In the American College of Sports Medicine’s 20th annual Worldwide Fitness Trends forecast, strength training ranked as one of the top trends for 2026. This recent rise has led many to believe that cardio programming is on the decline.
However, cardio offerings across community recreation are actually evolving due to changes in member interest.
For example, Ruben Mejia, the EVP of SportsArt Americas, said his company is seeing a significant shift in how communities define and engage with cardio.
“Programming is diversifying,” said Mejia. “While traditional cardio and strength training still anchor most routines, we’re seeing growth in cross-training, yoga, Pilates and hybrid formats that blend multiple modalities. This reflects a broader shift toward variety and personalization in fitness experiences.”
Despite this evolution, Mejia said community rec centers have an opportunity to position themselves as true health and wellness hubs by offering a holistic experience through integrating technology, programming variety and inclusive design to meet the diverse needs of their members.
“The facilities that succeed will be the ones that continuously evolve by adapting to trends, investing in their spaces and creating environments that deliver both value and experience,” said Mejia. “Fitness is no longer one-size-fits-all and the operators who embrace that reality will be best positioned for long-term success.
Immersive, Dynamic Environments
One trend in this evolution in cardio is what Mejia said is the need for immersive, engaging settings, particularly in spaces like cycle studios.
“It’s also important to think of the facility as a dynamic environment rather than a fixed layout,” said Mejia. “For example, spaces like cycle studios should evolve alongside member expectations, whether that means upgrading technology, enhancing the instructor experience or reimagining how the space is used.”
This is also reflected at the Minnesota JCC where Marisa Cate, the general manager of health and wellness, said members are looking for flexibility in how they engage with cardio.
“They’re expecting a mix of in-person, on-demand and event/one-time offerings,” said Cate. “At the same time, cardio is no longer siloed: it’s increasingly blended with strength and functional training through formats like HIIT workouts. We’re also seeing strong growth in community-based cardio with group cycling and circuit-style training programs gaining popularity because they foster accountability and connection.”
Cate said the need for connection is why cardio is being tied to mental health, recovery and long-term longevity rather than just calorie burn.
Elsewhere at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, David Kirsch, the VP of operations, said his team is enhancing flexibility by creating areas that feel permanent but aren’t.
“Spaces must be able to evolve as trends and community needs evolve,” said Kirsch. “A former studio may become a space for active older adults in the morning and karate in the evening. If you have outdoor space that can be fenced in or utilized adjacent to your building, look at outdoor wellness opportunities. It’s far less expensive than adding onto a building while still helping pull people from the wellness floor and creating additional capacity.”
Most-Used Equipment
Kirsch said at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee treadmills are still king, but the equipment the Y is continuing to add the most of are more stepmills.
“We’ve also seen significant growth in the number of people using self-powered cardio equipment like rowers, SkiErgs and AirBikes while mixing in strength movements between intervals,” said Kirsch. “That trend has grown enough that we’ve intentionally created spaces within many of our facilities specifically to support it.”
That passion for treadmills, stepmills and rowers is shared at the Minnesota JCC. However, Cate said these pieces of equipment are being used differently than in the past — less for steady-state workouts and more for interval training and coached sessions that provide structure and variety.
“Our hybrid training zones are gaining momentum, offering spaces where members can combine sled pushes, rowers, bikes and bodyweight exercises into dynamic, circuit-style workouts,” explained Cate.
Challenges to Overcome
Despite the evolutions in cardio programming, roadblocks still exist for industry leaders. Kirsch said the biggest of which is adequate space. While balancing costs with revenue is always a challenge, it pales in comparison if you can’t find space to host programming or equipment.
“We continue to convert available space for wellness or wellness-adjacent programming, when possible,” said Kirsch. “The competing challenge is programming also needs space to operate and balancing how you create space within your walls between equipment, recovery, functional training and more is a constant tug-of-war. Most organizations aren’t choosing between good and bad options anymore. They’re choosing between competing good uses of the same limited space.”
For Minnesota JCC, Cate said the center is facing the challenge of underutilized cardio floors as member preferences continue to shift toward strength training, prompting a need to rethink how space is allocated.
“At the same time, keeping up with rapidly evolving technology has become difficult,” said Cate. “While we continue to invest in more sophisticated and expensive equipment, we’re finding our members may not be ready to fully leverage the data, apps and integrations that come with it. Layered on top of this are significant capital costs, with smart cardio equipment requiring substantial upfront investment and frequent upgrades to stay current.”
Those tough investment decisions is a challenge Meija is seeing at centers as well. He noted center leaders are trying to navigate where to allocate resources between cardio, strength, boutique-style spaces and technology while working within tight budgets.
“Equipment maintenance is also a critical concern,” added Meija. “Ensuring safety, reliability, and uptime requires careful planning and budgeting. Operators must implement both proactive and reactive maintenance strategies to protect their members and their reputation.”
Lasting Advice for Cardio Success
Meija said the most effective operators are those who stay closely connected to both their data and their community.
“Monitoring usage trends, listening to member feedback and staying informed on industry developments allows teams to make smarter, more strategic decisions,” said Meija. “Investing in high-quality, durable equipment and implementing preventative maintenance programs can significantly reduce long-term costs and disruptions. Following manufacturer guidelines, scheduling regular inspections and addressing issues early helps ensure both safety and performance.”
While upkeep is important, Cate advised leaders to view cardio through the lens of creating the best possible member experience instead of hyperfocused on equipment .
“Success starts with putting programming ahead of equipment,” explained Cate. “Rather than simply adding new machines, it’s more effective to build thoughtful, approachable programs like guided cardio circuits or heart rate–based training that help members feel confident and supported. Simplifying the overall offering with clear, progressive pathways helps reduces confusion and builds confidence, allowing members to move comfortably from beginner to more advanced levels at their own pace.”
The power of connection is also echoed by Kirsch. He urges the industry to reject the notion of, “cardio is dead” as his Y is seeing equipment usage spread evenly across wellness floors with visitors thriving in the company of others.
“At the end of the day, people want to and need to be around others,” said Kirsch. “Digital wellness is additive to the wellness experience, not a replacement for it. We continue to see growth in our Group X offerings while also seeing daily and unique wellness usage grow beyond anything we’ve seen before. We’re seeing the pendulum swing back as communities want more connection and guided wellness experiences again.”
