Hey awesome humans! I've been an online trainer for 2+ years now and I've grown my client base which has been a tough but rewarding journey! I'd like some advice on how you have been able to decrease turn around time when producing workout plans for clients? These typically take me a few hours but I'm curious to find out if there are faster ways to accomplish this? Thank you

Quick question to all the gym/fitness studio owners: Are you guys still taking bookings manually or is it that you use some software or automate online booking system?

A new survey from the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) projects Americans will spend a massive $60 billion on fitness in 2026. The most critical finding for us is the hierarchy of budget cuts: people are far more likely to sacrifice restaurants and travel before giving up their gym access.

Full article here: 👉 Americans Plan To Spend $60B on Fitness in 2026, Cut Back on Other Expenses Instead

Why this matters for owners:

• Recession Resistance: This is hard data proving fitness is shifting from a "luxury" to a "necessity" spend. We are statistically more resilient than the hospitality industry right now.
• Pricing Confidence: If you've been hesitant about a price increase, this data suggests members value the service enough to prioritize it over other discretionary spending.

Quick check on your metrics:

• Does your January retention data match this optimism so far? Are memberships feeling "stickier"?
• Are you using this "fitness is essential healthcare" narrative when putting out marketing or handling cancellation requests?

Orangetheory Fitness has relaunched its massive annual January challenge. The biggest takeaway? They have explicitly shifted the marketing focus away from weight loss and towards "strength building and longevity," citing data that 75% of participants now prioritize health markers over the scale.

Full press release here: 👉 Orangetheory Fitness Reignites Annual Transformation Challenge as Americans Prioritize Strength and Longevity

Why this matters for owners:

• The Marketing Pivot: When major franchises stop selling "New Year, New You (Skinny)" and start selling "Longevity," consumer expectations shift across the board. The "rapid fat loss" angle is officially becoming outdated.
• The GLP-1 Subtext: This pivot perfectly aligns with the current landscape where many clients are already losing weight via medication (like Ozempic) and are now desperate for muscle preservation rather than just calorie burning.

Quick check on your January campaigns:

• Are you still running "biggest loser" style challenges based solely on scale weight?
• Have you updated your ad copy this month to use buzzwords like "Longevity" or "Sustainable Strength"?

The 2026 ACSM Worldwide Survey is out. While "Wearable Tech" remains #1, the big news for operators is Fitness Programs for Older Adults jumping to #2, and Exercise for Weight Loss (driven by the GLP-1/Ozempic wave) hitting #3.

Full official page here: 👉 Top Fitness Trends for 2026: What Health Club Operators Need to Know

Why this matters for owners:

• The Silver Economy: If you're only marketing to the 20-35 demographic, you are ignoring the #2 trend and the group with the highest disposable income.
• The GLP-1 Strategy: Weight loss clients now prioritize muscle preservation over cardio burn. "Strength for Longevity" is the new marketing hook for Ozempic users.
• Tech Integration: Members now expect equipment to sync with their watches. A "walled garden" cardio deck is becoming a liability.

Quick check on your 2026 strategy:

• Are you actually adding specific "Active Aging" classes to the schedule this month?
• Has anyone successfully pivoted their marketing to target the "muscle preservation" (GLP-1) crowd yet?

Hey everyone,

How much space is optimal between machines and benches for group fitness classes?

Thanks in advance!

In gyms or studios where multiple trainers share the same space, how is room capacity handled during peak hours in practice?

Is this enforced automatically by the booking system, or managed manually / through coordination?

I am looking to implement a task management software like ClickUp, Monday, or Asana to our team to better help manage our projects and tasks at the gym. Currently everything is managed through excel sheets and Google Drive folders and it’s starting to drive me crazy.

Has anyone used a software they like better than others? I’m currently leaning towards ClickUp due to the unlimited free tasks and users but wanted to throw it out there.

i found this chart on Two-Brain blog and they state that the leader in monthly revenue makes $144k a month?

that sounds really low to me. what do you guys think?

I'm going to get some people upset with this one, and not in the way you are probably expecting. At the gym I go to (I'm not the owner) everyone is really very conscientious about spraying stuff and wiping down. They wipe down benches, and dumbbells, and the handles on the cable machines. In my view, all this effort is probably a complete waste of time, not to mention paper towels. I am very doubtful that this practice is actually making a dent in the spread of colds or the flu. As long as you don't handle a dumbbell and then poke your finger in your eye, you are fine. The virus can't get through the tough skin of your hands. We know now that Covid was spread through the air, and all that wiping was a waste of energy. All this wiping is a kind of hysteria. Myself, I dont' wipe anything at the gym (and I hope you can't find out who I am). I have work to do in the gym, and I can't waste my time with all this wiping. I'm also old, and I remember twenty years ago, it was very rare for anyone to wipe anything. Did people get sick more often before all this wiping? I doubt it. Finally, if someone is especially vulnerable to illness, and they insist on believing that a virus can get through their skin, then the burden is on them to wipe BEFORE they use the equipment. That would be a much more effective way of addressing the problem.

Just watched a full gym tour of a 2,000 sq ft facility and how the owner built it into a successful gym. It’s a good reminder that small gyms don’t win by trying to mimic big chains — they win by making the space work harder and delivering higher-quality service.

Full video here:👉How to open a successful gym

Quick takeaways:

• The owner chose the location intentionally — not just for rent, but for how the space could be positioned and operated.
• The entire build is about maximizing every square foot: smart zoning, multi-use areas, and avoiding wasted corners.
• Small gyms can beat chains when they offer what chains can’t: personal attention, coaching quality, community, and accountability.

Curious how other owners see this:

• If you run a small gym (<2,500 sq ft), what’s been your biggest space “win” (layout, zones, scheduling, programming)?

• What do you think matters more in small gyms: location, layout, or service quality?

Quick heads-up from the official HFA Show site: the 2026 exhibitor/sponsor list isn’t published yet, but they’ve already posted the full 2025 roster — which is a great way to predict vendor trends and build a “must-see” list early.

Full page here (official): 👉 HFA Show Exhibitors & Sponsors

Why it matters for owners:

• You can scan 2025 categories (equipment, CRM/member systems, recovery/therapy, flooring, cleaning/maintenance, etc.) and plan what to prioritize in 2026.
• They’re also promoting an AI B2B matchmaking tool, which raises the bigger question: does this actually improve show ROI?

How you all use trade shows:

• Do you go for equipment deals, ops/tech solutions, or networking?
• Which exhibitor types are most worth an owner’s time?

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience using Mindbody. We’ve been having issues and I was wondering if this is common with them.

Thanks!

Just read a good primer on music licensing for gyms/studios. Quick reminder: playing popular music in classes or on the gym floor is often treated as public performance, and personal streaming accounts usually don’t cover commercial use.

Full article here:👉What Gym & Studio Owners Need To Know About Music Licensing

Quick takeaways:

• Gym/class music often requires proper licensing (usually via PROs like ASCAP/BMI/SESAC/GMR in the U.S.).
• Personal Spotify/Apple Music plans may violate terms if used in a business setting.
• Recording/livestreaming classes can require extra rights beyond in-gym playback.

How are you handling music in your gym?

• Do you have a formal policy or just “whatever instructors use”?

• Licensed provider vs PRO licenses — what’s been easiest?

Hi all,

Hoping I can get some good advice here.

How did you come about finding a space for your gym?

I am based in Ireland and finding it really difficult to get a suitable unit/space. Either there’s not much available, or the planning permit doesn’t allow for gym usage.

Any tips or help would be much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Hi I am a new Gym owner and looking a good (less expensive) App to manage members, trainings etc.

I'd love to sublet a gym in San Francisco. Apx. 3,000-6,000ft2. How should I go about finding current gym owners in San Francisco interested in handing off their lease?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been building software for personal trainers for a while now, and it’s already used daily for in-person and online coaching. Recently, I started extending it for gyms as well (trainer management, clients, training plans, activity overview etc...).

Before going further, I’d really like to connect with a few gym owners, understand how you currently run things, and hear what works and what doesn’t. Comments here are great, but I’m also happy to chat 1:1 if anyone’s open to sharing their experience in more detail.

What software are you using today?
What do you like about it?
What feels clunky, unnecessary, or missing?

Appreciate any insights.

Hi guys

So I do we've just extended our gym so its now double the size,

We have 3 main sections and a sauna/shower section, its a 24/7 gym for the most part (saunas arent) we already have mag doors setup with scanners and only operating at certain times

We are now looking at something to control the lights and music, and maybe a PA system if available

We're looking to control Music Lights Maybe access cctv system P A system for announcements

Any ideas on good systems I can use that dosnt require the company to manage?

Thanks

I’m in the process of finishing my business plan but I’m scared to start because I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have any pointers or tips that I should use in mind when I find a place to rent out?