Top 5 Gym Challenges from 2025 (And Why They Worked)
In 2025, Snap Fitness clubs across the network leaned into one powerful idea: make fitness feel engaging, rewarding, and human.
Member retention doesn’t happen by accident. In 2025, Snap Fitness clubs across the network leaned into one powerful idea: make fitness feel engaging, rewarding, and human.
From simple consistency goals to community-driven events and app-powered milestones, these five gym challenges stood out not just because they were popular — but because they worked. They drove engagement, strengthened community, and reinforced why Snap Fitness continues to lead the way in member experience.
Here’s a look at the Top 5 Gym Challenges from 2025, and what franchisees can learn from them.
Note: Each gym is responsible for ensuring its challenges comply with local sweepstakes, contest, and gaming laws.
1. Consistency Is Key Monthly Challenges
Sometimes, the simplest idea is the most effective.
The Consistency Is Key challenge encouraged members to visit the gym eight times in a month. Complete the goal, and members earned an exclusive badge in the Snap App — a small reward with big psychological impact.
Each month featured a seasonal theme (like Heart Health Month in February), keeping the challenge fresh while reinforcing healthy habits. What made this challenge especially powerful was its system-wide support: Snap Fitness corporate set up the challenge in the Snap App and promoted it consistently via email, social posts, and in-club displays.
Clubs then layered on their own engagement by:
Talking about the challenge in person
Tying it into personal training programs
Publicly recognizing members who completed it
The result? Nearly 40,000 members enrolled in Consistency Is Key challenges in 2025, proving that habit-building challenges are a cornerstone of long-term retention.
Why it worked
Consistency drives confidence, and confidence keeps members coming back.
2. Next Level 6-Week Challenge
For members ready to push themselves further, the Next Level 6-Week Challenge delivered a deeper, more immersive experience.
This challenge combined:
Initial body scans and fitness testing
Personalized goal setting
Points earned through gym visits, fitness tasks, and social events
A final assessment and celebration event
Members were rewarded not just for physical changes, but for commitment and participation, with points awarded for everything from class attendance to weekend social activities.
The challenge culminated in a celebration where winners were recognized for transformations and trainer-selected achievements; reinforcing community and accountability.
Why it worked
It turned fitness into a journey, not just a workout, and positioned the gym as a place for personal growth and connection.
3. Move for Mental Health Step Challenge
This challenge tapped into something deeper than performance: how movement makes people feel.
In May, members were invited to complete 250,000 steps over the course of the month in support of Mental Health Awareness Month. Steps were tracked seamlessly by integrating Apple Health or Google Fit with the Snap App, allowing members to earn points for activity both inside and outside the gym.
The real reward wasn’t just the exclusive Snap App badge — it was the reminder that daily movement can reduce stress, improve focus, and support overall well-being.
Why it worked
It aligned perfectly with the Snap Fitness For the Feeling brand narrative, showing members that fitness isn’t just physical — it’s emotional, too.
4. 20-Session Personal Training Challenge
Personal training can be intimidating for some members. This challenge flipped that perception by making PT feel approachable, structured, and rewarding.
Members were challenged to complete 20 personal training sessions over the summer, regardless of fitness level. Trainers helped track progress, sessions could include weights, cardio, or classes, and members who hit the milestone were entered to win prizes.
Beyond the prizes, the challenge helped members build momentum, deepen trainer relationships, and stay consistent during months when motivation can dip.
Why it worked
It strengthened the trainer-member connection while increasing long-term engagement and accountability.
5. Earn Your Spin Challenge
Fitness should be fun, and this challenge leaned fully into that idea.
Members who visited the gym 12 times in a month earned a chance to spin a prize wheel with rewards like:
Free sauna sessions
Exclusive Snap Fitness swag
Account credits
Clubs were encouraged to turn prize spins into mini-events, sometimes even broadcasting them live on social media to amplify excitement and community participation.
Why it worked
It gamified gym visits and made consistency feel celebratory rather than obligatory.
What Franchisees Can Learn from These Challenges
Across all five challenges, a few themes stand out:
Consistency beats intensity when it comes to retention
Technology matters — the Snap App made tracking, badges, and participation easy
Community drives loyalty more than equipment alone
Corporate support + local execution is a powerful combination
For prospective franchisees, these challenges highlight one of Snap Fitness’ biggest advantages: you’re not building engagement from scratch. You’re joining a system designed to help members stay motivated and stay longer.
Why This Matters for Franchise Growth
Retention isn’t just good for members; it’s good for business.
Challenges like these:
Increase visit frequency
Strengthen emotional connection to the gym
Create natural moments for social sharing and referrals
Reinforce Snap Fitness as a wellness-driven, people-first brand
And with the Snap App serving as the hub for tracking, rewards, and communication, franchisees have a built-in tool to support engagement at scale.
Interested in Owning a Snap Fitness Franchise?
Member engagement strategies like these are just another part of the Snap Fitness system. If you’re looking to own a gym that’s built around connection, consistency, and long-term retention, Snap Fitness offers the tools, support, and community to help you succeed.
Learn more about owning a Snap Fitness franchise and get your free Franchise Info Kit today.