How to build a wellness waitlist!

There’s one recurring need that all fitness + wellness pros share - whether experienced experts or nimble newcomers, and it’s: 

How do you create a waitlist of clients who want to work with you?

We chatted with someone who slays the game, and at 25 years old has quickly learned valuable insights with the results to prove it - we’re talking waitlists within 48hrs of posting classes, and a loyal following craving connection, community, and more. 

From private personal trainers looking to rent a gym space, one-on-one Pilates experts in search of a pilates studio rental, or small group class teachers who want to host a wellness event, no one can do what we do without the amazing clients and students we teach!  

Meet Anjali Sachdeva, aka @movewithanj, who graciously let us pick her brain to share how she routinely sells out her offering, what systems she uses, and insights she’s learned as she builds her business. And, if you wanna experience it for yourself, sign up here for her next class at Arrive - it will sell out!

Biggest mistake people make?

“Not sharing enough in advance. You have to give yourself a lead time of 3-4 weeks to host. And you should always collect emails. It’s hard to rely on any one algorithm. Don’t worry about spamming people - just get the word out!”

Background

Anj was working a full-time remote gig in 2021 but felt super lonely and lacking friends, so she started to work at Pure Barre in order to find community. A year later, she realized how much she enjoyed teaching, so she pursued her Pilates training with Real Pilates and has since studied both classical and contemporary approaches.  In 2025, she took on her first Pilates teacher gig at Club Pilates and began to use TikTok that May, which started to help her get private clients. 

Focusing on NYC girls who want affordable Pilates, after she saw her online followers increase by 500 subscribers in one day, she recognized the strong signal and immediately made her scheduling platform available. With 22k followers on TikTok, she knew she had to leverage the attention into actual engagement, so her newsletter became an important touchpoint to convert interested folks into weekly sign-ups.

Read on for excerpts from our chat with Anj.

Anj, you’re killing it! What role has community played in building your classes? How do you keep people coming back?

At events, which can be super "gen z", I’m always recording, I make a vlog out of it, and use that as my next ad. People return because they know in advance what to expect in my classes. It’s affordable, aimed at young people, and I partner with other businesses, so we see a lot of client crossover; and whenever I partner with new people, the community comes. TikTok only works so well for me because I’m super consistent. 

How do you differentiate your classes and your brand (move with Anj and sql) in such a crowded NYC market?

The price point for affordable movement ($25 reformer classes), and I’m credible because I did a 600-hour program and am certified by top studios.

I have HUGE lead generation via TikTok that then fills other classes. 

Personality and energy really matter. Be a homie, and they will come back. 

For SQZ (*her weighted magic circle product*),  it’s easy to stand out because there are zero products of its kind. You can use it as a weight and a magic circle; there is 0 competition, and I have a patent pending. 

What does your personal brand look like online and offline, and how intentional are you about it?

It’s super casual and open to all types of people. My classes are super diverse, whereas in the fitness industry at large, most classes are usually 1 type of people. I’m an Indian instructor, and I’m proud to offer an inclusive experience.

Walk us through your marketing and promotion process: when you announce a class, what exactly do you do within those first 24 hours? 

• Tik Tok

• Newsletter

• tag folks like @wellnessaroundynyc, and other partners. 

• Sites like bloomy market to NYC, and you can pay for advertising. 

• Group chats on WhatsApp: formsamiclarke, very genz girls! 

• I post in a bunch of nychchat. 

• I pay for SQZ (my magic circle brand) marketing ads. 

How do you keep it all organized? What’s your tech stack for signups, payments, and communication that makes selling out smoother?

Acuity for scheduling, which sends reminders, is easy to manage and is affordable. Biotite for all her other links…and that's it! 

What’s the biggest mistake you see new instructors make when trying to host their own classes?

Not sharing enough in advance. You have to give yourself a lead time of 3-4 weeks to host. And you should always collect emails. It’s hard to rely on any one algorithm. Don’t worry about spamming people - just get the word out! 

How do you balance the hustle of filling classes with avoiding burnout?

I value my sleep, and get 7-8 hours every.single.night. I say no to things, even if it’d be more money, to make sure I sleep enough. Boundaries and saying no are key, and I pick and choose how I can make money without compromising my own routine. Self-care ALL THE TIME!!! 

What’s next for you—more products, bigger events, or something entirely new?

I really want to expand SQZ into other cities: LA, branch out within NYC, hit Boston, etc. I’ve gotten more confident in pitching my product because I know it’s a good product. I’d love to partner with bigger brands like Nike. 

* * *

A gift for being you!  Enjoy 20% off SQZ Products with the code arrive20 ! Visit www.sqzwellness.com to grab.

To join the next class: https://movewithanj.beehiiv.com/