A number of key health and fitness
and wellness trends for 2023
have been unearthed by new insight
published in the latest edition of the
Mindbody and Classpass Wellness
Index, as Megan Whitby reports
35 per cent of women aged 18-50 structure their workouts around their menstrual cycle Credit: Photo: Shutterstock/Krakenimages.com
Over 17,000 US consumers were quizzed by researchers on their health, fitness, exercise and wellness priorities and habits as part of the new Mindbody and Class Pass Wellness Index 2023.
This annual report is conducted by the fitness and wellness industry tech businesses to forecast the top trends for the year ahead.
This year, Mindbody and Class Pass condensed the findings into five key areas to watch, identifying woman-power, community, nature, wellness and longevity as areas that currently resonate most powerfully with consumers. Read on to find out more...
Whether it’s going to a female-only gym or optimising the body’s hormonal shifts, Mindbody reported that the data clearly showed American women are tapping into their feminine power as never before
39 per cent of women say they prefer women-only gyms or fitness studios, which may be why the number of women who experience “gymtimidation” has decreased this year.
For those who are too intimidated to work out in public, seeing more real and diverse bodies in fitness promotions helps. 24 per cent of women also said that wearing the right outfit (ie proper fitness attire or sportswear) makes them feel less intimidated – a trend that’s particularly popular with Gen Z and millennials.
While periods used to be a taboo topic, talking about menstrual cycle syncing, or aligning diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits with the stages of the menstrual cycle is now becoming an increasingly mainstream topic. 35 per cent of women between 18-50 structure their workouts based on their cycle, with Gen Z and millennials most likely to do so.
The number of American women who say they’re sexually fulfilled is also on the rise. This could be due to the growing number of women who actively seek to improve their sexual wellness with enhancement therapies, coaching or workshops and the like.
Talking about aligning diet, exercise and lifestyle habits with the menstrual cycle is becoming a mainstream topic
COMMUNITY
Strength in numbers:
the rise of the wellness collective
According to the survey, the past few years have underscored the importance of connection in our day-to-day lives.
Consumers continue to look to fitness, beauty and wellness businesses as a source of community with nearly half (43 per cent) saying that community is a very important part of wellness experiences.
More than a third are likely to choose wellness businesses that are well known for their community-building activities, and nearly a quarter say they’re more focused on their health and wellness as it makes them feel connected to other people.
Consumers who use integrative health services reported feeling more connected to their communities than those who don’t. Similarly, the more active consumers are, the more socially connected they feel.
The more active
consumers are,
the more socially
connected they feel
Consumers look to fitness and wellness businesses as a source of community / Photo: Shutterstock/Fizkes
NATURE
From the ground up: going back to your roots
Respondents also indicated they’re looking to reconnect with nature, with nearly 40 per cent saying they’re embracing a more natural lifestyle
Consumers are turning to nature, rest and the great outdoors to boost their mental health, with nearly 40 per cent saying they spend time outside to support their mental wellbeing, while 24 per cent do nature walks or forest bathing.
They’re also looking to plants and herbs to reduce stress and improve cognitive function, with more than 4 in 10 Americans having either tried or being interested in trying adaptogens – mushrooms that can reduce negative physiological effects of stress – or nootropics – medical-grade supplements that can support brain performance.
The study found that millennials and especially millennial men are most likely to try these options for optimal health.
Consumers are
interested in
trying adaptogens
and nootropics for
optimum health
Consumers are turning to nature in all areas of their lives / Photo: Shutterstock/DimaBerlin
WELLNESS
Gen Z:
‘The Wellness Generation’
Another big trend that kept presenting was that Gen Z and millennials require health and wellness offerings that feel connected, emotional and inclusive.
In almost every way, Gen Z and millennials engage with health wellness more than their mature counterparts, for example, they reportedly spend the most on fitness, salon, spa and wellness services and they’re most likely to work out at least once a week and eat the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.
These younger generations prioritise their mental wellbeing more than other generations, too.
Gen Z and millennials also expect wellness to be a part of the workplace, as they’re more likely to say wellness benefits or perks are important when choosing an employer than other age groups.
In almost every way, Gen Z and
millennials engage with wellness more
than their mature counterparts
Younger Americans are more likely to work out and eat healthily / Photo: Shutterstock/GuilhermeMesquita
LONGEVITY
Longevity:
functional fitness for a longer, more fulfilled life
Encouragingly, the Wellness Index findings suggest longevity could become the ‘new weight loss’.
Consumers report being less concerned with using exercise to control their weight and more concerned with living longer better. In fact, almost a third of consumers (29 per cent) say they exercise because they want to live a long and healthy life – a significant increase from last year.
One way consumers are optimising their health is functional fitness – a type of strength training that prepares the body for day-to-day activities such as squatting, bending, pushing and lunging.
More than half of general consumers engage in movement that prepares the body for daily living, with millennial men the most likely to do so.
Recovery is also a top priority, with nearly half (47 per cent) of Americans saying practices such as stretching and restorative yoga are very important to them.
More than one-third of general consumers have tried or are interested in trying ice baths, while over a quarter (26 per cent) of Americans practice biohacking for peak physical and mental performance.
Almost a third
of consumers
say they exercise
to live a long and
healthy life
Functional fitness that enables day to day living is growing in popularity / Photo: Shutterstock Goodluz
Experience the pinnacle of fitness and luxury at the premier industry event, Sibec EMEA, set
against the breathtaking backdrop of the Fairmont Monte Carlo this Autumn. [more...]
A number of key health and fitness
and wellness trends for 2023
have been unearthed by new insight
published in the latest edition of the
Mindbody and Classpass Wellness
Index, as Megan Whitby reports
35 per cent of women aged 18-50 structure their workouts around their menstrual cycle Credit: Photo: Shutterstock/Krakenimages.com
Over 17,000 US consumers were quizzed by researchers on their health, fitness, exercise and wellness priorities and habits as part of the new Mindbody and Class Pass Wellness Index 2023.
This annual report is conducted by the fitness and wellness industry tech businesses to forecast the top trends for the year ahead.
This year, Mindbody and Class Pass condensed the findings into five key areas to watch, identifying woman-power, community, nature, wellness and longevity as areas that currently resonate most powerfully with consumers. Read on to find out more...
Whether it’s going to a female-only gym or optimising the body’s hormonal shifts, Mindbody reported that the data clearly showed American women are tapping into their feminine power as never before
39 per cent of women say they prefer women-only gyms or fitness studios, which may be why the number of women who experience “gymtimidation” has decreased this year.
For those who are too intimidated to work out in public, seeing more real and diverse bodies in fitness promotions helps. 24 per cent of women also said that wearing the right outfit (ie proper fitness attire or sportswear) makes them feel less intimidated – a trend that’s particularly popular with Gen Z and millennials.
While periods used to be a taboo topic, talking about menstrual cycle syncing, or aligning diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits with the stages of the menstrual cycle is now becoming an increasingly mainstream topic. 35 per cent of women between 18-50 structure their workouts based on their cycle, with Gen Z and millennials most likely to do so.
The number of American women who say they’re sexually fulfilled is also on the rise. This could be due to the growing number of women who actively seek to improve their sexual wellness with enhancement therapies, coaching or workshops and the like.
Talking about aligning diet, exercise and lifestyle habits with the menstrual cycle is becoming a mainstream topic
COMMUNITY
Strength in numbers:
the rise of the wellness collective
According to the survey, the past few years have underscored the importance of connection in our day-to-day lives.
Consumers continue to look to fitness, beauty and wellness businesses as a source of community with nearly half (43 per cent) saying that community is a very important part of wellness experiences.
More than a third are likely to choose wellness businesses that are well known for their community-building activities, and nearly a quarter say they’re more focused on their health and wellness as it makes them feel connected to other people.
Consumers who use integrative health services reported feeling more connected to their communities than those who don’t. Similarly, the more active consumers are, the more socially connected they feel.
The more active
consumers are,
the more socially
connected they feel
Consumers look to fitness and wellness businesses as a source of community / Photo: Shutterstock/Fizkes
NATURE
From the ground up: going back to your roots
Respondents also indicated they’re looking to reconnect with nature, with nearly 40 per cent saying they’re embracing a more natural lifestyle
Consumers are turning to nature, rest and the great outdoors to boost their mental health, with nearly 40 per cent saying they spend time outside to support their mental wellbeing, while 24 per cent do nature walks or forest bathing.
They’re also looking to plants and herbs to reduce stress and improve cognitive function, with more than 4 in 10 Americans having either tried or being interested in trying adaptogens – mushrooms that can reduce negative physiological effects of stress – or nootropics – medical-grade supplements that can support brain performance.
The study found that millennials and especially millennial men are most likely to try these options for optimal health.
Consumers are
interested in
trying adaptogens
and nootropics for
optimum health
Consumers are turning to nature in all areas of their lives / Photo: Shutterstock/DimaBerlin
WELLNESS
Gen Z:
‘The Wellness Generation’
Another big trend that kept presenting was that Gen Z and millennials require health and wellness offerings that feel connected, emotional and inclusive.
In almost every way, Gen Z and millennials engage with health wellness more than their mature counterparts, for example, they reportedly spend the most on fitness, salon, spa and wellness services and they’re most likely to work out at least once a week and eat the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.
These younger generations prioritise their mental wellbeing more than other generations, too.
Gen Z and millennials also expect wellness to be a part of the workplace, as they’re more likely to say wellness benefits or perks are important when choosing an employer than other age groups.
In almost every way, Gen Z and
millennials engage with wellness more
than their mature counterparts
Younger Americans are more likely to work out and eat healthily / Photo: Shutterstock/GuilhermeMesquita
LONGEVITY
Longevity:
functional fitness for a longer, more fulfilled life
Encouragingly, the Wellness Index findings suggest longevity could become the ‘new weight loss’.
Consumers report being less concerned with using exercise to control their weight and more concerned with living longer better. In fact, almost a third of consumers (29 per cent) say they exercise because they want to live a long and healthy life – a significant increase from last year.
One way consumers are optimising their health is functional fitness – a type of strength training that prepares the body for day-to-day activities such as squatting, bending, pushing and lunging.
More than half of general consumers engage in movement that prepares the body for daily living, with millennial men the most likely to do so.
Recovery is also a top priority, with nearly half (47 per cent) of Americans saying practices such as stretching and restorative yoga are very important to them.
More than one-third of general consumers have tried or are interested in trying ice baths, while over a quarter (26 per cent) of Americans practice biohacking for peak physical and mental performance.
Almost a third
of consumers
say they exercise
to live a long and
healthy life
Functional fitness that enables day to day living is growing in popularity / Photo: Shutterstock Goodluz
Operator Circadian Trust has launched a five-year growth drive designed to
support health and wellbeing across South Gloucestershire, UK. The initiative
will see a £2.4m investment in its five Active Lifestyle Centres.
Norwegian health club operator, Treningshelse Holding, which owns the Aktiv365 and Family
Sports Club fitness chains, has acquired fellow Norwegian operator, Aktiv Trening.
The HCM team were busy at the recent FIBO Global Fitness event in Cologne, Germany,
distributing a special FIBO edition of HCM in support of the event as its global media
partner.
The fitness sector’s pivot to active wellbeing is being discussed in a new weekly podcast, called
The Conveners, and hosted by chair of GM Active and director of Miova, Andy King with
industry veteran, John Oxley, as a guest presenter.
Basic-Fit has signed up to trial the Wellhub network across its recently expanded Spanish
network, giving access to subscribers and enabling them to use all 152 of its Spanish clubs.
Having redefined the model of public-private collaboration in Spain, Go Fit is now expanding
into Italy and has ambitious plans to grow its estate, memberships and profits.
Planet Fitness has become the subject of a hate campaign by certain groups of consumers and
seen share values slide, in the wake of a trans person having been photographed using the
women’s locker room at an Alaskan gym.
Industry experts are gathering in Cologne for today's European Health & Fitness Forum
(EHFF),
followed by FIBO from 11-14 April, which will feature almost 1,000 exhibitors.
Jason Worthy has been appointed group CEO of Myzone to lead the 'next stage of growth', with
current group CEO, David Stalker, stepping back to take up an advisory role.
Global publishing outfit, Leisure Media, has announced details of its new annual conference for decision-
makers across the health, fitness and wellness markets. The event – the HCM Summit – will be held at the
QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London on 24 October 2024, with pre-summit events the day
before.
Experience the pinnacle of fitness and luxury at the premier industry event, Sibec EMEA, set
against the breathtaking backdrop of the Fairmont Monte Carlo this Autumn. [more...]