The fitness industry is constantly evolving, with new trends shaping how people stay active and healthy.

Recently the focus is shifting from chasing intensity to improving health and performance that lasts. Smarter tech, better recovery tools and data-backed programming are changing how people train and how local gyms, like Anytime Fitness and Club Dauntless, support them. 

Trackers, apps and more technology

A consistent trend over the last several years, wearable technology, as well as mobile apps and data-driven technology continue to evolve. 

A lot of people are using fitness trackers to monitor daily activity and health metrics, including steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, continuous heart rate and sleep quality. Advanced trackers also track blood oxygen.

“I think smart watches, heart rate monitors and all of that wearable technology has continued to dominate the market for years,” said Haley Sorenson, athletics director for Club Dauntless. “It’s for those people who are data-driven, and like knowing exactly what’s going on, from calories burned to recovery. That’s one of the newer things that I’ve been seeing a lot now is people really keeping track of their recovery, as well as their stress that they put on their bodies in their workouts.”

Mobile exercise apps deliver on-demand, scheduled, live-streamed or recorded workouts, offering users convenience and flexibility to exercise anytime, anywhere. Owner Tim Restle has seen an increase in use of the Anytime Fitness app, used to manage gym access, track workouts and set fitness goals. 

“I see a lot more people using that app and using the tools there to build a program,” he said. 

Equipment at both gyms also utilizes newer technology to make working out easier.

All of the machines at Club Dauntless can connect with an app called Life Fitness Connect, allowing people to track their workouts. It also shows them how to do the exercise properly. 

“One of the barriers of people coming into a gym is just not knowing what to do, and that’s one of the ways we can get rid of that barrier,” Sorenson said. “Just providing something for people to look at and how to use the machine properly.”

At Anytime Fitness, much of the equipment also has QR codes that can be scanned and a video will show you how to use the machine correctly. On the treadmills, you can use the internet during your workout. 

“You can really do anything from tracking a workout to doing an interactive workout, which is really kind of a cool thing that we started offering in the last year or two,” Restle said. “So you can go to Buenos Aires and do a trail through the mountains, and it feels like you’re there, because as you’re walking on the trail, the treadmill will automatically adjust to the elevation of whatever that trail is. So you’re basically able to do a trail hike all across the world without having to go there.”

In some Anytime Fitness facilities, class participants receive a heart monitor and the information for everyone is shown on a screen on the wall. 

“It shows us everything from heart rate to what their max heart rate should be, aerobic versus anaerobic,” he said. “It shows their calorie burn, so everybody can see each other’s stats up on the screen. It’s kind of a good push.” 

Exercise for mental health, community

After a pandemic-related dip in group participation, the format has regained momentum alongside increased interest in holistic health and mind-body integration. 

“After Covid, we saw some attendance grow in our group exercise classes and just people coming into the gym,” Sorenson said. “Just the sense of community that you get from going to a gym not only keeps you accountable, but also just creates those relationships and is super important for your mental health.” 

At Club Dauntless, mind and body classes have been on the rise, as HIIT classes are taking a slight downward turn. 

“HIIT classes were on the trend there for a little bit,  just super high, intense, short workouts,” Sorenson said. “But now I’m seeing more people being interested in the mind, body classes like yoga, pilates, barre. Just focusing on mobility and core training.”

Active aging, exercise programs, geared to seniors, is also a big one. According to the 2023 IHRSA U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report, adults 65 and older now visit gyms and studios more often than any other age group. 

“Our prime classes are some of our most well attended classes,” Sorenson said. “And I think it’s just because there’s such a huge push for people keeping independence, and part of that is strength training and also just the sense of community too.”

Anytime Fitness has seen an increase in group participation as well, especially in its interval training classes.

“I see a lot more group training versus one-on-one,” Restle said. “We get a lot more people interested in working in a group where you have other people with similar goals that are getting pushed with you.”

Exercise also offers an evidence-based, practical and scalable approach to improving mental health. Each year in the U.S., more than one in five adults report experiencing a mental health condition. 

“You definitely see more people working out for stress relief, better sleep, mental care and clarity,” Sorenson said. “I read an article recently about the reasons why people work out, and of course, number one is weight loss, but what’s been climbing up the ranks is mental health.”

Restle agrees and says he’s heard from several people that it’s their biggest priority when exercising.

“I mean, we always knew that was a big part of it, but I think after Covid, you are seeing a lot more people recognizing exercise is a better solution than something else,” he said. 

Function, mobility and weights

Traditional strength training is making a comeback as it plays a key role in maintaining bone density, metabolic health and mobility.  

“I think there’s probably a lot of reasons why that’s happening,” Sorenson said. “The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn. Also, women are finding that the more muscle they have, the less chance they’ll get osteoporosis and lose bone density.”

Restle has seen more women hitting the free weights as well, and doing more functional training versus just cardio. Functional fitness training includes strength, power, mobility and endurance movements designed to improve physical performance in real-world activities. 

Instead of isolating muscles, it teaches the body to move as one system. This can make everyday tasks like climbing stairs or lifting groceries feel easier and safer. Training programs also pair resistance work with mobility drills to keep joints stable and movements smooth. 

“As you get older, you lose muscle faster, so we’re seeing a lot more in the whole functional training side, especially because you’re accomplishing your weight training and your cardio,” he said. “We try to teach you a lot of stuff in functional or group training, so even if you’re not in group training six months later, you can do a lot of those things in the gym on your own.”

Personalized nutrition

Nutrition plays a direct role in how you perform and recover. The right mix of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats gives your body what it needs to rebuild muscle tissue and restore energy after training. 

“I’ve noticed in the last couple of years, especially with clients that we work with, just better eating habits,” Restle said. “A good chunk of the people we work with skip breakfast. One of the things that we always try to teach is getting more energy earlier in the morning.

“I think you see a lot more people just being more conscious about food, because it is such a big factor when it comes to exercise. You can come in here every day, but if you’re not eating healthy, or even semihealthy, your results are going to be hindered.” 

A balance of lean protein, whole grains, and fiber keeps you fueled throughout the day and reduces fatigue, helping you stay consistent with your workouts.

“I cannot tell you how many people are like ‘protein, protein, protein,’ and it is super important to get your protein,” Sorenson said. “I always like to tell people, if they are unsure of how much protein they need to get, it’s always good just to reach out to your doctor or a nutritionist and ask them how much protein they need if they want to gain muscle.”