America's Favorite Workout Class Should Be No Surprise, Report Confirms

For decades pilates has been a popular form of exercise for fitness enthusiasts and celebrities alike. While it was first invented by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow helped really popularize it in the early 2000s. In the last decade, the popular fitness modality took a back seat to other forms of exercise like HIIT, weightlifting, and beyond. But in recent years pilates has taken back its crown as the favorite form of fitness once again, a new report from ClassPass confirms. 

Top Fitness Modalities

After taking a look through ClassPasses Annual Look Back report, it's clear that fitness of all kinds is a central point of many people's lives. According to the report, fitness reservations have surged by 51 percent from October 2023 to October 2024. 

Of those fitness reservations, the highest-growing workout was pilates with an 84 percent increase in bookings in the last year alone. Behind pilates were yoga, strength training, cycling, barre, boxing, and more. Regular gym goers generally have a set workout split by days with working and rest days planned out ahead of time. According to the ClassPass report, it seems like most fitness enthusiasts avoid Sundays like the plague. 

Favorite Wellness Appointments

Salon and spa reservations have increased, too. In the last year, reservations have jumped by 38 percent, which shows people are definitely taking their overall health and wellness more seriously. Massages earned the top spot as the most-booked salon and spa service globally again this year. Reservations increased by 39 percent proving that now more than ever people are in serious need of some relaxation. 

New services like body scans, cosmetic treatments, and body sculpting also saw significant growth. When it comes to the most popular days to book, Fridays won the top spot while Sundays tended to be the least booked day for wellness treatments.