All Things Fitness and Wellness

Life Time reports double-digit revenue growth, Crunch Fitness reaches 600 locations worldwide, and WHOOP expands its partnership with NBA superstar LeBron James. Plus, Oura launches its first clinical trial, Burn Boot Camp introduces new digital coaching tools, and Technogym partners with World Athletics to bring competitive treadmill racing into gyms around the world.

In this episode of This Week In Fitness, host Krissy Vann breaks down six of the latest headlines shaping the business of fitness, from gym expansion and financial performance to wearable technology, digital member engagement and connected fitness competition.

This week's fitness business headlines:

Life Time Reports 14.2% Revenue Growth and Raises 2026 Outlook

Life Time generated $893.5 million in third-quarter revenue, with net income reaching $106.5 million. Average quarterly revenue per club membership increased 12%, supported by higher membership spending and increased use of in-club services, particularly personal training. The company also raised its full-year revenue outlook and remains on track to open 14 new clubs in 2026.

Crunch Fitness Reaches 600 Locations and 4.5 Million Members Worldwide

Crunch Fitness celebrates a major franchise milestone as its global footprint reaches 600 gyms. The company reports that annual gym openings have increased by nearly 200% over the past four years, reflecting continued expansion of its high-value, low-price fitness model.

Oura Launches First Clinical Trial With UC San Diego Health

Oura is expanding its role in healthcare research through a multiyear clinical trial examining the relationship between wearable health metrics and outcomes following GLP-1 treatment or bariatric surgery. The study will evaluate sleep, heart rate and physical activity data in relation to weight loss, glucose control and treatment persistence.

WHOOP Names LeBron James Global Brand Ambassador

WHOOP formalizes its longstanding relationship with LeBron James through an expanded global partnership focused on performance, recovery and longevity. The announcement comes as WHOOP reports more than 3 million members worldwide.

Burn Boot Camp Launches My Plan Across 400 Locations

Burn Boot Camp introduces My Plan, a new feature within its proprietary mobile app that integrates nutrition tracking, wearable health data and personalized progress monitoring. The platform also provides trainers with additional member insights to support individualized coaching.

Technogym and World Athletics Launch Global Treadmill Championship

The RUN X World Treadmill Championship brings standardized five-kilometre indoor racing to participating fitness clubs worldwide. Connected Technogym equipment will record performances and rank runners globally, with qualifying rounds leading to a world final in Italy and a $100,000 prize pool.

About This Week In Fitness

Produced by All Things Fitness and Wellness, This Week In Fitness delivers the latest fitness industry news for gym owners, operators, executives, fitness professionals and business leaders.

From fitness franchises and health club financial results to fitness technology, wellness innovation and industry partnerships, we cover the developments shaping the global fitness business.

Subscribe for weekly fitness business news and industry insights.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

#ThisWeekInFitness #FitnessIndustry #FitnessBusiness #GymBusiness #LifeTimeFitness #CrunchFitness #WHOOP #LeBronJames #Oura #BurnBootCamp #Technogym #WorldAthletics #FitnessTechnology #GymOwners #FitnessNews

The fitness industry is growing, but are operators fully capitalizing on the opportunity?

In this episode of All Things Fitness and Wellness, host Krissy Vann sits down with Anton Severin of the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) to unpack findings from the 2026 Global Report and Fitness Industry Benchmarking Report.

From rising membership and revenue to improving profitability, the latest data paints an encouraging picture for the industry. But the conversation goes beyond the growth figures to explore what's driving demand, where operators are finding efficiencies, and what could shape the next phase of expansion.

In this conversation:

• Why mature fitness markets are still experiencing significant growth
• The relationship between revenue growth, profitability and operational efficiency
• Why fitness spending is becoming a greater priority for consumers
• The rise of members holding multiple gym and studio memberships
• What the research reveals about technology investment and AI
• The untapped opportunity to reach consumers who aren't currently participating in structured exercise
• The growing intersection of fitness, preventive healthcare and public policy
• What gym operators should be thinking about heading into 2027

As the fitness industry looks toward its next chapter, Anton shares why sustainable growth may depend less on competing for existing members and more on making fitness accessible and relevant to entirely new populations.

Learn more about the Health & Fitness Association and its industry research: https://www.healthandfitness.org/

Subscribe to All Things Fitness and Wellness for conversations with the leaders, innovators and decision-makers shaping the global fitness and wellness industry.

Major acquisitions, franchise restructuring, AI-powered fitness technology and new opportunities for gym operators are making headlines across the global fitness and wellness industry.

This week on This Week In Fitness, host Krissy Vann covers seven business developments, including PureGym's expansion in Switzerland, The Picklr's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, HYROX's growing affiliate gym ecosystem and Google's latest fitness wearable.

THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES:

PureGym Acquires NonStop Gym in Major Swiss Expansion
PureGym announces an agreement to acquire 47 NonStop Gym locations, creating Switzerland's largest low-cost gym operator with more than 100 facilities expected by the end of 2026.

The Picklr Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
The indoor pickleball franchise's parent company enters restructuring following rapid expansion, supported by $4.5 million in proposed financing. The filing comes amid slowing U.S. pickleball participation growth and rising interest in padel.

HYROX Expands Sweatpals Partnership to Support Affiliate Gyms
HYROX is integrating event management, booking and payment capabilities into HYROX365, giving its network of approximately 20,000 affiliate gyms additional ways to generate revenue through training sessions, race simulations and local events.

REFORMD Announces U.S. Expansion With Large-Format Lagree Studio
Canadian fitness brand REFORMD is bringing its boutique fitness model to Calabasas, California, with 37 Lagree machines and integrated recovery services. The location is scheduled to open in January 2027.

Google Introduces Fitbit Edge With AI-Powered Health Coaching
Google expands its fitness wearable lineup with a new tracker offering advanced biometric monitoring, personalized AI coaching, built-in GPS and up to seven days of battery life.

Aescape Partners With Tom Brady on Robotic Massage Protocol
Aescape introduces the Brady Protocol, a 30-minute robotic deep tissue massage treatment starting at $39. The software-based offering will be available through existing Aescape equipment at participating fitness and hospitality locations.

NBA Signs Nutrition Partnership With David Beckham-Backed IM8
The NBA announces a multiyear partnership with IM8 across Australia and eight Southeast Asian markets, expanding the health and nutrition brand's international sports marketing presence.

ABOUT THIS WEEK IN FITNESS

Produced by All Things Fitness and Wellness (ATFW), This Week In Fitness delivers concise, business-focused coverage of the developments shaping the fitness and wellness industry.

From gym acquisitions and franchise operations to fitness technology, investment, recovery innovation and global expansion, ATFW keeps fitness executives, operators and industry professionals informed.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

#ThisWeekInFitness #FitnessBusiness #FitnessIndustry #GymIndustry #PureGym #HYROX #Fitbit #Pickleball #WellnessBusiness #ATFW

What actually makes a city “fit” — and what does that mean for the fitness industry?

Dr. Stella Volpe joins All Things Fitness and Wellness to unpack the 2026 ACSM American Fitness Index and the factors shaping physical activity across U.S. cities.

The conversation goes beyond gym memberships and workout habits to look at the environments that influence whether people move in the first place: walkability, parks, infrastructure, access, community design and public policy.

For fitness operators and wellness leaders, the findings offer a broader look at the conditions that support active populations — and where the industry fits into the picture.

We discuss what the highest-ranking cities are getting right, where gaps remain, and what the data tells us about creating communities where physical activity is easier to make part of everyday life.

The fitness business headlines are moving fast this week, from leadership changes and the growing demand for personal trainers to major expansion plans, wearable tech and new membership strategies.

In this episode of This Week In Fitness, host Krissy Vann breaks down the stories shaping the business of fitness and wellness, all in under five minutes.

This week:

• Oura postpones its planned IPO after targeting an implied market value of approximately $15 billion.

• ISSA welcomes Andrew Wyant back as CEO as gyms report growing demand for job-ready personal trainers.

• Gold’s Gym names NASM its official personal training certification across company-owned locations and expands its trainer development pathway.

• VASA Fitness launches its new “Built to Be Strong” platform as it prepares to open nearly 20 new clubs in 2027.

• Planet Fitness marks a decade of its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, with more than $12 million contributed since 2016.

• Pure Barre launches an unlimited student membership, with pricing starting at $99 per month at participating studios.

Stay fit, stay informed, and keep your fitness business in shape.

Fitness consumer behavior is changing, from when people work out to why they choose a studio, how much variety they want and what keeps them coming back.

Ivy Wu, VP of Global Marketplace at ClassPass, joins All Things Fitness and Wellness to unpack the data and trends fitness operators should be watching. We explore the continued rise of community-driven fitness, the shift toward workouts as a social experience, and how operators can evolve their programming without losing what made their brand successful in the first place.

We also dig into the business side: how to think about unused class capacity, customer acquisition and incremental revenue, which metrics actually matter for retention, the role of consumer reviews, and whether dynamic pricing could become a bigger part of the fitness industry.

Ivy also shares data showing that average direct studio fill rates among ClassPass-integrated fitness partners are below 36%, raising an important question for operators: how much potential revenue is sitting unused in the schedule?

For gym, studio and boutique fitness operators, this conversation offers a data-backed look at where consumer demand is moving and how to make smarter decisions around programming, pricing, capacity and the member experience.

The fitness industry is growing, Peloton is making a bigger play for runners, and AI is becoming a bigger part of how gyms and studios operate.

This week on This Week in Fitness, Krissy Vann breaks down the fitness business stories shaping the industry:

The Health & Fitness Association reports continued revenue and membership growth among fitness operators
Peloton launches three new treadmills, expands Peloton IQ and taps Miley Cyrus for its latest campaign
NASM and Crunch Fitness launch an interview guarantee for certified personal trainers
Mindbody parent Playlist introduces AI tools for retention, benchmarking and revenue forecasting
Hone Health and BODYBAR Pilates partner around fitness, biomarker testing and longevity
Club Pilates expands its annual 80s Week into Decades Week

This Week in Fitness from All Things Fitness and Wellness covers the latest fitness industry news, gym business trends, fitness technology, wellness, personal training and operator strategy.

#FitnessIndustry #FitnessBusiness #Peloton #GymIndustry #FitnessTechnology #WellnessIndustry

00:00 - This Week in Fitness
00:15 - HFA Reports Continued Fitness Industry Growth
01:28 - NASM + Crunch Fitness Launch Trainer Hiring Pathway
02:20 - Mindbody Parent Playlist Expands AI Tools
03:34 - Peloton Makes a Bigger Play for Runners
04:29 - Hone Health + BODYBAR Pilates Partner
05:15 - Club Pilates Launches Decades Week

Artificial intelligence in fitness and wellness is moving well beyond chatbots and automated workout plans.

In this conversation, Tony Medrano, CEO and Co-Founder of LongevityPlan.AI, joins Krissy Vann to explore how AI has evolved, what today's technology can actually do with health and performance data, and where it could change the way consumers, coaches and fitness businesses approach personalization.

Tony's relationship with technology predates the current AI boom. A former U.S. Navy officer and Stanford JD/MBA graduate, he built his first technology company while still in school and began working with artificial intelligence years before ChatGPT brought AI into the mainstream. He's also a three-time full Ironman finisher, bringing together his interests in technology, health and human performance.

The conversation explores the rise of digital twins, which can bring together information from wearables, lab work, biomarkers and other health data to create a more individualized picture of a person. Tony explains how these models could be used to evaluate potential interventions and make health and performance recommendations more personalized.

They also get into some of the bigger questions surrounding the technology: Who owns increasingly detailed personal health data? How should privacy be handled? Where does human expertise remain essential? And what should fitness and wellness operators understand as AI becomes embedded in more consumer health products?

The episode also examines the broader shift toward preventative and personalized health, and what that could mean for trainers, coaches and fitness businesses as consumers gain access to increasingly sophisticated information about their own bodies.

In this episode: AI before and after ChatGPT, digital twins and personalized health, wearables and biomarker data, data ownership and privacy, AI's role alongside coaches and practitioners, preventative health, longevity and human performance.

For fitness and wellness leaders, the bigger question isn't simply whether AI will become part of the industry. It's where the technology is genuinely useful, where its limitations remain, and how it could change what consumers expect from fitness and health businesses.

Connect with All Things Fitness and Wellness: www.atfw.ca

Learn more about Longevity Plan: longevityplan.ai

HYROX has a new majority investor as the fitness racing company enters its next phase of global expansion.

In this episode of This Week in Fitness, Krissy Vann breaks down the latest fitness business headlines, including a major ownership change at HYROX, two AI acquisitions shaping ABC Fitness’ technology strategy, a refreshed brand and digital experience from Planet Fitness, Amped Fitness’ push into creator-led marketing and a new community initiative from LA Fitness.

This week:

• HYROX ownership change: Infront Sports & Media has sold its majority stake in HYROX to an investor group led by L Catterton. HYROX held more than 100 events during the 2025/26 season, attracting more than 1.4 million participants and 1.5 million spectators, according to Infront.

• ABC Fitness expands its AI strategy: ABC Fitness has acquired FitMetrics, an AI-assisted coaching platform, following its July acquisition of Replify. The two technologies bring AI into both gym operations and coaching workflows, from lead follow-up and scheduling to client check-ins and programming support.

• Planet Fitness refreshes its brand and app: Planet Fitness is updating its visual identity while adding workout tracking, wellness integrations and an updated Crowd Meter to its mobile app. The changes follow recent investments in strength equipment, club layouts and recovery amenities.

• Amped Fitness bets on creators: More than 2,000 creators participated in the operator’s three-month Amped Summer campaign. Amped reports that the resulting content generated more than 100 million social media views as the company builds creator-led marketing into its broader strategy.

• LA Fitness launches a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb: Participating locations across the U.S. will challenge members, guests and first responders to complete 110 flights on a StairMaster from September 11 through 13 in recognition of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center towers.

This Week in Fitness delivers a quick, business-focused look at the deals, technology, operator strategies, investment and industry developments shaping fitness and wellness.

Connect with All Things Fitness and Wellness: www.atfw.ca

This week on This Week In Fitness, we’re covering a leadership change at 24 Hour Fitness, EoS Fitness’ expanded HYROX partnership, Crunch Fitness’ redesigned premium Crunch Select concept, Crosscourt’s latest funding round, World Gym’s entry into Thailand and VASA Fitness’ new internal trainer development program.

Stories this week:

• 24 Hour Fitness leadership change: Karl Sanft has left his role as President and CEO. Multiple industry reports indicate founder and owner Mark Mastrov is stepping in as interim CEO. No reason for Sanft’s departure has been publicly announced.

• EoS Fitness x HYROX: EoS plans to bring dedicated HYROX training spaces, classes, equipment and digital programming to 25 U.S. locations, beginning in Arizona and California.

• Crunch Select: Crunch Fitness is expanding its premium club strategy with boutique-style programming, recovery services and upgraded amenities. The first updated Crunch Select location is expected to open in Long Beach, New York.

• Crunch growth: The company also returned to the Inc. 5000 for a second consecutive year and now reports 585 gyms globally and more than four million members.

• Crosscourt raises $2 million: The basketball fitness concept has now raised $4 million in total funding and plans to open a Miami flagship in spring 2027 while continuing to build its technology platform and Los Angeles operation.

• World Gym enters Thailand: The company is opening its first location in the market and plans to extend its HYROX partnership into Thailand later this year.

• VASA Fitness x ISSA: VASA will sponsor up to 150 personal trainer certifications annually for existing employees as part of a new internal career development program.

This Week In Fitness delivers a quick look at the leadership, expansion, investment, programming and workforce stories shaping the global fitness industry.