Virtual Wellness Platform

For

In

Product Design, UX, UI, Research

Revolutionizing Virtual Fitness in Response to the Pandemic

Overview

In early 2020, the global fitness industry faced an unprecedented challenge—in-person classes were no longer viable due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. Thousands of yoga studios, gyms, and independent fitness instructors risked losing their clientele overnight. Mindbody, a leader in business management software for the wellness industry, fast-tracked the development of a Virtual Wellness Platform to help these businesses transition to a digital model.

As the Principal Product Designer, I led the creation of an end-to-end experience that ensured both fitness professionals and their customers had a seamless way to connect, train, and grow their communities online.

Role: Principal Designer | UX/UI | User Research | Product Refinement
Impact: 2.5M livestream attendees, 3M video-on-demand views, and a consumer satisfaction increase from 2.7 to 4.7 in 10 months.

The Challenge

A Rapid Pivot to Virtual Fitness

Mindbody’s customers—yoga studios, personal trainers, boutique gyms, and wellness coaches—built their businesses on in-person interactions. Many had no prior experience running virtual classes and needed a simple, all-in-one solution that handled streaming, scheduling, and payments without overwhelming them technically.

Key Challenges & Constraints:

1. Urgency:

Required a 90-day turnaround to launch an MVP.
Needed to integrate with existing workflows without disruption.

2. Technical & UX Complexity:

Had to support both live and on-demand content.
Needed a zero-friction setup for non-tech-savvy business owners.

3. Retention & Monetization:

Ensure client engagement & business sustainability.
Integrate flexible pricing models (subscriptions, pay-per-class, trials).

Before

Process

Agile, Research-Driven Execution

1. User Research & Discovery

Key Insights from 30+ Interviews & 2,500 Survey Responses

Yoga & Fitness Studios

Paint Point – Struggled with complex streaming tools, lost members

Solution Implemented – Integrated one-click live streaming, automated class scheduling

Personal Trainers

Paint Point – Needed to maintain engagement & revenue

Solution Implemented – Added real-time chat, payment integration, and class bundles

Customers (Clients)

Paint Point – Found Zoom/Youtube classes impersonal & disconnected

Solution Implemented – Developed interactive live chat, reactions, & Q&A features

User Group

Pain Points

Solution Implemented

Yoga & Fitness Studios

Struggled with complex streaming tools, lost members

Integrated one-click live streaming, automated class scheduling

Personal Trainers

Needed to maintain engagement & revenue

Added real-time chat, payment integration, and class bundles

Customers (Clients)

Found Zoom/Youtube classes impersonal & disconnected

Developed interactive live chat, reactions, & Q&A features

2. UX/UI Design & Iteration

Frictionless Experience for Both Businesses & Clients

Key Design Priorities:

Seamless Onboarding:

Step-by-step setup wizard → Connects payment, schedules, and streaming in <10 mins.

Multi-Device Compatibility:

Works on desktop, iOS, Android, with a mobile-first approach.

Interactive Live Streaming & On-Demand

Engagement tools (polls, reactions, live chat).
AI-powered class recommendations to improve client retention.

3. Agile Development & Launch

Iterative Testing Across 4 Sprints

Conducted weekly usability tests with real studio owners.

Integrated user feedback in real-time for continuous improvements.

Coordinated with engineering, marketing, and support teams to ensure smooth rollout.

The Solution

A Fully Integrated Virtual Wellness Platform

End-to-End Features:

Built-in Live Streaming → No need for external platforms like Zoom.
On-Demand Library → Businesses can monetize past classes.
Seamless Booking & Payment Integration → No manual invoicing needed.
Multi-Device Support → Access from web, mobile, tablet.
Engagement Tools → Live chat, Q&A, reactions.
Analytics Dashboard → Tracks attendance, revenue, & engagement.

Results & Impact

Transforming the Future of Fitness

Indicators of shared value, living a fully ethical life with the social return on investment improve the world and activate a dynamic systematic thinking.

User Growth & Engagement:

0 M

Livestream attendees

across web & mobile

0 M+

Video-on-demand views, improving engagement by 47%

Customer Satisfaction & Retention:

2.7 ⭑

Client satisfaction score jumped from 2.7 to 4.7 in 10 months

0 %

of fitness businesses reported increased client retention

Revenue & Business Expansion:

0 %

Subscriptions and pay-per-class boosted studio revenue by 20%

0 %

Businesses kept virtual offerings post-pandemic, proving impact.

Lessons Learned & Future Roadmap

Key Takeaways:

Rapid iteration & real-time feedback led to better adoption.
Community-driven features (chat, reactions) increased engagement.
Frictionless payments & booking were critical for retention.

Future Enhancements:

AI-powered workout recommendations
Wearable & fitness tracker integrations
Advanced monetization (tiered memberships, partnerships)
Smart TV App

Conclusion

The Virtual Wellness Platform didn’t just help businesses survive—it created a new standard for hybrid fitness experiences. With a user-first approach, rapid iteration, and deep industry research, we built a solution that remains foundational to the future of digital fitness. The platform continues to evolve, empowering instructors and studios to reach broader audiences while maintaining the personal connections that make fitness communities thrive.

“Running a gym is already a full-time job—moving to virtual classes felt overwhelming at first. But having an all-in-one platform to manage bookings, payments, and live streaming made the transition seamless. Within months, we retained over 85% of our members, even as other gyms struggled to stay open.”

“The biggest challenge was keeping our members engaged when we shifted online. With interactive features like chat and reactions, our virtual attendance skyrocketed, and our retention rates improved by 80%. The transition wasn’t just a short-term fix—it became part of our long-term strategy.”

“Before going virtual, I could only train clients in my city. Now, I have members joining from different states, and my revenue has increased by 30% just by offering online sessions. The platform made scheduling, payments, and video-on-demand access effortless.”

“Clients love the flexibility of on-demand workouts, and I love that I can scale my business without adding more hours to my day. The virtual platform helped me automate bookings, track engagement, and provide a premium coaching experience without needing extra admin work.”

“I was skeptical about teaching yoga online, but having a reliable, high-quality streaming platform allowed me to maintain my studio’s community feel, even from a distance. Within weeks, we were hosting classes with over 100 attendees, something that wouldn’t have been possible in our physical space alone.”

“A good virtual setup isn’t just about the tech—it’s about creating an experience that feels just as personal as an in-person class. Features like live chat and feedback tools helped me build deeper connections with my students, and 85% of them continued training with me online even after reopening in-person sessions.”