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• For many, finding the motivation to work out during the colder seasons is not easy. 
• But trends like “hybrid” fitness – splitting your workouts between the gym and home – seems to be the answer. 
• The team at Planet Fitness highlight some of the trends they have seen, helping people connect through exercise while remaining committed during winter.  

As the days get colder, it’s easier to pick your cosy couch over time at the gym, so naturally, many of us tend to fall off the fitness wagon a bit during winter.

But, with technology at our fingertips, tapping into fitness classes on our devices has never been easier. With this, new trends in the fitness realms have emerged, shares Planet Fitness. This includes a growing taste for “hybrid” fitness — exercising both at the gym and at home.

“It’s not one or the other; digital developments are adding new dimensions of excitement and focus that are motivating people to enjoy coming into the gym with a set of goals, a diet plan, and even getting paired with a world-class coach for daily direction, guidance, and accountability,” says Planet Fitness Marketing Director, Mike Hewan. 

“These are exciting times and are great ways to beat the winter blues both mentally and physically during these colder months when the urge to hibernate becomes a natural instinct.” 

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Here are a few growing fitness trends:

Hybrid fitness

As explained above, hybrid fitness refers to a routine that is not just gym bound. People who follow this trend may choose to work out at their local gym a few times a week and then spend the other days exercising at home or outdoors. 

A hybrid event was piloted by Planet Fitness at the beginning of 2023, encouraging people of all ages and fitness levels to take on a 21-day challenge either in the gym, at home, or a mix of both. “Our data showed a broad range of people aged 17 to 71 participated in the app-based fitness challenges, and 70% of them were women,” says Hewan.  

Community fitness

Fitness doesn’t have to be a solo journey anymore. Another big trend is building a sense of community, making you feel like you belong to something greater and adding extra motivation and accountability. “There is a motivational real-time interactive element to the way virtual solutions are being created, where a coach and nutritionist can be messaged directly; and participants post images and comments about how they are digging deep, or whether they nailed the workout.”

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Mental fitness

It’s all about body and mind. There is also a very important holistic wellness element to fitness challenges. Consumers are focusing more on stress management, emotional health and nutritional coaching and combining that with physical fitness. 

Fitness as you get older

According to the Planet Fitness team, there has also been a growing trend of older people choosing to remain active beyond their 60s. Online classes and events also make it easier for this to happen. So do fitness challenges where participants are encouraged to move at their own pace and kept motivated by a lively, positive community. 

“We’ve also found that to get emotive buy-in, the ability to train where and when you like drives a deeper commitment to reaching the end goal.”