Group fitness has always had the power to bring people together through shared movement, motivation, and momentum, and in today’s society, an increased desire for human connection, relief from burnout, and opportunities to unplug from technology are driving a renewed interest in communal workouts. In 2025, people aren’t just showing up for the sweat, they’re showing up for a sense of belonging.
Strava’s Year in Sport Report found 58 percent of their 5,000+ respondents said they made new friends through a fitness group in 2024, and 48 percent cited social connections as their top motivation for joining one in the first place. At the same time, as wellness continues to evolve into a more holistic, inclusive, and even thoughtfully tech-enabled experience, expectations for group fitness are also shifting. From the rise of recovery-focused classes to immersive multisensory formats, the future of group exercise is shaping up to be more engaging, restorative, and personalized than ever before.
So, what’s next for trends in group fitness? At Arch Amenities Group, our experts are always tracking the shifts—and leading the charge—in how group fitness can drive participation, support wellness goals, and elevate the member experience across all types of fitness facilities. Here’s what we’ve seen trending in group fitness that’s helping our fitness centers create engaging spaces, strengthen community, grow memberships, and drive revenue.
Group Fitness Trends in 2025
Group Fitness Recovery Options
The old “no pain, no gain” mindset is out. Today’s group fitness fans are making room for recovery, because members now understand that rest and regeneration are essential to performance. As a result, we’re seeing a rise in stretch and mobility classes, foam rolling sessions, infrared-assisted yoga, and breathwork-based recovery formats. Incorporating these classes allows facilities to offer a full-spectrum fitness experience that supports both high-intensity training and sustainable wellness, which in turn increases member retention. Facilities that prioritize recovery-focused programming may also see increased appeal among older adults, time-strapped members, and wellness-oriented guests who value balance over burnout. The Arch-managed Worldgate Athletic Club and Spa in Herndon, VA, features a recovery room where club members can enjoy Hydro Massage and CryoLounge chairs to recover and connect with friends after a group workout.
Hybrid Group Fitness Offerings
Hybrid is the future, and not just in remote work or attending events. While group fitness classes are best attended in-person, members don’t want to (and shouldn’t have to) miss out on the energy, camaraderie, and conversation that happens when they can’t make it to the gym. Offering livestream and on-demand access to group fitness classes makes it easier for members to stay consistent with their routines and feel connected to their community, even when life keeps them from making it to the gym in person.
At the same time, group fitness class content is evolving to meet a wider range of needs. With time feeling more limited than ever, many group fitness enthusiasts are looking to get the most out of each workout. Expect to see more hybrid classes that blend strength, cardio, and mindfulness into a single session—like yoga fused with mobility work, or high-intensity training paired with breathwork and guided recovery. When friends attend class together, hybrid formats that combine multiple modalities make it easier to meet different fitness preferences within a single session. Whether participants are showing up in person or tuning in from home, hybrid group fitness options help deliver flexibility, inclusivity, and connection.
Outdoor and Seasonal Group Fitness Programming
Wellness is no longer a strictly indoor activity. One of the most enduring trends to emerge from the pandemic era is the demand of outdoor group fitness classes, and they’re here to stay. The 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report from the Outdoor Industry Association claims that the outdoor recreation participant base grew 4.1 percent to a record 175.8 million participants, an impressive 57.3 percent of all Americans aged six and older. Leveraging natural environments not only creates variety and novelty, but also enhances mood, immune function, and recovery. Facilities with even simple outdoor space like a courtyard or rooftop have the opportunity to stand out with unique activations year-round. Depending on your fitness facility, consider adding outdoor group fitness offerings like rooftop yoga, snowshoe boot camp, guided nature walks, poolside aqua sculpting. Many people feel more inclined to try something new or unique when they’re doing it with a friend, making outdoor offerings an ideal entry point for expanding group fitness participation.
DEI in Group Fitness
An important shift in the future of group fitness is the increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). DEI isn’t just about checking boxes or meeting quotas, it’s about fostering an environment and creating a community where people of all backgrounds, body types, abilities, and identities can feel seen, supported, and empowered to move.
DEI in group fitness can look like offering programming that reflects a wide range of cultural practices and movement styles, instructors using inclusive language and adaptive modifications for both mental and physical limitations, even just having accessible class times for different work and family schedules.
Fitness is for everyone, and group fitness, in particular, has the power to foster belonging. Spaces that intentionally design programs around inclusion are not only doing the right thing—they’re tapping into an underserved market that’s actively seeking welcoming wellness spaces.
Connecting Through Technology
While many people head to the gym to spend some time away from screens, there is a growing demand for tech that enhances the group fitness experience. Integrated technology can strengthen connection, boost motivation, and personalize progress in ways that keep participants engaged and inspired. Whether it’s leaderboards that encourage friendly competition and build camaraderie, wearables that track performance in real time, or gamified milestones that celebrate consistency, these tools help members stay accountable while feeling part of a shared journey. For those attending virtually, they also provide a meaningful way to stay connected to the class community even from home.
What Are The Most Popular Fitness Classes in 2025?
Looking for the most popular group exercise classes to add to your gym’s offerings? Here are the most popular group fitness classes of 2024, as reported by Today, ClassPass, and Strava:
-
- Pilates
-
- Strength Training
-
- Volleyball
-
- Running
-
- Music-Themed Classes
-
- Stretching
What’s most important in curating your fitness center’s group fitness schedule is diversity: offering a well-rounded mix of class types at various days and times throughout the week to meet a wide range of guest interests and availability.
At Arch Amenities Group, we believe the next era of group fitness will be defined by integration, intentionality, and innovation. From personalization through tech to cultural inclusivity and experiential design, group fitness classes are evolving to meet people where they are while inspiring them to move forward. As wellness becomes more central to how people choose where to live, work, and stay, standout group fitness programming will become a key differentiator. The good news? With the right partner, your amenity space can be more than a gym, it can be a community, a wellness destination, and a reason to return.
Want to enhance your group fitness strategy? Arch Amenities Group helps design and operate elevated fitness experiences that drive results—for both your guests and your brand. Get connected today.
