What are millions of fitness bookings telling us about the future of gyms, studios, and wellness? In this episode, JT sits down with Jeff Bladt to unpack the inaugural ClassPass 2026 Industry Impact Report and explore the trends shaping modern fitness behavior. They discuss why consumers increasingly want variety and discovery, how Pilates and HYROX-style training continue to surge, why recovery services are exploding in popularity, and how studios can better monetize unused class capacity. If you operate a gym, studio, or wellness business, this episode offers valuable insight into where the industry is heading next.
You'll learn:
- Why variety is becoming essential to fitness retention
- The behavior patterns of long-term ClassPass users
- The continued rise of Pilates and hot fitness formats
- Why recovery and wellness services are growing rapidly
- How ClassPass helps studios fill unused inventory
- What gym operators can learn from ClassPass onboarding and reviews
- The future of the ClassPass and EGYM relationship
Timestamps:
(00:00) Why JT wanted to unpack the ClassPass Industry Impact Report
(02:32) Why the report data is so significant for the industry
(05:10) The biggest takeaway: variety and discovery matter
(08:11) Why users are trying 10+ studios on average
(12:24) How ClassPass reduces onboarding friction for new exercisers
(17:42) Why Pilates and hot fitness formats are booming
(24:03) What happened to boutique cycling after the pandemic
(28:06) The rise of recovery, stretching, and wellness ecosystems
(37:01) How ClassPass helps studios monetize unused capacity
(49:48) The future of the ClassPass and EGYM partnership
Take the Next Step:
- Become an FBP Insider (7 days free)
https://fbpinsiders.fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/
- Free live online events for fitness leaders
https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/onlineevents
- Have a say in Season 7!
https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/season-7/
Our guest, Jeff Bladt:
- Website: https://classpass.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bladt/
Our Merch Sponsor:
Mountainside Fitness:
Website: https://mountainsidefitness.com/
REX Roundtables:
Website: www.REXRoundtables.com
Email: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com
Supplier's Pitch:
Alantheus Thompson, Groe Solutions
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alantheus
Company Website: https://www.groe.solutions
Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groe.solutions/
Company LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/groesolutions
Thank you to the partners who support The Fitness Business Podcast:
BeBalanced Centers: Provides natural hormone balancing for weight loss and symptom relief. https://www.bebalancedcenters.com/
Instinctive Insights: Provides profit-driven marketing and data science services to increase customer acquisition. https://www.instinctiveinsights.com/
Eleiko: Manufactures and sells premium strength and weightlifting equipment. https://eleiko.com/en-us
NetGym: Provides automated staff operations and sub-request management for fitness studios. https://www.netgym.com
EGYM: Provides smart, connected fitness technology and equipment for gyms. https://egym.com/us
About Our Guest: Jeff Bladt is Senior Vice President of Pricing and Marketplace at Playlist, the parent company of ClassPass, where he leads global marketplace strategy, pricing, and partner economics. He focuses on optimizing supply-demand dynamics, driving incremental revenue for partners, and enhancing user engagement through data-driven innovation. Bladt plays a key role in scaling ClassPass as a leading wellness marketplace, helping connect millions of users with fitness and wellness experiences worldwide.
Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!
