From membership-wide gamification challenges to VR tools and immersive digital apps, operators are implementing know-how in more and more artistic methods
The “gymnasium” has come a good distance from a easy place full of rubber flooring, some treadmills, free weights and selectorized power machines — however it’s received additional to go nonetheless.
Whereas the health trade has lengthy been criticized for being behind the occasions in the case of adopting new applied sciences, a number of pioneering manufacturers are beginning to change that narrative. Within the course of, they’re forcing your entire trade to observe their leads, ushering in a brand new period of tech-forward health inside and out of doors the 4 partitions of brick-and-mortar services.
ATN breaks down how prime gymnasium and membership operators are using tech in 2025, together with gamification, VR-enabled tools and digital apps.
EoS Health Provides Gear Monitoring, Gamification Tech
EoS Health is without doubt one of the gymnasium trade’s largest success tales over the previous decade, rising from lower than 20 areas to over 125 in that point interval and lately agreeing to be acquired by TSG Shopper Companions in a deal that reportedly valued the Texas-based chain at $1 billion or more.
A part of that progress might be attributed to EoS’ willingness to innovate in the case of know-how.
EoS has develop into one of many first big-name American gymnasium manufacturers to combine EGYM’s line of sensible tools and software program into its golf equipment. That features Gameday, the German fit tech giant’s gamification platform that enables a gymnasium’s members to compete towards different members, or themselves, whereas understanding. Launched in 2023, Gameday tracks metrics equivalent to quantity of weight lifted, and shows the outcomes on a leaderboard.
Richard Idgar, chief working officer at EoS, says EGYM’s tech has allowed the gymnasium model to gamify understanding, driving member engagement.
“That may be very interesting to a number of demographics in our gyms, the place there’s a leaderboard, they usually’re competing, not solely month-to-month, however each day, towards themselves after which different members, even different gyms,” Idgar mentioned of how EoS is leveraging EGYM.
EoS additionally leverages EGYM tech that creates personalized workout routines for members, Idgar shared.
EoS has additionally partnered with Ecofit Networks, a tech supplier that enables operators to trace and analyze utilization patterns on their tools. Ecofit’s tech can drive insights into which machines want upkeep, and likewise assist gyms make future buying selections.
Idgar mentioned Ecofit has been “very impactful” in serving to EoS perceive utilization patterns on its tools.
Ecofit has labored with lots of the prime gymnasium manufacturers in America, together with Planet Health, Crunch Health and 24 Hour Health, to call just some.
VR Health Begins To Achieve Floor
If a few of the hype round digital actuality (VR) health has cooled down in latest months, it’d begin to decide up once more quickly.
That’s as a result of Xpriential, a maker of VR-like treadmills, is starting to gain traction with major gym chains. The New Jersey-based firm makes an immersive treadmill that lets customers run digital marathons, discover pure terrains and partake in video game-style challenges.
Xpriential isn’t precisely VR, however it performs in the identical realm.
“We’re not VR as we don’t require goggles and didn’t need the related dizziness that always accompanies them,” the corporate’s chief industrial officer, Jeff McManus, informed Athletech Information. “Nevertheless, we’re a model of prolonged actuality. We’ve married novel, premium {hardware} with our onshore-developed software program and intelligence, leading to a one-of-a-kind innovation station delivering what we name ‘phygital immersion.’”
The corporate has struck early partnerships with gymnasium chains together with The Edge Fitness Clubs, Powerhouse Health club and Health Manufacturing facility. The Xpriential crew believes its treadmills are enjoyable sufficient to get folks again on cardio machines inside gyms.
Greg Maurer, vp of schooling at nationwide chain Exercise Anytime, has informed ATN he sees a giant future for Xpriential treadmills inside gyms and golf equipment.
“It’s mind-blowing,” mentioned Maurer, who first tried the product on the IHRSA 2024 commerce present. “I used to be actually in one other world, working the precise course of the Boston Marathon. There have been different runners, and I used to be passing them. It’s a totally differentiated expertise.”
Life Time Sees Massive Wins on Digital App
Don’t name Life Time a “gymnasium” model — however operators can be taught so much from how the athletic nation membership operator has developed and iterated on its member app.
In Could 2024, Life Time made the daring transfer to make its LT Digital app free to non-members, permitting anybody to entry the model’s premium wellness choices, together with on-demand health lessons. As of February, the operator had attracted a powerful 1.7 million non-member subscribers to the app, with projections of reaching three to 4 million by the tip of this yr.
For Life Time members, the app packs loads of punch, too. The operator partnered with Microsoft to launch L.AI.C, an AI-driven companion for members with a chatbot that solutions primary questions on Life Time areas, builds tailor-made exercise applications and extra.
“AI developments are unstoppable, and we’re embracing this chance to offer our members with experiences that may solely get higher and higher – simply as now we have dedicated from the beginning,” Life Time founder and CEO Bahram Akradi mentioned.
Life Time’s app endeavors are a part of the corporate’s broader mission to develop into a trusted well being and wellness companion for folks throughout the nation, whether or not they belong to a Life Time membership or not. Just lately, Life Time launched in-app wellness challenges, considered one of which is a protein reset.
“From customized, proactive strategies and reminders to nearly limitless alternatives to help our members’ distinctive wants and preferences, L.AI.C will additional prolong our model because the trusted, go-to well being and wellness associate for a lifetime,” Akradi mentioned. “One of the best is but to return.”
A model of this text initially appeared in ATN’s 2025 Expertise & Innovation Outlook Report, a go-to information for understanding how AI, sensible tools, VR health and extra are reshaping health and wellness. Download the free report.
