Wellness Partners

10 Fun Fitness Ideas to Improve Your Gym Programming

Last Updated Jan 6, 2025

Time to read: 8 minutes

Your gym is more than a place to work out — it’s where people discover their strength, push boundaries, and reconnect with the joy of movement. But even the most dedicated members can hit a wall when routines become too predictable.

When workouts feel stale, motivation takes a nosedive, and members start looking for the next exciting thing.

This doesn’t have to happen to your gym! Fresh fitness programs that spark excitement, challenge comfort zones, and make working out something members can’t wait to do. These 10 exciting fitness ideas to shake up your programming and keep members coming back.

Why Unique Fitness Programs Matter

A gym full of equipment doesn’t automatically make it the go-to spot for fitness. What really sets you apart? The experiences you offer. Amplifying your gym’s offerings can provide your team with some key benefits:

Attract diverse clientele: Not everyone’s idea of a great workout involves dumbbells or treadmills. Creative programs or classes—like water aerobics or kickboxing—welcome members of all ages, abilities, and interests.
Keep retention high: Burnout doesn’t just happen at work: it happens in workouts, too. Rotating programs and introducing new experiences keep your members curious, challenged, and committed.
Stay competitive: Most gyms offer standard equipment, but not every studio provides diverse classes that appeal to a variety of clientele. Doing so can help your studio stand out from competitors and become a place your clients talk about with their circle of influence.

10 Fun Fitness Ideas to Incorporate into Your Gym

Gyms have to constantly evolve and present exciting ways to work out. To help you do so, here are 10 fresh fitness class suggestions to keep your clients motivated!

Strength Training

Strength training never goes out of style— in fact, it was the most popular fitness activity for gym-goers in 2024. From free weights to resistance machines, these workouts build the foundation for any fitness journey—and keep members coming back for results they can see and feel. If you want to make your gym stand out and offer some real, tangible benefits, try these tactics:

Intro to strength workshops: Guided sessions to teach proper techniques and build confidence with weights.
Functional fitness classes: Focused on everyday strength and mobility using body weight and equipment.
Small group strength training: Add a social element to individualized plans with small, coach-led classes.

Dance Classes

Who says cardio has to be boring? You can go with classics like running or swimming, but those aren’t for everybody. Dance, however, is a fun way to get the same amount of exercise. It’s a form of cardio that’s also a creative outlet. In fact, 30 minutes of intense dance can burn 534 calories—half an hour of running only burns 528, according to a study from the University of Brighton.

Plus dancing is a way for your gym to stay competitive. People want dance classes because it’s a way to exercise while having a lot of fun.

Here are a few dance classes to consider adding to your offerings:

Zumba: This is a fast-paced Latin-inspired type of dance.
Jazzercise: A jazzercise workout combines Pilates with yoga and kickboxing.
Ballet: A half an hour of ballet burns more calories than cycling, which is also good for building strength, balance, and flexibility.
Hip-hop: Great for younger members who want upbeat, music-driven routines.

Yoga Classes

The popularity of yoga is on the rise: Yoga saw a 7% year-over-year increase in usage on Wellhub in 2024, making it the fastest-growing workout genre. This spike is for good reason — nearly anyone can do it, and it requires minimal equipment. It’s also great for mental wellness and reducing stress. When you offer yoga, though, you might want to offer more than one type to help your gym stand out. For example, you can:

Hot yoga: A sweat-inducing challenge for experienced practitioners.
Power yoga: A dynamic flow that builds strength and stamina.
Meditative yoga: Focuses on stress relief and mindfulness, perfect for beginners.

Water Sports

Take fitness to the pool—where the resistance is high, but the impact is low. A pool is also another great area to increase what you provide your clients. Swimming works your entire body, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Also, it’s a way to reach people with different exercise needs. In particular, swimming is a safe exercise option for people with arthritis and menopausal women.

Swimming isn’t the only water sport you can offer. Consider these ones as well:

Water polo: This is a competitive team sport where each side tries to hit the ball into the opposing goal. It’s a great way to add a social element to your programs.
Water aerobics: Classic cardio and strength training—without the joint strain. Just like regular aerobics, this activity involves strength-building and cardio routines.
Aqua jogging: Instead of running on a track, have your clients run while in the pool. That helps them get the perks of jogging without intense pressure on their knees.
Aqua yoga: Gentle yet challenging, this improves balance and reduces stress.

Martial Arts Classes

For members looking to sharpen their minds while strengthening their bodies, martial arts are the perfect match. These classes blend discipline, agility, and fitness into an experience unlike any other. Looking for some specific sports to include? Here are a couple of ideas:

Karate: This is a Chinese martial art that builds stamina and helps amplify your thought process.
Jiu-jitsu: A Brazilian form of fighting, jiu-jitsu is a great workout to improve balance.
Tai chi: While this martial art is slower, it’s a great way to build your balance. Practicing tai chi can help prevent falls in older adults as well. That’s why this exercise can help you draw new demographics into your studio.

Team Sports

One of the reasons why people join a gym is to connect socially, which often boosts self-confidence. You can make that even easier with team sports. Whether it’s pickup games or organized leagues, team sports bring energy and community into your gym. Here are some favorites to consider:

Soccer: This sport can be played inside or outside, formally or in a pick-up game. Fun fact: soccer is the most popular sport in the world!
Basketball: During the winter months, indoor sports like basketball can help keep everyone active. The teams can easily be adjusted to match a variety of group sizes.
Volleyball: Volleyball works inside and outside, and it’s a great way to get some exercise—just half an hour of this sport can burn 120–178 calories.

Kickboxing

If you want to add more cardio to your roster, consider kickboxing. This exercise can burn 800 to 1,000 calories while simultaneously toning your muscles. On top of that, it’s also a form of self-defense. Here are some ways you can implement kickboxing in your gym:

Focus on the cardio: Offer cardio-based kickboxing for high-energy calorie burning.
Self-defense programs: Add self-defense-focused classes tailored for women to build both physical and mental strength.
Tailor your business offerings: Introduce small group sessions for a personal, results-driven experience.

Spin Classes

Cycling is a way to get fit fast. In fact, eight weeks of consistent RPM spin classes can reduce body fat and waist circumference, according to a Les Mills study. Interestingly, indoor cycling can actually be more beneficial than biking. These perks are one reason why spin is an incredibly popular sport—approximately 6.27 million people participate annually. Consider offering:

Themed rides: Add excitement with music or movie-inspired rides.
Performance tracking sessions: Use data to help members hit personal milestones.
Cycling boot camps: Combine spin with off-the-bike strength training for a full-body workout.

Pole Fitness and Aerial Silks

If you’re looking for a creative new class, consider the aerial arts. This can include any type of acrobatics done with either a pole or with silks attached to the ceiling—it’s all great for the core! Offering these programs does require some equipment, but it’s a way to really help your gym stand apart from competitors. Few people have access to this unique sport on their own, so it can encourage them to join your studio. Consider these tips:

Beginner pole fitness: A welcoming introduction to pole-based strength and movement.
Aerial silks classes: A blend of acrobatics and strength training with a creative edge.
Showcase events: Build excitement by hosting performances where members show off their progress.

Virtual Fitness

If you don’t offer online classes, there are some compelling benefits to doing so. First of all, it can help you retain your customers. Around three-quarters of consumers reported using online workouts from their go-to fitness business, according to a Mind Body report. Providing these videos can help your gym be the one your clients turn to when they work out from home.

Plus, virtual fitness can help you attract new clientele. About 35% of people said they started going to in-person programs after trying the virtual workouts. Essentially, having digital content can help people learn about your gym and encourage them to start coming in to work out. Here are some ways to make virtual fitness work for your facility:

On-demand classes: Create a library of recorded sessions that members can access on their own time.
Live-streamed workouts: Foster a sense of community with interactive, real-time classes.
Hybrid memberships: Offer packages that combine virtual and in-studio sessions to meet diverse needs.

Tap a Lively Network of Fitness Enthusiasts

The reality is that your gym will likely need to evolve to stay competitive. Great classes are only the beginning of increasing your gym membership and retention—another tactic is to join a community of other fitness facilities with Wellhub.

Wellhub offers access to gyms and fitness studios as an employee benefit, and your facility could join that list—opening up a whole new demographic for your business. In fact, 75% of first-time visitors become repeat customers!

Joining this community is a great way for people to learn about the programs you have and to encourage them to work out with your team. If you’re looking to gather more patrons, consider partnering with Wellhub today!