What 10,000 Fitness Consumers Want From Your Gym: Les Mills Reports on Strength Training Confidence Gaps, Onboarding Importance, and Gym Culture & "Vibe" (S6 E5)

What 10,000 Fitness Consumers Want From Your Gym: Les Mills Reports on Strength Training Confidence Gaps, Onboarding Importance, and Gym Culture & "Vibe" (S6 E5)

Author: Justin Tamsett | Fitness Business Leader July 9, 2026 Duration: 28:44

Strength training has never been more popular, yet millions of people still feel unsure about where to begin. In this episode of the Fitness Business Podcast, JT sits down with Ryan Hogan to unpack the findings from the latest Les Mills Global Fitness Report. Drawing on feedback from 10,000 fitness consumers worldwide, Ryan shares what gym owners need to know about the growing strength training confidence gap, the importance of onboarding, the role of club culture and "vibe," and why human connection may be the industry's greatest competitive advantage in an increasingly digital world.

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- Les Mills Report: https://www.patreon.com/FitnessBusinessPodcast/posts/les-mills-2026-161197132

Timestamps
(00:00) What 10,000 fitness consumers told us
(04:26) The three biggest trends gym owners need to know
(05:38) Why members are intimidated by strength training
(08:21) The onboarding gap costing gyms members
(11:05) What creates a great gym vibe?
(13:45) Why group fitness spaces need to evolve
(16:06) Mental health is changing the fitness industry
(17:49) Why exercise feels like a chore
(20:14) The motivation business mindset
(21:42) The one investment every gym should make
(24:12) Les Mills x HYROX explained

Our guest, Ryan Hogan:
- Website: https://www.lesmills.com.au/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanedwardhogan/ 

REX Roundtables:
- Website: www.REXRoundtables.com
- Email: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com

Thank you to the partners who support The Fitness Business Podcast:
- ABC Fitness Solutions: Simplifies operations, amplifies marketing and sales efforts, and enables a dynamic member experience. https://abcfitness.com/
- Lionel University: Provides online degree and certificate programs in Exercise Science and fitness education. https://www.lionel.edu/
- Atlantis Strength: Designs and manufactures professional strength equipment for gyms and athletes. https://atlantisstrength.com/
- HireBob AI: Provides AI employees for fitness businesses for sales, support, and retention. https://hirebob.ai/

About Our Guest: Ryan Hogan is the CEO of Les Mills Asia Pacific and a senior and strategic executive with a proven background leading businesses in the global fitness industry. Ryan is recognised as an experienced leader who specialises in driving organisational culture, change management, strategy.

Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!


Running a fitness facility means balancing a dozen spinning plates at once, from member happiness to keeping your team engaged and the bottom line healthy. While plenty of conversations in the industry fixate on getting new leads in the door, Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit digs into what happens after they join. Host Justin Tamsett, known widely as JT, operates from a core belief: sustainable growth isn't just about marketing, but about mastering the human elements of leadership and creating a business people don't want to leave-neither your members nor your staff. In each episode, you'll hear JT's straightforward, actionable advice drawn from his deep experience as a global fitness business leader. The discussions move beyond theory to tackle the real operational challenges gym owners and managers face daily, focusing on practical strategies to improve member retention, foster a loyal company culture, and implement innovations that drive genuine profit. This isn't a surface-level chat; it's a dedicated resource for those ready to build a more resilient and impactful fitness business. If you're tired of the constant churn and seeking a smarter path to long-term success, this podcast offers the grounded perspective and leadership insights often missing from the conversation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Fitness Business Podcast: Leadership, Innovation, and Profit
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