The New Era of Joyful, Inclusive Fitness

Exercise, tech and wellness join forces for your individual health journey

For years, fitness culture has been dominated by extremes-early-morning boot camps, punishing workouts and the unspoken assumption that wellness only “counts” if it’s hard—it’s literally in the name of one of last year’s biggest fads: 75 Hard. But as anyone who plans meetings knows, what people should do and what they want to do are sometimes two very different things.

That’s why the latest fitness trends tell a refreshing story. According to reports from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the future of fitness isn’t louder, more demanding or more exclusive-it’s more holistic, inclusive and, yes, fun. Movement is no longer just about burning calories or chasing aesthetics. It’s about mental health, community, recovery and designing experiences that work for everybody and everybody.

For meeting professionals tasked with supporting attendee well-being, this shift offers a powerful opportunity. Wellness doesn’t have to feel like another obligation on the agenda. When movement is integrated thoughtfully-and playfully-it becomes something people actually look forward to.

Holistic Health Is the New Baseline

One of the most explicit messages emerging from both ACE and ACSM is that fitness no longer exists in a silo. Exercise is now understood as part of a broader ecosystem that includes sleep, stress management, recovery and mental health.

ACSM’s 2026 Worldwide Fitness Trends report highlights a continued move toward whole-person wellness, with rising emphasis on exercise for mental health, chronic disease management and long-term quality of life. ACSM report noted that 78% of exercisers say mental or emotional well-being is their primary motivation for movement, ahead of physical appearance—sanity before vanity.

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As a category, exercise for mental health ranks in the top 10 worldwide fitness trends, reflecting strong evidence that both aerobic and resistance training improve mood, reduce stress and support cognitive function. ACE echoes this shift, noting that clients are increasingly focused on healthspan-the ability to stay vibrant, capable and engaged as they age-rather than lifespan and short-term fitness goals.

“People are now more focused on ‘healthspan’ rather than ‘lifespan,'” says Sean Hoess, founder and CEO of Eudēmonia Summit, an annual three-day wellness conference in The Palm Beaches focused on the future of wellness, longevity and human potential. ‘They have an increased awareness—a consciousness—of their lives. Leaders of industry demonstrate that you can have extended careers and longer periods of maximum productivity, while also having fun. It’s a mindset shift.’

Read More: 3 Strategies Worth Stealing from Eudēmonia Summit Extreme Wellness Gathering in The Palm Beaches

For events, this means wellness programming works best when it’s woven into the day’s flow-not stacked on top of already packed schedules. Think mobility sessions between keynotes, guided breathing before high-stakes presentations or quiet recovery lounges where attendees can reset.

Movement doesn’t need to be intense to be impactful. Sometimes the most effective wellness intervention is simply giving people permission to slow down.

Inclusive Fitness: Designed for Everybody and Every Body

If holistic wellness is the foundation, inclusivity is the framework. ACE has long championed the idea that movement should be accessible to people of all sizes, ages, abilities and health backgrounds. That philosophy is now mainstream.

Adults 65 and older now visit gyms and studios more frequently than any other age group, driving demand for programs focused on balance, mobility and functional strength. ACSM trends point to growing demand for fitness programs designed for older adults, people managing chronic conditions and individuals seeking low-impact or adaptive options. At the same time, language is evolving—from “weight loss” to “weight management,” from “senior fitness” to “active aging”—to reflect a broader, more respectful range of goals. Obesity affects more than 42% of U.S. adults, yet research shows exercise improves metabolic health and physical function regardless of weight change.

Read More: What if Wellness Pumped Up the Inclusive Power of Events?

‘People are waking up to the fact that aging is trainable. Strength is trainable,’ says Anca Platon Trifan, CMP, and CEO of Tree-Fan Events LLC. ‘The demand is coming from women who are done being told midlife is decline. They are realizing that the real crisis is not aging, it is under-muscling. Women need proof that strength after 40 is not a fairy tale.’

For meeting planners, inclusive fitness is less about adding more sessions and more about how those sessions are framed. Label activities by experience—”restorative,” “energizing,” “mind-clearing”—rather than difficulty. Offer seated, standing and adaptive options without calling attention to them. Avoid competitive or aesthetic-driven messaging.

When people feel safe and welcome, participation rises naturally.

“Stop selling fragility. Sell capability,” says Platon Trifan. “Language matters. ‘Senior fitness’ sounds like a box you get put into. ‘Strength, balance and mobility’ sounds like a standard every adult deserves.”

Community, Connection and the Power of Third Spaces

One of the most compelling trends highlighted by ACE is the role of fitness spaces as ‘”third spaces”—places outside of home and work where people find connection and belonging. Exercise has always been social, but the past few years have underscored just how essential that social component really is. And, coming off the impacts of Covid, people crave connecting as a community, something meeting profs already know.

ACSM data reinforces this insight: group fitness classes and adult recreation clubs are surging because they combine structure, accountability and fun. People stick with movement longer when it feels like a shared experience rather than a solo obligation. Key takeaways from the report show that people who attend two or more group fitness classes per week are significantly more likely to remain engaged long-term and that socially driven formats-walking groups, dance classes, recreational sports-show higher adherence among adults who previously avoided traditional gyms.

“It’s all about getting people out of the boardroom—or as I call it, the bored room,” says Angela Minardi, chief experience officer at Fit City Adventures in San Diego. “It can be an outdoor coffee shop and a DJ party at the same time. It opens people up to curiosity when you take them out of their usual setting.”

For events, movement can double as networking. Group walks between venues, casual lawn games, pickleball pop-ups or dance-based warmups invite connection without pressure. The goal isn’t performance-it’s participation.

“They truly are third spaces,” says Minardi. “I like to highlight these beautiful properties by getting people onto those lawns, into those pools and moving through those foyers with great’ wellness activations. Creating mandalas outside as a centering experience? What could be better than that?”

People may forget the exact agenda, but they’ll remember laughing with colleagues during a sunset walk after a long day of sessions.

Technology That Supports—Not Replaces—Human Wellness

Wearable technology continues to dominate global fitness trends, ranking as the number one trend worldwide. Roughly 40% of adults now use wearable fitness technology, and more than 70% of wearers report using that data to inform their exercise rates and recovery decisions.

“Fun isn’t frivolous. It’s essential.”

experiences reframe fitness as something to look forward to. They lower barriers, reduce self-consciousness and invite people in-regardless of fitness level.

But both ACE and ACSM emphasize a critical nuance: technology works best when it supports human experience rather than overwhelms it. Wearables, mobile apps and remote monitoring tools can enhance personalization and self-awareness, but they’re not a substitute for intuitive movement or human connection.

‘Wearables dominate because they offer awareness, but insight matters more than data,’ says Dr. Romie Mushtaq, M.D., and chief wellness officer at Great Wolf Resorts. ‘The real shift is not collecting more metrics, but using data to guide recovery, readiness and sustainable behavior rather than pushing people harder. It also acts to personalize fitness and nutrition goals-moving away from the fad diets and fitness trends that have previously demanded a one-size-fits-all approach.’
her than pushing people harder. It also acts to personalize fitness and nutrition goals-moving away from the fad diets and fitness trends that have previously demanded a one-size-fits-all approach.’

In meetings, tech-enabled wellness should be optional and low-pressure. Consider step challenges with flexible goals and recovery-focused prompts delivered via event apps or biofeedback stations designed to foster curiosity rather than competition.

The most successful tech integrations fade into the background-empowering attendees without turning wellness into another metric to optimize.

Minardi designs wellness lounges with red light masks, massagers and wearables like the Oura ring. If they’re excited about it, they can buy it for themselves. ‘When they use these tools, it all comes together—wanting to know your data and managing your own numbers,’ she said.

Fun Is the Ultimate Fitness Strategy

Perhaps the most important-and liberating-lesson from current fitness trends is this: Fun isn’t frivolous. It’s essential.

ACSM’s growing emphasis on adult recreation clubs and ACE’s focus on joyful, community-based movement reflect a simple truth: people don’t stick with activities they dread. Enjoyment is one of the strongest predictors of long-term adherence.

Dance, outdoor movement, games, playful challenges and music-driven experiences reframe fitness as something to look forward to. They lower barriers, reduce self-consciousness fitness level.

‘We don’t really describe anything in our materials as ‘fun,” says Hoess who was also the co-founder of Wanderlust Festival. ‘But that’s what people always end up having-fun. Put them into a new situation, and the endorphins flow.’ Data shows that group and recreational fit-

Turn movement into networking with group walks, games or dance-based sessions.

Rethinking Wellness Success

The future of fitness isn’t about pushing harder-it’s about designing smarter. Holistic wellness, inclusive programming and joyful movement aren’t just trends; they’re responses to how people actually live and work today.

For meeting professionals, success doesn’t mean turning attendees into athletes. It means creating environments where movement feels supportive, optional and human. When wellness is integrated thoughtfully-and infused with a sense of play-it stops feeling like another ‘should’ and starts becoming something people genuinely want to do.

This article appears in the March 2026 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.