{"id":815433,"date":"2026-10-27T12:20:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T12:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/815433\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T12:20:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T12:20:21","slug":"what-happens-when-a-simple-workout-transcends-into-an-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/815433\/","title":{"rendered":"What happens when a simple workout transcends into an \u2018experience\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Forget going for a run in the park<\/a> or lifting weights<\/a> at the local YMCA<\/a>: A growing number of workout studios<\/a> are investing in \u201cexperiences\u201d for fitness fanatics.<\/p>\n

Memberships to U.S. boutique fitness studios – those promising the latest equipment, tailored workouts and unique playlists – reached over 23 million last year, according to a September report<\/a> from research firm Global Intelo. That\u2019s an increase of seven million memberships from 2020.<\/p>\n

The options are countless. At SoulCycle<\/a>, one of North America\u2019s most popular spin studios, riders spend $40 for a 45-minute class in tastefully-lit, scented rooms set to Pop-heavy soundtracks often themed to artists like Taylor Swift<\/a> or Ariana Grande<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Barry\u2019s Bootcamp<\/a>, which offers a high-intensity workout in studios worldwide, charges $43 for cardio and strength training in a room lit in skin-smoothing red light<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hyrox<\/a>, a timed fitness competition and one of the newest workout crazes in the U.S., costs over $200 for registration and offers an atmosphere that combines Barry\u2019s Bootcamp with a marathon.<\/p>\n

\"BoutiqueBoutique fitness and \u2018experience\u2019 workouts have become increasingly popular over the past six years. And data shows the formula appears to be working (Getty Images for CMT)<\/p>\n

Even as Americans\u2019 grapple with increasing costs of living and high inflation<\/a>, the formula being used for experiential workouts appears to be working.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, people might initially come for the workout, but I think it’s often the feeling, the achievement and the people that keep them coming back,\u201d Wes Santos, a gym entrepreneur and coach in the U.S. and U.K., told The independent.<\/p>\n

The holistic benefits <\/p>\n

Many of today\u2019s gym-goers aren’t just showing up to use the equipment, said Nicole Greco-Peepas, a personal trainer who worked with cast member Teresa Giudice on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re looking for community, accountability, motivation and an environment where they feel like they belong,\u201d she told The Independent. <\/p>\n

Workout classes are becoming social circles in their own right. People have met and married after attending classes together, including some social media influencers<\/a> and instructors and riders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Belonging to a community based around exercise has major benefits for both your mental and physical health, Ashley Vasas, a yoga teacher with expertise and advanced training in anatomy and soft tissue science, said. <\/p>\n

\"Hyrox,Hyrox, a timed fitness competition, takes place in 36 countries, offering participants a global community. Community is a big part of why people pay for experience workouts, personal trainer Nicole Greco-Peepas says (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople want to find mindfulness and relief from anxiety, not just gains at the gym. When you consider the whole person, the workout isn’t just a series of sets you’re grinding through; it’s a whole-body, whole-human experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Working out lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol and boosts production of feel-good hormone dopamine. What\u2019s more, there\u2019s often a hefty calorie burn. Barry\u2019s Bootcamp attendees can burn 700-1,300 calories in an hour-long class, the company claims<\/a>. And SoulCycle estimates<\/a> 45-minute sessions burn between 500-700 calories.<\/p>\n

That sort of high-intensity exercise can go a long way towards weight loss goals while also improving your cardiovascular, metabolic and brain health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe magic is combining a genuinely good workout with an atmosphere and community that people want to come back to. The training still needs to deliver results, otherwise you’re just selling entertainment,\u201d Santos said. <\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re someone who finds exercise, well, boring – the gamification of the workout experience using the capabilities of AI could be the thing that keeps you hooked.<\/p>\n

Pactive<\/a>, an AI-driven coaching app that\u2019s available now, allows people to level up with each workout to help keep training consistent. LA Fitness gyms now offer AI-powered, motion-tracking basketball courts<\/a> that deliver real-time analytics. More of this could be on the way, said Dewi Gale, the founder of British fitness brand FITTUX.<\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople can burn hundreds of calories in under an hour at classes like SoulCycle and Barry\u2019s Bootcamp. But there\u2019s a hefty annual price tag for most boutique studio memberships (Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe younger generation have been a lot more focused on health, and with the rise of hybrid working we may see more AI coaching and smart devices to track personal fitness goals and health data,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople genuinely love competition and these are elements that drive people to quite literally go the extra mile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phone ban<\/p>\n

Experiential workouts also have the ability to do something that most people find increasingly difficult: Get off their phones. <\/p>\n

With the average American spending at least five hours a day glued to their devices<\/a>, classes requiring maximum focus are a much-needed break. <\/p>\n

\u201cMost people walking into a group class or onto a gym floor are coming off hours on their phone,\u201d Peter Hoffman, the founder of the Texas-based Platinum Gym Design, said. \u201cSo when we say a workout needs to be an experience, what we’re really saying is it needs to compete with how addictive and enjoyable scrolling is.\u201d<\/p>\n

In some boutique studios and wellness centers, phones are outlawed. SoulCycle does not allow phones inside studios and neither do many sauna or cold plunge houses, like Glow in Salt Lake City, Utah. <\/p>\n

\u201cResearch shows – and everyone knows – we benefit from stepping away from screens,\u201d Glow says on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The downsides <\/p>\n

The pack mentality of group fitness experiences can pose risks, including bullying<\/a> or injury.<\/p>\n

A group setting may not give participants sufficient instruction ensuring they practice proper technique or be suitable for a person\u2019s unique needs or goals, Christopher Kondos, a physiologist at Sydney Exercise Medicine, explained in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis lack of personalized guidance can increase the risk of injuries, especially for individuals with pre-existing health concerns or limitations,” he said.<\/p>\n

These workouts also pack a punch to the wallet. Yearly memberships to boutique studios cost $1,320-$4,320 annually, AI fitness studio and gym management platform Vibefam<\/a> says. Big-city studios are on the higher end of that estimate and can charge $20-$80 more monthly than rural studios.<\/p>\n

\"ThereThere are risks to group classes. For one, not getting individual instruction can increase the likelihood of an injury (Getty Images for Studio Tone It)<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a chunk of money at a time when a recent survey found that more than a third of working Americans<\/a> have no money left at the end of the month after paying for essentials.<\/p>\n

But there are some \u201cexperiential workouts\u201d you can do without costing the Earth. <\/p>\n

Hiking outside with friends can be an easy way to burn calories and reduce stress without pulling out your wallet. There are plenty of free hiking trail apps like AllTrails, which features 500,000 global trails and GPS navigation.<\/p>\n

There are often free yoga classes hosted by city government and in community spaces, like New York\u2019s Yoga to the People. The YMCA also offers free yoga programs on YouTube<\/a>, as well as pilates, cardio and strength.<\/p>\n

And a quick 10-minute dance session can burn 100 calories at home, the street, the park, or wherever you please, calorie-burning calculator Fitness Volt<\/a> shows.<\/p>\n