ANNOUNCEMENTS!

There are so many changes coming in September 2022 that we thought we would write a blog post about it so all the info is out there in one place! Please do check it out, even though it is going to be a long and boring one, as there is important information in there!

We came here to do that and realised we haven't wrote a single blog post since July 2020! Well once this one is out of the way we are sure we will have some much more exciting and interesting updates and subjects to blog about... 

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ANNOUNCEMENT 1: BOOKING SYSTEM

We are switching over to GymCatch for a fresh start from classes starting on September the 2nd. All adult hoop, pole, stretch, and fitness classes, as well as youth hoop and circus classes are moving to the Solent Fitness & Aerial Arts GymCatch system here. 

Julie's pilates classes are on the new Pilates with Julie GymCatch system here. You can use one account for both.

For children’s accounts or if you are booking on behalf of someone else, then there is still the option to book for them - this feature is called “sub profiles” (instead of families) and it’s very easy to do. 

GymCatch, like Teamup, uses Stripe as a payment processor so no change there. 

GymCatch has an app that you can download to use for bookings here. However their website is also pretty easy to use on laptops, tablets or phones. 

There is an option to send us messages in-app which is a great way to let us know updates etc. and saves instructors having to pass on messages or have messages to their personal numbers or accounts. 

Over on GymCatch sessions can be “bought” (i.e. you don’t have to buy a single or multi class pass and use that on the session) so it’s a little easier. This includes workshops, classes and courses. The good news is that memberships can be used on course sessions, workshops and classes so there is more flexibility there. For those who do courses (beginners, circus and youth hoop) the new system allows cancellations as the normal classes do which the old system didn’t let us do. 

We may be increasing the cancellation policy to 24 hours which is similar to many other businesses and pole/aerial studios however for now, we are going to try to keep it at 12 hours. If you book a session and cancel more than 12 hours in advance of the class, you will receive a membership credit to use on a class of a similar value. If you cancel within the 12 hours then you will forfeit this credit. If we have to cancel a class, as an automatic refund you would receive the membership option detailed above. (Workshops and private lessons have a 24 hour cancellation period.)

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ANNOUNCEMENT 2: PRICING STRUCTURE

As previously mentioned there will now be the option to simply book and pay for individual classes, as well as buy a pack of classes, and we are now finally in a position where we feel comfortable bringing back the recurring memberships that we had prior to COVID! (Although they are slightly different!) 

It has been more than 5 years since we had an increase in the price of pole and aerial classes and since then, everything else has gone up, so it is unfortunately now time that the cost of a PAYG pole/hoop class has to go up. This is not a decision I have taken lightly and I have made sure to make all memberships as good value as possible to ensure that there is an option for lower priced classes. With that in mind, please see below the new pricing structure coming into effect from the 2nd of August: 

PAYG CLASSES
SINGLE POLE/AERIAL SESSION: £12
SINGLE FITNESS CLASS: £6
SINGLE WORKSHOP: Usually £15 for 1.5-2hr workshop. 
(Workshop price may vary, but we are trying to keep the cost of these low!) 

CLASS BUNDLES
6 POLE/AERIAL CLASS BUNDLE: £60
6 FITNESS CLASS BUNDLE: £30
These class packs will have a period of 3 months to be used up in, which should be enough time for everyone to use them up in. We will no longer be able to extend the expiry date on class packs. 

COURSES
CIRCUS: £5/SESSION (NO CHANGE) 
YOUTH HOOP: £10/SESSION with discount for full course. 
ADULT POLE/HOOP BEGINNERS: £12/SESSION with discount for full course. 

MEMBERSHIPS
BRONZE: £36/MONTH FOR ONE CLASS/WEEK
SILVER: £70/MONTH FOR 2 POLE/AERIAL CLASSES & 1 FITNESS CLASS/WEEK
GOLD: £100/MONTH FOR 3 POLE/AERIAL CLASSES & 2 FITNESS CLASSES/WEEK
These memberships currently run as a 3 month contract. When you sign up you commit to the three months, and then at the membership end you can choose what to do next. GymCatch are working on giving us the option to have a rolling contract. Memberships cannot be cancelled by customers and generally refunds/cancellations will not be given, except at the discretion of the management. 

Each of these memberships gives great discount, and are very similar to the prices pre-COVID so here - there has been no price increase at all. In fact, even without using memberships on workshops (which you can!) the silver membership makes each pole/aerial class used just £7, and gold membership gives you the pole/aerial classes for £6.25. 

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ANNOUNCEMENT 3: TIMETABLE CHANGES

Our timetable has had a bit of a makeover so not only does it look different on the new system, it also is quite different! We won’t list it all here but here are some of the main changes that are important: 

• Saturday youth hoop will still be running at 13:30-14:30 term time only, although do check on booking as there may be some Saturdays where this course does NOT run due to instructor availability.

 

• Saturday afternoons will no longer be a regular class, but instead we will offer one off workshops and practice sessions. These will be a variety of different equipment, styles and age ranges. The practice sessions give you 90 minutes to practice on your chosen equipment, and cost £10 (or one membership use). While the workshops are £15 and 90 minutes specialised lessons. This is great value and means it may only be a couple of Saturday afternoon sessions that you want to attend so it doesn’t take up every weekend. :D 

 

• Generally all pole and aerial classes will now be split up in three categories:
  1) Beginners (these are usually courses and are for brand new beginners or those who aren’t ready for mixed ability classes yet)
  2) ​Mixed ability - all levels welcome, beginners recommended to attend a beginners course first - this gives everyone greater flexibility on which class they choose.
  3) Advanced - for those who are a higher level and are after more advanced moves/transitions. 
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• As requested we now have a pole flow, heels & dance session on the regular timetable on Tuesday nights at 20:15. This will not necessarily be exotic pole every week and will not be a long routine, it will be more transition elements, pretty moves and poses, some freestyle work, floorwork and mini combos and routines.

 

• Youth hoop during the week will involve a couple of time changes to reflect other room bookings and instructor availability. Monday’s class will be 15:45-16:45 (however we will allow arrivals up to 15:55 as we know the school run can be tight). Thursday class will be 16:45-17:45. 

 

• All classes have a minimum number although the exact number does vary, so please make sure you don’t always leave booking until the last minute if possible as that may result in classes being cancelled. 

Please check out our Policies, Terms & Conditions and Code of Conduct here. Specific membership and class terms and conditions can be found on their booking pages. 

All of the instructors are still finding their feet and getting used to using the new system so please be patient if there is an issue! If you need any help please email us on info@solentfaa.co.uk. 

If you got this far, thanks for reading!