Group workout classes have surged in popularity, not only for the physical benefits, but also because they reconnect people in ways solo or digital workouts never could.
A post-pandemic boom fueled a sharp increase in group fitness participation between 2022 and 2025 as studios reopened and people sought in-person connections.
Members who take group classes visit the gym more frequently, averaging 2.7 visits per week compared to just 2 for solo gym-goers, and are significantly more likely to stay long term.
In fact, gym-only members are 56% more likely to cancel than those who regularly attend group workouts.
Group classes today are built-in accountability systems, social outlets, and community builders, all in one. Whether you’re teaching strength, mobility, or dance mashups, you’re offering an entire experience that makes people come back for.
4 Classic Group Exercise Ideas (That Still Work)
#1: Yoga & Pilates for Groups
The #1 trend as I’m writing this is hands down Pilates! And it does not feel like a comeback, more like reaching a whole new peak. Both pilates and yoga studios are packed, reformer waitlists are weeks long, and it’s officially become a social ritual for friends and couples alike. Do the flow, sip your matcha after!
Group Pilates and yoga classes still deliver everything members love: low-impact intensity, great core work, and a calm reset that keeps them coming back. Add beginner-friendly options and props, and it’s one of the easiest formats to fill, again and again.
Together with slowing down and other wellness trends, pilates is the most-booked workout for the second year in a row.
Check Out: How to Run Group Workout Classes That Keep Clients Coming Back
#2: Circuit Training
Not every format needs a reinvention. Circuit training continues to be one of the most effective, no-fuss ways to train a group. It’s efficient, endlessly adaptable, and works just as well in a boutique studio as it does in a big-box gym.
You can design circuit training classes around time, training goals, equipment, or space, making it easy to scale for different group sizes and fitness levels.
It’s especially appealing for people who want to stay fit without making fitness their whole personality, those who want to live longer, move better, and show up consistently.
Circuit classes also create natural moments for encouragement and connection as members rotate through stations together.
Check Out: 9 Essential Steps to Open a Successful Pilates Studio
#3: HIIT Bootcamps
HIIT bootcamps are for the high-energy crowd who thrive on intensity and variety. These classes pair short bursts of max-effort movement with brief recovery windows to boost cardiovascular fitness, build muscle endurance, and burn calories fast.
In 2025, HIIT formats have leveled up: more coaches are blending cardio and strength, running hybrid indoor-outdoor sessions, and incorporating wearable tech for live heart-rate tracking and leaderboards. These bootcamps are fast-paced, often themed, and always deliver a challenge.
Whether it’s a “Lower Body Burn” day or a total-body AMRAP finisher, members come for the sweat, but stay for the group energy and competitive edge.
#4: Strength and Conditioning Groups
Strength training is no longer just for athletes or bodybuilders. Group strength classes are growing in popularity, especially among beginners, busy professionals, and aging adults looking to preserve muscle mass and stay resilient.
These programs often follow a progressive structure, starting with movement basics like squats, deadlifts, and presses, then layering in more advanced patterns over time. It’s a smart format that delivers results while keeping members safe and motivated.
Small group setups are common, allowing coaches to correct form and personalize progressions. Strength and conditioning formats give members more than just a workout, they build confidence, consistency, and long-term physical capacity.
5 Most Fun and Creative Group Workout Ideas
#1: Partner Drills (Buddy Workouts)
Partner workouts are gaining traction as a key trend in group fitness, according to Les Mills. These collaborative formats, like buddy slams, partner med-ball tosses, and synchronized burpees, boost social interaction, accountability, and motivation in group settings.
The infectious energy of teamwork makes partner drills a go-to for studios aiming to enhance community-driven fitness experiences.
Exercises to include:
- Partner squat
- Plank high fives
- Medicine ball sit-ups
- Partner lunges
- Partner Push Up
- Partner wall sits
- Resistance band partner rows
- Partner-assisted stretching
- Partner burpees
- Wheelbarrow walks
#2: Team-Based AMRAP Challenges
AMRAP (as many rounds (or reps) as possible) makes for a great group workout class because it hits a rare sweet spot: measurable progress, scalable intensity, and natural competition.
When done in teams, AMRAPs transform into a high-energy, social experience. Everyone is racing against the clock toward a shared goal, creating a game-like atmosphere that bonds participants through effort.
It’s inclusive too; beginners and advanced athletes can both participate, adjusting their load or pace while still contributing. That mix of camaraderie and challenge is why AMRAP formats show up so often in CrossFit, bootcamps, and functional training programs.
It packs strength, cardio, and endurance into one session, and participants can track progress by showing how many rounds they complete each time.
Exercises to include:
- Bodyweight Exercises: Burpees, push-ups, squats, lunges, planks, mountain climbers
- Weightlifting Exercises: Overhead presses, squats with weights, dumbbell rows
- Cardio Exercises: Running, rowing, jumping jacks
Check Out: The Benefits of AMRAP Workouts for Your Clients
#3: Dance Fitness Mashups
Dance-based classes continue to evolve, and in 2025, it’s less Zumba, more creative fusion, thanks in part to platforms like TikTok, where native dances have helped keep rhythmic movement at the center of social fitness trends.
Studios are now blending choreography with functional training elements, like bodyweight intervals between routines or resistance bands worked into the flow.
These formats appeal to more than just dance lovers; they attract anyone who wants a fun, effective cardio workout without the treadmill. The music has shifted slightly from classic Zumba, but Latin beats, EDM, and pop favorites still dominate.
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Discover more With curated playlists, expressive movement, and serious mood-boosting benefits, dance mashups give members a reason to show up, even on days they’d rather stay home.
#4: Themed Workouts
Injecting a theme into your class is a simple but powerful way to increase attendance and energy. Whether it’s an 80s throwback workout, superhero bootcamp, or “Barbie” night, themes give members a reason to talk about your class outside the studio.
They work especially well around holidays, events, movie releases, or just as a surprise twist to re-ignite attendance mid-month. The programming doesn’t have to change much, but the atmosphere does. And that alone can make your workouts more memorable and shareable.
Fitness First ‘Find the Hero Within’ Challenge partnered with Marvel’s Captain America for an in‑studio adventure: a 7‑station “Find the Hero Within” bootcamp featuring runs, KB swings, ski erg, sandbag squats, and more, showing how major brands are using themed formats to engage members.
They’re not just fun, they’re effective for retention and referrals. People show up for the music, the mood, and the moment. All you need to do is wrap a well-structured class in a bit of creativity, and you’ve got a full room and a lot of phones out.
#5: A HYROX-Inspired Hybrid Race
Hybrid fitness races like HYROX have taken off globally, and now gyms are adapting the format for everyday classes.
In a typical setup, participants run short distances between functional strength stations, think sled pushes, sandbag lunges, and kettlebell carries. Participants run 1km, followed by 1 functional workout station, repeated eight times.
These race-style pop-up workouts attract both endurance and strength-focused members, creating a fresh, competitive group dynamic.
You can run them outdoors, brand them as premium events, and even link them with your indoor programming for a full-cycle experience. They’re functional, measurable, highly social, and they photograph well, which means they sell themselves on social.
3 Low-Impact and Inclusive Options for Your Next Fitness Group Class
Low-impact fitness has become IT in 2025 because it aligns with a broader shift toward sustainable, inclusive, and holistic health approaches. It emphasizes long-term benefits, injury prevention, and mental well-being, rather than short-term intensity or extreme physical challenge.
Its low-impact workouts can be done at varied paces and require minimal equipment or skills, making them appealing to do together for friends who are not on the same “fitness level.”
#1: Chair Workouts
Chair-based workouts are often misunderstood as “just for seniors”, but in reality, they’re for anyone working around limitations, getting back into movement, or simply trying to escape the sedentary trap of modern life. They’re also ideal for people who don’t have access to a gym, equipment, or ample space.
You can build full-body strength, flexibility, and balance—all while staying grounded. For studios looking to expand their reach or offer off-peak programming, chair classes are a low-barrier, high-retention option that meets people where they are.
#2: Stretch and Mobility Circuits
The majority of gym goers, regardless of their fitness level, are waking up to the fact that flexibility, joint health, and quality of movement matter just as much as reps or sweat. These classes blend active stretching, foam rolling, and joint stability work into sessions that feel more like self-care than bootcamp.
For strength-focused members, they offer recovery and injury prevention. For everyone else, they’re a gentle on-ramp to consistent movement with low intimidation and high ROI.
#3: Beginner-Friendly Cardio Classes
These are the gateway for so many members, especially those who wouldn’t call themselves “fitness people.” Formats like light aerobic circuits, rhythm walking, or low-impact bike intervals help build cardiovascular health without joint strain or mental burnout.
They’re approachable, scalable, and far more effective than most people expect. With the right coaching and music, they still deliver a sweat, but without the pain or pressure. Positioning these classes as foundational, not fallback, can be a powerful mindset shift for new members.
Free Ebook: Learn 6 Keys to Building a Loyal Fitness Community
3 New Trends for Group Fitness in 2025
Finally, we wanted to share the last three trends that reflect where fitness is headed: tech-enabled, socially driven, and more flexible than ever.
#1: Wearable Integration
Group fitness is getting smarter. Wearables like Myzone, WHOOP, Garmin, etc, are now synced with class formats to display live stats, heart rate zones, effort scores, or calories burned, on studio screens.
It adds a sense of progress without overcomplicating the experience, and gives both coaches and members a more informed way to train. It’s data-backed motivation, and it sticks.
It requires some upfront investment for both your studio, gym, or personal training service, as well as for your clients, but in case you and they are already using it, it’s a great perk to start implementing in your fitness classes. We predict that very soon this will be the default.
#2: Outdoor Group Training
What started as a necessity has turned into a staple. Outdoor group sessions, whether bootcamps in the park or interval circuits in a lot, let members train with fewer constraints and more energy.
They’re cost-effective to run, visible to the public, and great for drawing in first-timers or offering seasonal variety. What we’ve seen work exceptionally well to acquire new clients is running free sessions for newcomers, or hosting open-to-the-public events, and then promoting your higher ticket services on the side.
#3: Virtual and Hybrid Live Classes
The same goes for the virtual vs. hybrid trend, what you can offer outdoors vs. indoors, you can also deliver virtually vs. face-to-face.
While virtual fitness groups may still play second fiddle to in-person sessions, many studios are now dialing in their tech to deliver livestreamed or dual-format classes that keep remote members engaged without sacrificing quality.
This works especially well for formats like yoga, Pilates, strength, and mobility, where clear instruction makes or breaks the experience. When done right, a hybrid isn’t a compromise; it’s a growth channel. And if your audience spans multiple time zones, it could become your signature advantage.
Conclusion
Whether you’re running classic strength circuits, launching dance mashups, or experimenting with outdoor hybrid sessions, the best group workout ideas aren’t just about variety, they’re about longevity. The formats that win in 2025 are the ones that meet real member needs: connection, consistency, and results they can feel.
If you’re ready to bring smarter, more scalable group programming into your studio, Glofox makes it easier to deliver, manage, and grow.
ABC Glofox is more than just a software provider; it’s a partner in your journey toward success and innovation. With its comprehensive suite of tools, global reach, and customer-centric approach, ABC Glofox can help you achieve your dreams and build a strong, scalable, and adaptable fitness business.
If you’re looking to elevate your fitness business, then now is the time to reach out to our team and see how we can help you.
