LES MILLS REVEALS NEW GLOBAL FITNESS REPORT

Les Mills 2021 Global Fitness Report spotlights how the world will work out post-pandemic, with live workouts and “Omnichannel Fitness” tipped to trend.

• Two-thirds of gym members prefer working out with others. with live fitness classes stated as the most popular offering at the gym.
• Live classes at the gym are more than twice as appealing as livestream options at home, with live Instructors and “the energy of the group” both key factors.
• COVID legacy will live on, 80% of gym members planning to continue using digital workouts post-pandemic in addition to live workouts.
• ‘Omnichannel Fitness’ will be key – a blend of in-gym and at home workouts, will have a 60:40 split between the two for most exercisers.

The Les Mills 2021 Global Fitness Report – which features insights from 12,157 consumers across five continents – explores how the pandemic has changed our fitness habits and spotlights the trends that will shape our workouts in years to come.

The report finds that 82% of consumers now regularly exercise (or soon plan to), while 75% of this group do gym-type activities, making fitness the world’s biggest sport. HIIT is crowned as the world’s most popular fitness class, favored by 32% of participants, closely followed by Indoor Cycling (30%) and Dance classes (29%).

After a year of enforced home workouts, appetite for live fitness experiences in groups is soaring, with 85% of gymgoers interested in trying live classes in their facility.

Two-thirds of gym members (67%) say they prefer working out in groups, while live classes in club are nearly twice as popular as online classes that are livestreamed (done by 44% of members vs 23%).

Rockstar Instructors are identified as the single most important factor for gymgoers when choosing a live class, favored by 28%, ahead of the quality of music (24%) and type of class (21%).

“After months of being stuck at home, people can’t wait to get back to fitness facilities and enjoy their favorite workouts with familiar faces,” says Phillip Mills, Les Mills Founder and Executive Director.

“Much like bars, restaurants and sports events, fitness is experiencing a real ‘live revival’, as people make up for lost time with a renewed appreciation for real-world social settings.

“Many people have missed the thrill of a busy class and the extra motivation you get from working out with others while being led by a rockstar Instructor.

“But that doesn’t mean home workouts will disappear as we emerge from the pandemic. The digital fitness boom and the growth of home working means consumers are taking an omnichannel approach to their training to stay more active, mixing thrilling live workouts at the gym with the convenience of digital workouts at home.”

To access the full report, visit: https://www.lesmills.com/nordic/global-fitness-report/

For media requests and further information, contact:
Lena Holmberg, lena.holmberg@lesmills.com
Country Manager, Les Mills Nordic