This year, plenty of Ohio University students are turning to the gym to burn off steam. For many, the gym has become an integral part of their routine. Some say the structure and routine fuel their motivation and consistency. Others are drawn in by the atmosphere the gym provides, as a place of growth and shared mindsets. As attendance continues to rise, the gym is becoming a second home to many.
At the beginning of the year, spikes in numbers at local gyms are no new occurrence. New Year's resolutions are still going strong. Some are trying to build better habits, and others are finding a new outlet. This year, moving away from January, attendance is not dropping and crowds are here to stay.
According to the ABC Fitness Industry Insights Report from fall 2025, Generation Z and millennials are “driving growth,” accounting for 30% of new studio memberships and 60% of new gym joins. Gym and studio check-ins also rose 5% since fall 2024.
Each gym-goer has different drives to stay consistent. Sadie Poudevigne, a freshman studying publication design, is motivated by establishing healthy habits now.
“I wanted to better my health and keep a good mentality through the year,” Poudevigne said.“I wanted to involve a constant.”
Poudevigne also said that her motivation mainly comes from within.
“I’m doing it for my future self, ultimately,” she said. “When I work out, I feel great, and I want to keep feeling that.”
Going to the gym looks different for everyone. Some go to become stronger, others go to add movement into their routine and some go just to get a good walk in on the track. With a surge in popularity, a couple of workout styles have drawn people in the most.
Pilates and yoga have taken gyms by storm, bringing people together and providing a fun way to move their bodies. With classes offered every day of the week at the Ping Recreation Center, there's always time to fit a workout in on Ohio University’s campus.
“I definitely think Pilates is taking over,” Annamarie Komma, a senior studying marketing and management, said.
Komma has been a gym regular for years and has seen the trends come and go. Not only does Komma attend Ping, but also the local Planet Fitness, which has been experiencing these trends as well.
Komma said consistency is key when building habits. For gyms, this means keeping up with new traffic levels. Whether it's at Ping or one of the few off-campus gyms Athens has to offer, this increase is everywhere.
“I got my other membership because I didn’t like how cluttered it felt in (Ping),” Komma said.
Other students notice this clutter as well. Lillian Vidmar-McEwen, a freshman studying information graphics and publication design, said she worries about overcrowding at Ping.
“I feel like it’s not big enough for the amount of students,” Vidmar-Mcewen said. “Especially because there’s so many new students coming in.”
One local gym has been dealing with this significant increase in traffic. Doc’s Gym, a new gym located on 93 Columbus Road, has seen the numbers rise. Doc’s Gym has a different look than what most students are used to. Unlike Ping or Planet Fitness, Doc’s Gym focuses on old-school strength training.
Ian Butcher, owner of Doc’s Gym, has seen how fitness trends have changed over the years. He said that in recent times, the focus has taken a serious shift. Butcher expressed how a majority of new members at Doc’s Gym are coming in with a plan already in mind, needing little help.
“I think since the pandemic, every age group, every generation, every demographic, has seen an uptick in focus,” Butcher said. “It becomes like a social event now, too, so I think that might be kind of driving things also.”
Butcher and Doc’s Gym decided to take on this shift with a positive mindset. Butcher said he =watched the fitness industry change and take new forms, inviting more people than ever.
“There's a lot of new folks entering the fitness realm, but because we have so much information now, no one really feels like a beginner,” Butcher said.
Butcher added he’s also noticed a shift in what people are drawn to. It is not just one workout or routine, but what sticks.
“There's a million different versions of fitness … you just have to find the one that’s fun,” Butcher said.
