behavior changes uh once more
61. 2:40flexibility is built into that
62. 2:42timetable.
63. 2:43Um so, usually how it works is uh that
64. 2:45the virtual sessions are introduced as
65. 2:48alongside the live instructor classes.
66. 2:51Uh what we see typically is that users
67. 2:54start to attend more frequently due to
68. 2:57the fact there's more more opportunities
69. 2:59in a week. Uh the partici- participation
70. 3:02uh spreads uh into more off-peak times
71. 3:04as well. So, not that heavily uh
72. 3:08into few prime times anymore, but
73. 3:11actually spreading a bit more uh to the
74. 3:13wider um
75. 3:15across the timetable. And then actually
76. 3:17fewer member drop-offs as well uh when
77. 3:20classes aren't fully booked or
78. 3:22unavailable anymore. So, again gives
79. 3:25that
80. 3:26uh needed flexibility for for the high
81. 3:28demand that aqua usually usually
82. 3:31attracts.
83. 3:32Uh and in addition uh operators often
84. 3:35start to see some new users entering to
85. 3:37the pool as well.
86. 3:38Um usually these are the ones who may
87. 3:41have been put off by previously fixed uh
88. 3:44class times
89. 3:46uh or the full waiting lists that that
90. 3:48just doesn't
91. 3:50uh serve everyone. Um
92. 3:52and then and then and then there is the
93. 3:55uh, the
94. 3:55>> [clears throat]
95. 3:55>> well, some do tend to have some pressure
96. 3:58of joining fully instructed less
97. 4:00instructor led session for the first
98. 4:02time as well. So, the ones that might be
99. 4:04a bit more uncomfortable with the idea
100. 4:07joining joining for a instructed led
101. 4:09class,
102. 4:10uh,
103. 4:11has has um, shown shown that that the
104. 4:15virtual class could be a bit um,
105. 4:18bit more
106. 4:19>> to start anyway.
107. 4:20>> Yeah, soft software approach to start
108. 4:23with.
109. 4:24And then eventually, uh, progressing
110. 4:26from there to the to the live instructor
111. 4:28classes as well.
112. 4:29I guess
113. 4:30>> Okay, so so that's that's really
114. 4:31interesting to that because obviously
115. 4:34if you've got individuals who are
116. 4:36feeling nervous about coming to an
117. 4:39instructor led class, then they're going
118. 4:41to come to the virtual one. I mean, I
119. 4:44completely
120. 4:45see the fact that that individual would
121. 4:48probably
122. 4:51be more um, inclined to to kind of go at
123. 4:54a slower pace.
124. 4:56Um, they're not getting watched to make
125. 4:58sure that they're not doing, you know,
126. 5:00they're not pushing themselves.
127. 5:03>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, no, I I think that's
128. 5:06that's that's most likely the case that
129. 5:08that they prefer the
130. 5:10uh, the option that that there's no
131. 5:12uh,
132. 5:13well,
133. 5:14at least they are they they there's not
134. 5:16that afraid of of being being commented
135. 5:20or or judged even though that there
136. 5:22wouldn't be one, but but I think that's
137. 5:24that's the main main idea behind of it.
138. 5:27I think it's a lower threshold to really
139. 5:29give it a go and and see how you feel
140. 5:31about the session.
141. 5:33>> What are the different types of classes
142. 5:35that Hydrohex offers?
143. 5:38>> Uh, currently we have five different
144. 5:40class types. Uh, we have we have Hydr-
145. 5:42Hydrohex cardio, a bit more and high
146. 5:45energy, high choreography type of class.
147. 5:48We have Hydrox Beat, a bit more dancey
148. 5:50version, again high choreography class.
149. 5:52Then we have Hydrox Power, simpler
150. 5:55version, easy to follow but but still
151. 5:57quite high intensity,
152. 5:59strength oriented class. Then we have
153. 6:01Hydrox Move,
154. 6:02it's all about improving the mobility,
155. 6:05balance, strengthening the core, again
156. 6:07very easy to join, very accessible. And
157. 6:10then as a latest release, we have Hydrox
158. 6:12Heat, so so very Tabata style of of high
159. 6:15intensity a class.
160. 6:18>> Okay. And then with with
161. 6:21the those different options, obviously
162. 6:23they're on the timetable,
163. 6:26would they
164. 6:27would they be at times where you
165. 6:29wouldn't necessarily get an instructor
166. 6:30to come? Like for example, let's say
167. 6:326:00 in the morning,
168. 6:34there's not many instructors that want
169. 6:36to do a 6:00 a.m.
170. 6:39hit class, but like what
171. 6:41was would that then be where you're
172. 6:44targeting the leisure center to put the
173. 6:46class on so that it adds a different
174. 6:48level of
175. 6:50programming to what they're offering
176. 6:52already?
177. 6:52>> Yeah,
178. 6:53absolutely. It's exactly like you
179. 6:55described here. And then as I said
180. 6:57mentioned, it's usually introduced
181. 6:59alongside the live classes. So so
182. 7:01usually due to the flexibility that the
183. 7:03virtual offer, it gives you that new
184. 7:05opportunities in a in a timetable that
185. 7:07hasn't been a a possible before. So so
186. 7:10yeah, early mornings, maybe late
187. 7:12evenings, weekend times if if there's
188. 7:15space, maybe some small gaps after lunch
189. 7:19hours and and so on.
190. 7:21>> I mean, I completely see when an
191. 7:23instructor is off sick or
192. 7:27a cover instructor hasn't been able to
193. 7:29be replaced for, you know, that that in
194. 7:32person. And and I and I completely get
195. 7:35having that screen up on poolside for
196. 7:37those times as well. But like I say, the
197. 7:416:00 a.m. class is not one that we would
198. 7:43regularly want to get up for today.
199. 7:46Um, you know, and so
200. 7:49that does make a big difference.
201. 7:50>> And and I don't blame you. I I wouldn't
202. 7:52want to either, so that's why I'm also
203. 7:55operators do prefer the virtual version
204. 7:57in in that sense. But there's definitely
205. 7:59demand for even even a 6:00 a.m.
206. 8:00classes. So usually what we see is that
207. 8:02there's a lot of participants e- even
208. 8:05during the early morning classes.
209. 8:08>> So with the um operations of the pool,
210. 8:12but this the operations of the screen,
211. 8:15have you had any challenges or or or has
212. 8:19any of the facilities faced any
213. 8:21challenges having a TV up in the pool
214. 8:24environment? You know, the the um setup,
215. 8:28the actual screen itself, the safety
216. 8:31element of it, or or even
217. 8:34the the noise getting the volume of the
218. 8:37instruction over.
219. 8:40>> Um,
220. 8:41yeah, the the pool environment is
221. 8:43definitely one of the more challenging
222. 8:45spaces to introduce any technology.
223. 8:47Uh that that said, the technology has
224. 8:49evolved quite significa- significantly
225. 8:52over the past few years, and and we are
226. 8:55now seeing more reliable full grade
227. 8:57screens and and audio systems that are
228. 9:00designed for especially those those
229. 9:02conditions. Mm.
230. 9:05I wouldn't I would say the biggest
231. 9:07challenge isn't the hardware itself, uh
232. 9:09but often the the implementation.
233. 9:12Um,
234. 9:12there are lots of operators who who rely
235. 9:15on on their external AV suppliers. For
236. 9:17instance, they are inquiring about about
237. 9:20these kind of setups for for their uh
238. 9:23existing partners or or AV suppliers. Uh
239. 9:27and and then very often they they may
240. 9:29not have any specific uh poolside
241. 9:31experience.
242. 9:33Uh meaning that that that they don't
243. 9:35have that knowledge. Uh and and
244. 9:38uh and
245. 9:39maybe even not the equipments to to to
246. 9:42provide for for that uh
247. 9:45for that day. So so as a result, the
248. 9:47solutions can not can often be
249. 9:50slightly over complicated high costly or
250. 9:54sometimes even a bit inconvenient setups
251. 9:57for for those pool pool pool sides.
252. 10:02Therefore, we have for for instance uh
253. 10:05um
254. 10:07provided a a very turnkey setup which we
255. 10:09have now delivered to over 150 locations
256. 10:13across Europe. The the idea is to just
257. 10:16simply remove that complexity
258. 10:18and give operators a solution that's
259. 10:21already proven to work.
260. 10:23So so yeah, I would say we have quite
261. 10:25good understanding how how this kind of
262. 10:28setup works in a pool environment, how
263. 10:31long will it last in a in a pool
264. 10:33environment and and what
265. 10:34>> Well, yeah, that's one of my big things
266. 10:36is like chlorine eats everything. So how
267. 10:39do you know
268. 10:40if you
269. 10:41if you've considered the TV element on a
270. 10:44on a on a pool side, how do we look
271. 10:48after those TVs to be able to keep it up
272. 10:51there for a long time?
273. 10:52>> Mhm.
274. 10:53Yeah, again it it totally depends on on
275. 10:56the final solution, what kind of TV it
276. 10:58is and then as I said, there is now more
277. 11:00and more
278. 11:02these kind of customized TV solutions
279. 11:04that that are built to to last in in
280. 11:06those environments. How we have tackled
281. 11:09this issue is is that we introduce a IP
282. 11:12rated enclosure and and basically the
283. 11:15the TV and then the rest of the
284. 11:17components and the electronics will be
285. 11:19stored inside of that that case. The
286. 11:22case is um
287. 11:24included with two separate ventilators
288. 11:27or fans, meaning that there will be
289. 11:29constantly
290. 11:31air flowing inside of that case, meaning
291. 11:33that that it's it's
292. 11:35uh, at least it minimizes
293. 11:37uh, this kind of
294. 11:38uh,
295. 11:39uh, chlorine and and humidity getting
296. 11:41getting into those components.
297. 11:44Um,
298. 11:44but yeah, obviously they they don't last
299. 11:46forever. So, so they they do have this
300. 11:49lifespan of of roughly 5 years or so.
301. 11:52And and and then um,
302. 11:54uh, it does needs either some regular
303. 11:57maintenance or or eventually replacing
304. 12:00the unit. Uh, but as I said, uh, what we
305. 12:03are using is the regular sorry, like
306. 12:06this kind of IP-rated enclosure and
307. 12:08inside of it there will be a regular TV
308. 12:10which is then very easy to replace with
309. 12:12a a a new one in in your local
310. 12:15electronic store. So, uh, uh, our
311. 12:17approach is is is is this kind of very
312. 12:20trivial and straightforward in a way
313. 12:22that also the maintenance and the
314. 12:25replace replacing part would be as as
315. 12:28effortless as possible.
316. 12:31>> Going back to the actual class workouts
317. 12:33and the class routines,
318. 12:36how important is it for there to be
319. 12:40obviously you've got the TV, but does
320. 12:42there need to be someone else on
321. 12:44poolside as well? Because otherwise, you
322. 12:47know, is is there an element of another
323. 12:50instructor just overseeing or a
324. 12:52lifeguard overseeing? Is it really you
325. 12:54know, it there's a TV on the screen, but
326. 12:56how do the people in the water get
327. 12:58monitored?
328. 12:59>> Yeah. So, so the hydro sessions are
329. 13:01designed to run fully fully in a virtual
330. 13:03format. Uh, so from an operational
331. 13:06perspective, the only required staff
332. 13:08member is a lifeguard on duty. Um,
333. 13:11again, that gives that that flexibility
334. 13:13to program sessions at times when where
335. 13:15where the instructor availability might
336. 13:17otherwise be a limitation. So, so as
337. 13:20long as you have any lifeguard on duty,
338. 13:22you can basically run the classes
339. 13:24whenever and and it's it's designed in a
340. 13:26way that you can program pre-program
341. 13:29them Uh, uh to start automatically. So
342. 13:31so no further actions are required from
343. 13:34from the staff
344. 13:36uh when when you have designed it or
345. 13:38planned to do classes to start. So
346. 13:40everything starts automatically, but as
347. 13:42said, the the lifeguard itself needs to
348. 13:45be there monitoring the the classes
349. 13:48uh classes in the poolside.
350. 13:51>> How about the factor of an individual
351. 13:55who is new to the pool coming to the
352. 13:58class
353. 13:59doing things
354. 14:02incorrectly? Like there's no one to kind
355. 14:04of oversee
356. 14:06the
357. 14:08corrections that might be required for
358. 14:11those individuals in the pool.
359. 14:13How How does that get looked upon?
360. 14:18>> Um yeah.
361. 14:20Um
362. 14:21well, again, as as said, um
363. 14:24this since this runs completely
364. 14:25virtually,
365. 14:27uh there there isn't kind of that
366. 14:30uh level of interaction where where we
367. 14:31could really point out where where
368. 14:35someone is is doing incorrectly
369. 14:37uh or stuff like that.
370. 14:39Uh what we have uh ensured is is that
371. 14:42that the
372. 14:44uh level of quality of of the underwater
373. 14:47videos that we are doing would be as
374. 14:49clear as possible. And and also the
375. 14:51instructor itself is is emphasizing uh
376. 14:55the each movements uh as much as
377. 14:58possible and showing from a different
378. 15:00angles as well.
379. 15:02Uh so so we could really ensure that
380. 15:04everyone that is doing for the first
381. 15:06time uh would actually understand the
382. 15:09movement as as well as possible and and
383. 15:12constantly following the
384. 15:14uh instructions going on from the
385. 15:15screen. So therefore the
386. 15:18uh the the movements would be executed
387. 15:21in a in a way that
388. 15:23would uh support supporting the end
389. 15:26user.
390. 15:28Um,
391. 15:28we
392. 15:30during the user survey that I referred
393. 15:32in in earlier in our conversation, we
394. 15:35did ask um
395. 15:38a little bit about the about the
396. 15:40importance of of the
397. 15:42of the trust and then engagement for
398. 15:44instance, especially if if if these
399. 15:47points are are considered. Um,
400. 15:51and and
401. 15:53well, in terms of of engagement,
402. 15:56what we saw is that the data has been
403. 15:58actually very strong
404. 16:00from our user service across over 150
405. 16:03users. We've seen an NPS score of over
406. 16:0785 and an overall satisfaction at 4.8
407. 16:10out of five,
408. 16:12meaning that there is quite strong
409. 16:14indication that that people feel
410. 16:17confident actually
411. 16:19uh
412. 16:20introducing this new offer for for their
413. 16:22friends and families for instance.
414. 16:24>> Okay.
415. 16:25>> Um, so so
416. 16:27based on the answers we received, there
417. 16:30wasn't loads of points highlighting that
418. 16:33that that that it would be hard for
419. 16:36instance for for beginners to really
420. 16:38come and and follow the movements,
421. 16:41follow the classes.
422. 16:42And I think again it it comes to the
423. 16:45fact that the classes are well
424. 16:47structured, easy to follow. And and and
425. 16:51as I said, the a clear underwater video
426. 16:53is demonstrating the movements as
427. 16:56as well as possible.
428. 16:58>> Well, I do I definitely have to commend
429. 17:00you. It's a fantastic quality because
430. 17:05you know, the crystal clear water, the
431. 17:07the way that it's been filmed, you don't
432. 17:10have that distortion either. You know,
433. 17:12when you film something under the water,
434. 17:14if you if you film it and it looks like
435. 17:17your head's over that way because the
436. 17:19way that the water distorts it, that's
437. 17:22that sometimes happens when you take
438. 17:23pictures or
439. 17:25I go to take a picture of a foot, for
440. 17:27example, under the water, and it looks
441. 17:28about 12-ft long because the water's
442. 17:31made it look funny and distorted. So,
443. 17:34your quality of the camera footage and
444. 17:37the way that it is set up is is
445. 17:39fantastic, and it is crystal clear for
446. 17:42everyone to see. And that that makes a
447. 17:44big difference.
448. 17:45>> Yeah. Yeah, no, I I think that's that's
449. 17:47the most crucial part when when you are
450. 17:49building a workout experience or or or a
451. 17:53fitness product that the quality has to
452. 17:55be
453. 17:56uh
454. 17:57like top-notch quality, and then that's
455. 17:59that's exactly where we have a
456. 18:00specialized ourselves. And then and I
457. 18:03think that's that's
458. 18:05uh what indicates for the member
459. 18:06feedback that we we get is is that that
460. 18:09since it's so high quality, it is very
461. 18:12engaging, and then and then people do
462. 18:14want to return week after week for for
463. 18:16the classes.
464. 18:18And we also
465. 18:19Yeah, we we we also did ask about the
466. 18:22safety and then injury prevention,
467. 18:25uh how how important it is in in the in
468. 18:28a in a in a survey, and then also how
469. 18:30well Hydrexx is
470. 18:32uh
471. 18:33uh doing that job or meeting that
472. 18:35expectations. And then on average, we
473. 18:37did get uh
474. 18:39the importance of safety and then injury
475. 18:41prevention were uh rated around 4.5 out
476. 18:45of uh five in total, and and Hydrexx
477. 18:48were scoring uh 4.2 out of five uh to
478. 18:52meeting those expectations. So, again,
479. 18:54as as I said, there is no one to really
480. 18:57correct uh any any movements, for for
481. 19:00instance, for the beginners. Uh
482. 19:02uh at least based on the the users that
483. 19:05do consume Hydrexx doesn't uh doesn't
484. 19:08feel that Hydrexx wouldn't meeting uh
485. 19:11these expectations uh
486. 19:13well enough for instance. So, so I think
487. 19:16that's that's something to highlight
488. 19:17also here.
489. 19:19>> Do people also just um kind of
490. 19:23book on via the the app or a or a
491. 19:27booking system at the leisure center and
492. 19:30then just turn up? There is do they have
493. 19:32to
494. 19:34like tick a
495. 19:36uh a kind of waiver or anything on their
496. 19:39park Q form or anything like that that
497. 19:42then just clarifies that they take
498. 19:44responsibility for their own
499. 19:47individual um workout?
500. 19:50>> Mhm.
501. 19:51I think that's that's part of the
502. 19:52operator's policies. So, so how however
503. 19:56they
504. 19:57uh usually uh
505. 19:59do these kind of uh onboardings with
506. 20:02with with members, I I think that's just
507. 20:04aligns part of part of that policy.
508. 20:07>> Yeah.
509. 20:08>> Each of our classes do emphasize in the
510. 20:10beginning that that you you are working
511. 20:12out with your own own risk and and and
512. 20:15take take responsibility for for your
513. 20:18own intensity. So, so there's always
514. 20:20that part uh included. Uh but yeah, I
515. 20:23guess it it comes down to the very
516. 20:25similar approach as as it does in in
517. 20:28other virtual fitness services in a
518. 20:30trilon for instance. So, so again,
519. 20:32uh very similar approach approach there.
520. 20:36>> Okay. So, how when we look at the um the
521. 20:40role of the instructors and obviously
522. 20:42needed in comparison to the the TV
523. 20:46screen on the pool side
524. 20:48um
525. 20:50is there a way of there being a um like
526. 20:55a
527. 20:56well, a combi class but a an a facility
528. 21:00being able to look at the fact that
529. 21:02these TVs on the on the
530. 21:05on the wall and an instructor on the
531. 21:08poolside, there is
532. 21:10there is an importance for both of them.
533. 21:13The shift for a hybrid model almost,
534. 21:16where there's the two working side by
535. 21:19side. Do you see that? Is that how we
536. 21:21see it working in the in the leisure
537. 21:23centers?
538. 21:25>> Uh
539. 21:26so so so currently, what we see is is a
540. 21:29very much a hybrid model in a way that
541. 21:31that they do offer both the live
542. 21:33instructor classes and the virtual
543. 21:35classes.
544. 21:36Uh not together at at at the moment at
545. 21:38least. So so they are very much
546. 21:41independent offerings as as each.
547. 21:44But but yeah, I would say that the
548. 21:48uh live aqua classes remain some of the
549. 21:51most valued sessions there are in the
550. 21:54programming across the centers, at least
551. 21:56all the centers that we operate. And and
552. 21:59and obviously the instructors are
553. 22:01playing a very key role when it comes to
554. 22:03building that engagement and and in
555. 22:05community
556. 22:06inside of the centers. So so that's
557. 22:08said, uh
558. 22:10I would say it's it's less about
559. 22:11choosing one or the other and and more
560. 22:13about just giving operators that
561. 22:15flexibility to deliver more complete and
562. 22:18consistent programming when when you do
563. 22:20have
564. 22:22both the virtual option and the live
565. 22:24instructed option. So so for now, we see
566. 22:27that as a very much independent
567. 22:29offerings, but but basically just
568. 22:32completing the overall
569. 22:34aquatics offering across the centers.
570. 22:37But but yeah, who who knows in the
571. 22:39future whether whether this there might
572. 22:42be even even a bit more combination of
573. 22:44of both both worlds.
574. 22:46>> Yeah. Yeah, definitely. And in your in
575. 22:49your study, you're saying that you're
576. 22:50finding though you're finding people
577. 22:54the retention levels are high. So you're
578. 22:55finding people that are staying around
579. 22:57for longer, but you're also
580. 22:59seeing that they are then wanting to go
581. 23:02to an instructor-led class from
582. 23:05attending a Hydrohex
583. 23:07session.
584. 23:08>> Yeah, no, absolutely. I think um
585. 23:11since since there is so such a high
586. 23:13demand for aqua in in general speaking.
587. 23:16>> Yeah, yeah.
588. 23:16>> Uh
589. 23:17there is a very much limitation of of
590. 23:19actually offering that instructor-led
591. 23:22classes in a week and then in in in in
592. 23:25general the lack of of
593. 23:28having having a aqua instructors uh in
594. 23:31in in overall and then finding new new
595. 23:33qualified aqua instructors as as I'm
596. 23:35sure you you know more than anyone. Uh
597. 23:38but but but uh I get I guess it comes to
598. 23:41down the fact that that when when we
599. 23:43have that scalable option uh to really
600. 23:47uh introduce more classes in a week uh
601. 23:49it kind of opens that that opportunity
602. 23:52for for new people to really give it a
603. 23:55go uh without committing to a certain
604. 23:58timetable that didn't work for them
605. 24:01or or just just simply uh
606. 24:05are a bit uncertain whether whether aqua
607. 24:07is for me. So so when when they have
608. 24:10that low threshold entry point that that
609. 24:13the virtual usually offers uh it starts
610. 24:17to build that kind of momentum to really
611. 24:20also gain more traction
612. 24:22for for aqua live live instructor
613. 24:25classes as well.
614. 24:26Uh given given that there is actually
615. 24:29space space to get get in but but yeah,
616. 24:31that's that's definitely something that
617. 24:32we have seen seen in in other locations.
618. 24:36>> And it is true like class aqua classes
619. 24:39are hugely popular and um getting
620. 24:43timetable space is one of the hardest
621. 24:47points as well. Um lots of leisure
622. 24:50centers are um
623. 24:53limited because they've got like
624. 24:55swimming lessons on in the afternoon.
625. 24:57They've got the general swim that they
626. 25:00have to also implement to make sure that
627. 25:02general swim is on the timetable. So,
628. 25:04there are lots of
629. 25:07a lots of challenges when it comes to
630. 25:10trying to put on more classes and then
631. 25:13again time the times of the classes. Um
632. 25:17you know, say for example, a very very
633. 25:19popular class in the daytime wouldn't
634. 25:23necessarily be 9:00 in the morning
635. 25:25because of school runs and work runs and
636. 25:29stuff. Um
637. 25:31but that might be the only slot that the
638. 25:33swimming pool has on their timetable
639. 25:36available.
640. 25:36>> Mhm.
641. 25:38>> So, um then therefore the older people
642. 25:42who don't have work and don't have
643. 25:43children drop-offs and don't have those
644. 25:46other things might be able to then
645. 25:48attend the 9:00 a.m. class.
646. 25:51But then the you know, there's all these
647. 25:53different
648. 25:55avenues to the leisure centers and and
649. 25:58their facility programs that end up
650. 26:00being
651. 26:01being a challenge. So, where you're then
652. 26:05putting on these five different style of
653. 26:07classes, um are you are you
654. 26:12updating them quite regularly?
655. 26:15How often do those videos get updated?
656. 26:18>> So, currently we update them three times
657. 26:19a year. So, so all the existing
658. 26:22classes will remain in the system and
659. 26:24then there will be regularly new new
660. 26:26updates coming up in a in a year.
661. 26:30>> So, the in the male is Tommy on the
662. 26:34videos and then there's is there um
663. 26:38one or two females that was also in some
664. 26:40of the videos?
665. 26:41>> Uh I think we have three females at the
666. 26:44moment. Yes.
667. 26:45>> Okay. And so, um who's who designs those
668. 26:49workouts? Is it Tommy or is it a group?
669. 26:54>> Um I would say it's it's more or less
670. 26:56the a group. So so group of of the
671. 26:59instructors uh
672. 27:00and and the ones that are working uh uh
673. 27:04around the the fitness product itself uh
674. 27:06are the ones that uh eventually uh plan
675. 27:10each of the classes, each of the
676. 27:12upcoming classes, and and and prepare
677. 27:14everything in advance before before
678. 27:17actually the production will will take
679. 27:19place.
680. 27:20>> Amazing. So um do
681. 27:23I'm going to say this is a bit very Les
682. 27:25Millsy, but is there like an
683. 27:29announcement of a new workout video?
684. 27:34>> Um yes. So so uh from our end, we will
685. 27:38obviously always prepare the upcoming uh
686. 27:40release, and and we will communicate it
687. 27:43to the to the operators, and and and we
688. 27:46will also uh conduct some of the
689. 27:48promotional materials for them to to
690. 27:51really get most out of it.
691. 27:53Uh
692. 27:54it's not necessarily in a in a similar
693. 27:57scale than the Les Mills just yet.
694. 28:00>> [laughter]
695. 28:00>> Uh but but but hopefully we'll we'll see
696. 28:02in the future more like this kind of
697. 28:04launch events taking place and and and
698. 28:06so so on. But yeah.
699. 28:08>> All right. No, just just cuz I know that
700. 28:09obviously
701. 28:11um over the years, you know, they do
702. 28:13these big grand big days when they have
703. 28:16a new workout that they're bringing out.
704. 28:19But obviously they are instructor-led.
705. 28:22So they are all learning the same
706. 28:24routine at that same time.
707. 28:27>> Exactly. I think they they have a bit
708. 28:29more
709. 28:30um
710. 28:31more incentives also to to be aware of
711. 28:33that the new when the new releases are
712. 28:35coming up and and and how to get most
713. 28:38out of out of the new releases. So so
714. 28:40yeah, the instructor point there is is
715. 28:42quite crucial, for sure.
716. 28:46>> Cool. So looking ahead, we have
717. 28:48obviously discussed the fact that the
718. 28:50way that you guys view it is um filling
719. 28:53in the the
720. 28:56um time when an instructor wouldn't be
721. 28:58around, but also filling in extra
722. 29:00classes
723. 29:02where a timetable can be expanded and
724. 29:05advanced. You've got your five different
725. 29:07styles of the class being implemented as
726. 29:11well. And and so, it's not a case that
727. 29:15you're looking at overtaking our roles.
728. 29:17We're looking at harmonizing the two
729. 29:19together.
730. 29:22>> Is there anything else?
731. 29:23>> Yeah, is there anything that you think
732. 29:25as an instructor like myself or any
733. 29:28operators who are watching this could
734. 29:31just have that little bit more knowledge
735. 29:33about where you see Hydrohex going in
736. 29:36the future?
737. 29:37>> Mhm.
738. 29:39Um
739. 29:41Yeah, I I think um
740. 29:44Yeah, I think the key thing to
741. 29:46understand here is that uh this isn't
742. 29:49really about about the technology.
743. 29:51Uh at the end of the day, it's about
744. 29:53delivering high-quality aqua fitness
745. 29:55experiences that that truly engage
746. 29:57users.
747. 29:58And then we see technology
748. 30:01uh is is simply an enabler enabler of
749. 30:04that.
750. 30:05Um
751. 30:06it it also comes down to to consumer
752. 30:08demand
753. 30:09uh and then the way people want to
754. 30:11engage with exercise today with more
755. 30:14flexibility and choice around when and
756. 30:16how to how they can participate.
757. 30:18Um
758. 30:20Uh as a operator perspective, I think
759. 30:23it's also about rethinking how the pool
760. 30:25is used as a space to ensure the best
761. 30:28possible utilization.
762. 30:30Um In many cases, there's already demand
763. 30:33that isn't being fully met. So, so that
764. 30:36said, um
765. 30:37uh the the instructed classes aren't
766. 30:40going nowhere. It's just about how how
767. 30:42we can get most out of out of that
768. 30:45increasing increasing demand there.
769. 30:48Uh whether that's uh
770. 30:50they getting those waiting lists for for
771. 30:53for for actual classes or or use unused
772. 30:56capacity at certain times as as we
773. 30:59covered or or just also people who
774. 31:02simply don't feel confident joining for
775. 31:04for the traditional uh fully packed
776. 31:07classes.
777. 31:08Um
778. 31:10What we're seeing is that when operators
779. 31:12introduce more flexibility into their
780. 31:14programming, uh they're able to engage
781. 31:16existing users more consistently
782. 31:19uh while also bringing in new audience
783. 31:21who were previously uh who weren't
784. 31:23previously participating.
785. 31:25Um
786. 31:27And and importantly, this doesn't come
787. 31:29at the expense of of an instructor-led
788. 31:31classes. In in fact, uh I think it often
789. 31:34strengthens the overall offering by
790. 31:37making it even more accessible and
791. 31:39consistent as as as we already uh spoke
792. 31:42spoke about. So, I think the the future
793. 31:46shift is is less about replacing
794. 31:49anything and more about unlocking the
795. 31:51full potential of of aquatic spaces in a
796. 31:54way that that it actually works better
797. 31:56for everyone involved. And and
798. 31:58ultimately, I believe it's if if more
799. 32:01people can access and participate in
800. 32:03aquatic exercise
801. 32:05uh more equa- regularly, uh that's just
802. 32:08a positive outcome for for the entire
803. 32:10section in in my point of view.
804. 32:13>> Oh, I completely agree, Sam. Completely
805. 32:15agree. And it is it is that thing of the
806. 32:19operators not actually being
807. 32:22open to the different avenues that is
808. 32:25out there. And they are now beginning to
809. 32:28see all the different options that we
810. 32:30have that's not just one-size-fits-all.
811. 32:33There is many different ways. I mean, I
812. 32:36genuinely
813. 32:38I knew that this was a possibility for
814. 32:40having virtual reality TV aqua aerobics
815. 32:44classes, and now it's here, and it is,
816. 32:49you know, if you guys have been around
817. 32:51since 2018, then it's not it's new, but
818. 32:54it's not not new, but it's going to be
819. 32:56new to so many people, and um
820. 33:00and and observing and viewing and
821. 33:03attending these classes you know, I can
822. 33:06see where it's where it's leading to and
823. 33:08it and it's looking exciting where
824. 33:10virtual reality aqua aerobics is is part
825. 33:14of the program for for the timetable.
826. 33:17>> Exactly. And then I I think the aquatic
827. 33:20fitness um
828. 33:21or or or fitness in general if follows
829. 33:24very very similar paths uh that we have
830. 33:27already seen in in wider fitness
831. 33:29industry.
832. 33:30Um and I think well, especially
833. 33:32researches from from Les Mills for
834. 33:33instance, uh do so show that people are
835. 33:37increasingly combining this kind of
836. 33:39in-person and digital experiences.
837. 33:42And and then those user users tend to be
838. 33:44more active in in overall. So so I think
839. 33:47it's
840. 33:48well, as you said, we're in aquatics
841. 33:50we're still in very early in that
842. 33:52transition, but but I I do believe that
843. 33:55the same pattern is is starting to
844. 33:56emerge emerge there there as well.
845. 33:59So so yeah, that's that's definitely
846. 34:02something that is is ahead of us for
847. 34:04sure.
848. 34:06>> [laughter]
849. 34:07>> Well, it's been fantastic talking to
850. 34:08you, Sam. Thank you for joining me.
851. 34:11And I look forward to continue our
852. 34:13conversations.
853. 34:15>> Likewise. Thank you very much.
854. 34:24>> All right, stop. Uh
855. 34:29All these new buttons.
856. 34:30>> Mhm.