Breaking Down the Top Fitness Modality Trends of 2025

ATN analyzes which workouts surged in 2025, including weightlifting, competitive running, Pilates and pickleball

Fitness and wellness companies are starting to release end-of-year data reports, and there are a few high-level takeaways.

Strength Training Is Surging, but Generational Differences Emerge

The strength-training boom isn’t slowing down any time soon.

According to Strava’s Year in Sport report, weight training grew strongly in 2025, driven by Gen Z. While lifting is a favorite activity among Gen Z as a whole, women logged weight-training activities at rates 21% higher than men on the social fitness app. However, the report did note that 38% of women expressed hesitation about lifting due to fear of getting bulky.

Older people are embracing strength training, too. They’re just doing it differently. Tonal’s State of Strength report found that Boomers strength train  37% more than Gen Z on Tonal equipment.

This discrepancy is likely a matter of method: Gen Z is more likely to lift inside gyms and log those activities on apps like Strava. Boomers and Gen X, by contrast, prefer to engage in strength training from the comfort of home using smart equipment.

It’s also worth noting that Gen Z seems more likely to lift weights for aesthetics, while older generations are turning to strength training for anti-aging benefits.

Everyone Wants To Run a Marathon These Days

Despite the surge in strength training, running is still as popular as ever, if not more so. And runners are increasingly participating in competitive races.

On Strava, race participation increased significantly across 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and full marathons in 2025. This is likely due in large part to the rise of run clubs, which have emerged as social meeting spaces for young people.

Year-over-year, Gen Z participation rose by 28% in 5Ks, 39% in 10Ks, 31% in half marathons and 33% in full marathons, Strava’s report found.

Racket Sports & Pilates Are Rising Fast

It’s a good time to be in the business of pickleball or Pilates.

In its annual Connect report, Garmin found that racket sports and Pilates were the two fastest-growing modalities in fitness in 2025.

Racket sports (pickleball, padel, tennis, etc.) participation grew 67% this year, according to Garmin data, which was the highest year-over-year growth of any modality. Notably, women and 18- to 29-year-olds drove the biggest spike in participation.

Pilates also continues to surge. The low-impact fitness modality increased 46% among Garmin users in 2025, just beating out HIIT, which grew an impressive 45%.

For Gen Z, Fitness Is a Powerful Form of Social Connection

Gen Z’s embrace of fitness and wellness isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling good.

According to Strava, 39% of Gen Z users said they exercise to meet people with shared interests, and 46% said they were open to going on a workout first date.

But the industry still has some work to do to make sure everyone feels welcome. Strava reported that 27% of women and 20% of men said they view run clubs as exclusive or intimidating.