TRANSCRIPT: GROUP FITNESS TRIPLE THREAT SERIES

Pilates is everywhere. On social media, in high end studios, and dominating class pass bookings. But, has it peaked? And if it has, what's next for low impact fitness? I'm Will Brereton, and today we're breaking down where low impact fitness is heading next and why the smartest instructors are already adapting their approach.

Here we go.  

2024 was a huge year for Pilates. More people tried it, more studios opened, and more brands capitalized on the trend. The numbers are undeniable. 11. 86 million people participated in Pilates in the United States in 2023, which was a 15 percent jump on the year before that. And research suggests That the global Pilates and yoga studio market is now valued at 181.5 billion and projected to reach 633 billion by 2037.

Now, I've been doing a bit of research and I'm not convinced about those exact figures, but what I can be sure of is the undeniable growth of this part of the fitness industry.

One source we can trust, and I know this because I used to work there, is ClassPass. In their 2024 year in review, Pilates was the most Booked workout worldwide with bookings up 84 percent year over year. 

For that type of year on year increase, there has to be two things that happen. One, customers want more Pilates and two, in response to that demand, studios are putting on way more Pilates classes. So there were more spots to take and more people took them. The question Isn't whether Pilates is still growing. It definitely is and things are good. The question is, what happens next? If, like me, you're a lifer in the industry, the key thing is to pay attention to where things are shifting. 

Now, this is where I'm going to give you some opinion from me, as I've spoken to hundreds of people in multiple countries about this modality. And everyone agrees that demand for Pilates, particularly Reformer Pilates, remains strong. But it cannot go up forever. - saturation is real. You just have to look at studio cycling to see that growth is not perpetual.

Over 60 percent of fitness facilities, from major gyms to boutique studios and digital platforms, now offer Pilates in some form. So while Reformer Pilates, and that is using a Reformer bed it might be the classic type that Joseph Pilates used or it could be the Mega Forma that was made popular by companies like Legree delivers a fantastic workout, the equipment itself is a hefty investment.

So a Reformer can cost anything from 2, 500 to about 8, 500 for each individual Reformer. What this means is that studios are forced to charge premium rates. Now, here's where I'm going to give you my personal take, but I do believe it's backed up by the data. I think that Reformer Studios will continue to grow for a while yet, but then when that demand plateaus, and when it starts to taper off, it will be very, very difficult for smaller operators who have overinvested in expensive machines that are not a hugely efficient use of space.

And this is where Reformer and studio cycling are different. A spin bike is a pretty cheap investment and you can fit 40 in a room. A reformer is an expensive piece of kit and you can only fit a small number in a room. This means a lot more cash expended and a lot more difficulty to pivot away if the demand starts to slow.

Next up we have a rise of hybrid models. So hybrid training formats are taking over traditional Pilates classes. The most recent ClassPass survey that I talked about at the top indicates that 45 percent of studios now offer hybrid classes. So this is where Pilates is fused with strength training, HIIT or mobility, which is up 25 percent from just three years ago.

This evolution meets the modern demand for versatile workouts that blend multiple training modalities into one efficient session. Strong Pilates, the Australian franchise concept which is riding high on the popularity of Pilates, is the best example of this. They've created the proprietary Rowformer, which is exactly what you would think.

A reformer and a rowing machine combined. Now, I like strong Pilates, I personally struggle with doing the rowing section in bare feet, but I am 100 percent here for their new bike former, which, as you might expect, is a reformer and a bike in one machine. Next up we have wellness culture driving this boom in Pilates.

The shift towards wellness and low impact workouts is undeniable. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the demand for low impact fitness crazes like Pilates has surged by 32 percent over the last 5 years. People are increasingly prioritizing longevity, mobility, and injury prevention over high impact, potentially damaging routines.

But we do have to look at realistic market ceilings and cost pressures. So despite its popularity, Pilates isn't cheap. As I've already said, the high cost of reformers, small class sizes, and rigorous instructor certifications all contribute to elevated session fees. So this can be up to about 40 US dollars for a casual at a really big nationwide brand like Solid Core.

As the market becomes increasingly saturated, this premium pricing may eventually lead to some participants seeking more affordable fitness options. So, where is the opportunity?

If Pilates is beaking, what is emerging? Here's what I think is coming next in Low Impact Fitness. Number one, strength infused low impact workouts. Strength is on the rise, even in the low impact space. So think about Pilates meeting resistance training. That means more bands, more weights, more strength, like we talked about in the last episode.

As Gen Z and Millennials age, they're looking for fitness opportunities that keep them moving pain free. So expect more programs to be focused on joint health, functional movement, and long term mobility.

And the last note here is tech enhanced recovery and personalization. We're going to talk more about this in later episodes in this series. wearables and AI driven fitness are making low impact training more data driven. More biofeedback tools and considerations of recovery are being integrated into workouts. 

So here's how you stay ahead. Number one, expand beyond classic Pilates. If you're a Pilates instructor, add some functional strength and mobility workouts to your offerings. Number two is to offer hybrid classes. So studios are shifting towards fusion formats. Can you teach Pilates and strength?

Or Pilates and recovery. This is where the demand is going. Number three, know your audience. Low impact fitness isn't going anywhere, but it's evolving. Stay relevant by understanding what your clients need next. 

Pilates is still big. We talked about Les Mills International a couple of episodes ago. Two of the five programs that they've released since the pandemic are Pilates based. So we know it's not going anywhere if we use the biggest companies as a guide. The best companies and instructors are adapting.

Are you ready? 

So that's your complete breakdown on where Pilates is and low impact fitness is heading. Next episode, we're diving into the circuit training renaissance. Why hybrid training is exploding, how to program it effectively, and what members really want from these formats. The group fitness triple threat guide takes everything we've covered about format evolution and gives you specific actionable steps to implement these changes in your classes.

Download it free using the link in the show notes.  If you're finding value in these episodes, please make sure you're subscribed. We're wrapping up part one of our series on format evolution next week. And then we're going to be diving into part two, which is all about how your members are changing. 

Until next time this is the group fitness, triple threat.