Health and wellness trends are on the rise, and fitness centers remain among the most popular amenities to attract and retain multifamily tenants. In fact, 70% of renters say an onsite fitness center is a must-have, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC).
But a few treadmills and a set of free weights don’t cut it anymore. Today’s tenants aren’t just looking for a gym; they want a wellness experience. In addition to relevant fitness equipment (which one in five residents say their properties lack, according to NMHC data), property owners need to address current trends toward holistic living to attract and retain tenants.
From versatile workout spaces to community-building hotspots, here are six health and wellness trends to start incorporating into new and existing fitness spaces. The results won’t only connect your community members — they’ll also set your property apart from the competition.
Add Flexibility To Support Multiple Uses
Gone are the days of static workout areas and rows of ellipticals and stationary bikes. Interest in workouts like yoga and pilates continues to grow, which means versatile spaces that support a variety of workout styles are essential. Consider transforming underutilized areas into dynamic workout zones that cater to a wide range of fitness preferences. Refreshing your equipment lineup can help with this. Suspension training straps popular with HIIT workouts (high-intensity interval training) as well as multifunctional fitness equipment that lets you introduce new options without crowding your floor space or requiring additional square footage are great places to start.
Offer Connected Fitness Solutions
With one in five renters saying their property’s fitness center doesn’t offer the right machines and gear, one way to bring your space back in line with expectations is by adding connected fitness equipment. With integrated streaming features, and a variety of programming, fitness center users can access live or recorded workouts with an instructor, outside of formal in-person classes. Some options even let users experience walking, running or working out around the world with immersive guided fitness sessions. To top it all off, exercisers can closely track their workout stats, monitor their progress and even challenge fellow residents to some friendly competition.
Take It Outdoors
Flexible workout spaces don’t have to have four walls. Expanding your fitness center to include outdoor areas can attract more residents and provide fulfilling options for tenants who want to bring fresh air into their wellness routine. A pickleball court plays into America’s fastest-growing fitness trend and can double as a great space for outdoor yoga classes.
Personalize Through Collaboration
We’ve mentioned yoga and pilates, but those aren’t the only group fitness options out there. Boutique interval training and HIIT gyms remain popular, along with barre workouts, boxing, and a variety of other activities. When as many as 25% of renters have access to a fitness center and pay for a separate gym membership, NMHC data shows, your competition isn’t just other properties — it’s other gyms as well. With that in mind, consider differentiating your property by offering scheduled workout classes on-site to give residents the benefits of group fitness without leaving the premises.
Engage With Community Initiatives
Group fitness experiences give your property the chance to build community in a new way: By fostering a sense of camaraderie among residents. Organizing pickleball tournaments, wellness challenges, and other fitness events encourages social interaction and motivates residents to stay committed to their individual fitness journeys. Not to mention that building a vibrant community helps enhance resident satisfaction and retention.
Expand Your Definition of Fitness
Current health and wellness trends lean heavily toward supporting mental well being. Include dedicated meditation rooms in your updated fitness center, or even offer on-site training workshops on mindfulness and stress release. Reframing your fitness center as a wellness center helps properties support tenants in body and in mind.
Help Your Property Stand Out with a Holistic Fitness Approach
Fitness centers remain a key draw for multifamily tenants, which means an outdated facility will leave more than just your gym equipment disconnected. The right mix of connected fitness equipment, holistic health, and community engagement will elevate your on-site gym — and your entire property — with a game-changing combination of features.
Whether you start with a couple of connected fitness solutions, or revamp your entire fitness center with indoor/outdoor spaces, meditation rooms, and in-person classes, what you’re really offering your residents is a tailored fitness experience that lets them invest in themselves, engage with the community where they live, and connect with your property as a destination for healthy living.
For more information about how Peloton for Business can help transform your onsite fitness center with connected fitness equipment, visit business.onepeloton.com.
