This list of fitness trends for 2027 is part of Street Smarts, FLEETSTREET’s series where we, with an unvarnished eye, explore the who, what, where, when and why of new trends.
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Balance and moderation are key to everything, right, from mental health to nutrition. Just consult the top fitness trends for 2027, fitness associations, small and large gym chains, and wellness professionals, and you’ll see it’s true for our workouts, too. Find out what Canadians are looking for in their workouts for 2027.
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Fitness trends for 2027
When fitness personalities range from Pilates princesses to Hyrox athletes, you know next year’s fitness trends will have range. And you’ll see this in the American College of Sports Medicine’s 2027 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends report, which includes Canadian research. Plus, Canfit Pro lists similar trends, including recovery, customizable workouts, and prescriptive exercise for physical and mental health.)
But for me, the main takeaways from both are:
- Purposeful movement that people can engage in for specific physical and mental wellness outcomes.
- Recovery is no longer about rest days doing nothing.
- The hunger for high-intensity, competitive training is balanced by low-impact, restorative movement.
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ACSM’s 2027 fitness category trends
| Top-ranked trends for 2027 | Other trends in the category |
| • Wearable technology • Mobile exercise apps • Data-driven training tech | Digital tech: • AI in fitness |
| • Balance, flow, and core strength (including Pilates) • Traditional strength training | Training modalities: • Body weight training • Circuit training • Functional fitness training (FFT) • High-intensity interval training (HIIT) • Low-impact/joint-friendly training • Mobility training • Olympic-style weightlifting |
| • Fitness programs for older adults | Exercise prescription/special consideration: • Body-inclusive fitness • Fitness programs for neurodivergent individuals • Health and wellness coaching • Prenatal and postnatal fitness • Youth athletic development • Youth physical activity promotion |
| • Exercise for weight management • Exercise for mental health and well-being | Programming: • Exercise Is Medicine • Hormonal health and fitness • Lifestyle medicine |
| • Group fitness classes | Structured exercise: • Adult recreation and sport clubs • Competitive fitness events • Personal training (face-to-face, online, or hybrid) • Small group training |
| • Influencer/ambassador-led fitness programs | Fitness business model: • Employer-sponsored fitness programs • Employing certified exercise professionals • Fitness reimbursement programs • Flexible memberships and pricing models |
| • Outdoor fitness activities | Exercise setting: • Budget-friendly gyms • Commercial/multi-purpose gyms • At-home fitness • Medical fitness centres • Specialized fitness studios (boutiques) |
| • Exercise for chronic disease management | Exercise prescription: • Exercise oncology • Exercise for neurodegenerative diseases • Adaptive fitness and inclusive training |
| • Hot and cold therapies (thermal therapies) | Recovery therapy: • Blood flow restriction training • Light therapy • Massage, vibration, and compression • Neuroregulation and recovery |
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Turns out, I’m not the only one who sees how people are working out hard but recovering just as hard. We want a bit of everything. According to Nastasia Genova, vice president of fitness services at the club chain Fitness World Canada, Canadians are looking for “a well-rounded routine” that includes strength and progressive training, Hyrox-level conditioning for endurance, and recovery workouts that include that includes breathwork, nervous system regulation, and more.
“Research has popularized the idea that you only need a surprisingly small window of true high-intensity work per week to reap massive cardiovascular and metabolic rewards,” she says. “Fitness enthusiasts have largely embraced polarized routines—meaning days of very intentional, hard effort are strictly balanced with low-intensity steady-state movement (like zone-two cardio) and heavy emphasis on recovery.”
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Micro trends and fitness fads
Why are some trendy classes missing from this list? Fitness is full of gimmicks, short trends and fads. For the above report, ACSM defines “trend” as “a widely adopted and/or sustained pattern in health and fitness participation, professional practice, or industry offerings. Unlike fads, trends persist beyond temporary enthusiasm and demonstrate measurable engagement, market presence, or long-term impact.” And ACSM surveys data from thousands of fitness industry decision-makers, researchers and practitioners.
And to be honest, when it comes to data science, that’s how you do it.
But for those looking to stay ahead of the wellness curve, microtrends do gain localized and urban attention. Ariel Swan, head of product and co-founder at Jaybird, a boutique-experience fitness studio with locations in Vancouver, Toronto and New York City, points to infrared-heated and sculpt classes, along with a return to weight lifting in gyms, alongside the continued growth of Hyrox (a brand of races that incorporates different fitness styles in an obstacle course) and social fitness through things like run clubs.
From the FLEETSTREET news desk, we’ve seen hybrid studio classes pop up, like hot Pilates at Sweat and Tonic, rhythmic weight training at Burn Room, and dance with multi-plane strength exercises at Tracy Anderson Method.
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Canadians are training for strength and power
“Canadians want classes that make them feel good in their bodies,” says Swan, describing the shift toward strength training. “We’re seeing a return to strength training, particularly among women, as more research highlights the importance of maintaining muscle and bone density as we age and the role strength plays in long-term health and longevity.”
Strength is becoming more centred in Canadians’ fitness routines. “There’s a difference between being exhausted and being better conditioned,” says Michele Nesbitt, national fitness director, Orangetheory Fitness Canada. “Industry data is pointing toward strength as a major foundation of fitness, while mixed-modality training continues to attract attention… Strength training is a big part of that conversation right now, but we’re also seeing continued interest in cardio, running, functional training, and hybrid workouts.”
Ready, set, go… The competitive appeal of races, through goals and personalized challenges, is forming structure around group classes. “That’s really where I see intensity going; toward something smarter and more personalized.”
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Canadians seek recovery and regulating the nervous system, not cheat days
“Recovery is officially sharing equal importance with the workout itself,” says Genova, adding that the “badge of honour” we used to wear for overtraining and sleep deprivation has become cringe. “Moving into 2027, structured recovery protocols, from advanced mobility work and targeted sleep optimization to nervous system regulation, are treated as non-negotiable pillars of any serious routine.”
Swan agrees with that: “People are becoming more aware that recovery and nervous system regulation matter as much as intensity, and that more isn’t always better,” she says, adding that Canadians want mindfulness included in their intense workouts, too.
And it’s also about vibes, according to Nesbitt. “A great group class is more than a room full of people doing the same exercises. When it’s done well, you get structure, coaching, community and accountability, while still being able to work at your own pace.”
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Fitness trends 2027 wrap
So, what will the workouts for your New Year’s resolution look like? According to the trends, you have a lot to choose from. “That might mean a challenging strength or reformer class one day, followed by mobility or yoga the next,” says Swan. Namaste.