Exercise Programs: Top 7 Most Popular

A young woman with blondish-brown hair, blue eyes, with an intense look on her face. She is staring directly into the camera as she lifts a dumbbell with both hands as part of her exercise program. She appears to be in a large room where other people are performing the same exercise, although the other people are out of focus. She is wearing a purple leotard with a strap around the back of her neck, exposing bare shoulders and arms.

A young woman lifts a dumbbell weight with both hands as part of her exercise program. She is part of a class at a gym or fitness facility.

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It’s a brand new year, and that means New Year resolutions. Anytime you watch broadcast television, you’re going to see ads for all sorts of weight loss products and programs. Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Noom, Ro, GOLO, and Weight Watchers, just to name a few. In addition, many of us choose to get into better shape when a new year begins. With that in mind, the fitness experts at SET FOR SET compiled search results for exercise programs.

The Search For America’s Most Popular Exercise Programs

Just because someone searches for an exercise program online doesn’t mean they’ll enroll. However, it does reveal which types of exercise programs appeal to more Americans. Some people begin working out to lose weight. Then others are looking to build core strength. Moreover, some are looking to improve flexibility and overall fitness.

SET FOR SET includes 27 different types of exercise programs in their study. Everything from dance classes to cross training programs. All of these programs were then combined with terms like “classes near me,” “exercise class,” “fitness class,” or “club near me.”

Here Are The Classes With The Fewest Online Searches

Their findings are quite interesting. It appears that more people are searching for different types of movement classes. On the other hand, building big muscles and getting “ripped” don’t seem as popular. At least when it comes to online searches. In fact, the five exercise programs with the fewest average searches per month are cross training, power lifting, circuit training, Orangetheory, and water aerobics. Note that weight training and strength training are also in the bottom 10.

As you can see when you scroll down, Americans are searching more for low impact exercise classes. As a matter of fact, the most popular programs not only improve flexibility and overall fitness, many also provide mental health benefits.

So here are the seven most popular exercise programs in the U.S.A. according to SET FOR SET.

7) Barre

Three women and one man performing an exercise in a barre class. They each have a silver, air-filled rubber ball placed between their knees. They are standing on their tip-toes while holding on to the barre. They are looking at themselves in a large wall mirror in the fitness classroom.

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Three women and one man performing an exercise in a barre class while looking into a large wall mirror. They are each holding a silver ball between their knees as they stand on their tip-toes.

This is the first of the dance, or movement, type classes in our countdown that folks are looking into. Barre uses the ballet barre for exercise movements, many of which are taken from ballet dancing. In fact, according to Wikipedia.org, it was created by a ballerina named "Lotte Berk in London in 1959." I didn't know it had been around so long, but barre exercise classes have certainly increased in popularity the past few years. This type of class averages over 60,000 online searches per month to claim seventh place.

6) Pilates

A group of five people, dressed in various gray and black t-shirts and leotards. They are each laying on a gray mat on a wooden exercise floor during a Pilates class. They are each performing the boat pose.

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A group of five people in a Pilates class performing the boat pose.

Created by a German exercise guru named Joseph Pilates in the early 1900's, Pilates is now practiced by over 12 million people around the world according to Wikipedia.org. The benefits of Pilates is that it improves overall strength and flexibility. So, if you're searching for more of a cardio workout, Pilates would not be your top choice. However, many claim it does have mental health benefits as well as physical benefits. Pilates classes average over 130,000 online searches each month.

5) Zumba

Three young women in their 20's lined up in front, and two young men in their 20's lined up in back performing modern dance moves during a Zumba fitness class. They are each wearing colorful outfits, while exercising in a large brick-walled studio. Large open windows on the left hand side of the room are left open to let air in.

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Group of young people performing modern dance moves in a brick-walled studio during a Zumba fitness class.

Here's another dance movement class that has become very popular all around the world. The Zumba exercise program was created early this century by Colombian dancer and choreographer Beto Perez, per Wikipedia.org. If you love to dance, this could be your favorite exercise program. It involves plenty of Latin-inspired dance moves. Salsa, reggaeton, merengue, and cumbia dance moves are all part of the program. Zumba averages over 140,000 online searches per month.

4) Spin

Close-up photo of one row of young people exercising in a spin class. The man in the foreground, and two women in the background, are leaning forward onto the handlebars of their spin bikes.

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Three young people, a man and two women, leaning forward onto the handlebars of their bikes while exercising during a spin class.

Pedal your tail off and you actually go nowhere! But you do get a great workout in. Spin classes are basically indoor cycling classes. They've become more popular over the past couple of decades. You use a stationary bicycle and train for endurance and leg strength. Your instructor will attempt to get you to experience an outdoor bike ride through various types of terrain. You'll even do sprints and hill climbs. Spin classes receive an average of over 200,000 online searches per month.

3) Boxing

A young woman with black hair is getting ready to punch a heavy bag during a boxing class. She is wearing a navy blue sleeveless top and pink boxing gloves. There is a man in the background also punching a heavy bag. Right behind the young woman is a male instructor communicating instructions to her verbally.

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A young woman getting ready to throw a punch at a heavy bag during boxing class with a male instructor.

Obviously, nobody really wants to get hit in the face, chest, or stomach during an exercise routine. So the fact that boxing ranks third in this countdown may surprise you. However, most boxing classes do not involve sparring against another boxer. Instead, boxing classes incorporate punching heavy bags or speed bags using specific boxing footwork. It ends up being an incredible cardiovascular workout routine. I've tried it at home on a heavy bag and it really got my heart rate up. Lots of folks are doing online searches for boxing classes, averaging over 260,000 each month.

2) Yoga

A group of women performing the dove pose during an indoor yoga class. They are all on yoga mats. There are 4 women lined up in a row, with three of the women in their 20's or 30's, and the fourth lady in the far background with gray hair who may be a senior citizen. The yoga studio has white walls behind the women and a gray floor. The women are wearing different colored yoga pants and either sleeveless shirts or t-shirts.

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A group of women taking a yoga class while performing the dove pose on their yoga mats in an indoor exercise studio.

Ah yes, yoga. The mind and body exercise routines developed in ancient India, now practiced all over the world. Traditional yoga was developed as more of a meditation and spiritual exercise routine. Modern yoga incorporates physical fitness routines aimed at improving posture and strength in your core muscle groups. My wife has taken yoga classes and she says it is some of the best exercise she ever gets. I even know of many professional ice hockey players who have become involved in yoga exercise routines in order to improve their flexibility and core strength. Yoga classes average over 450,000 online searches each month.

1) Dance

A group of 7 to 10 young women in their 20's or 30's performing dance moves during a dance fitness class in an indoor exercise studio. They are each wearing sweat pants or yoga pants, with brightly colored sleeveless shirts. The studio has a light brown or tan wood floor and white walls behind the women.

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A group of smiling women performing dance moves during a dance fitness class in an indoor exercise studio.

There are so many different varieties of dance classes you can enroll in, it's no wonder dance takes the top spot in this countdown, averaging over 660,000 online searches per month. I just did an online search to find out the different types of dance classes being offered nowadays. The variety is mind-boggling. There's cardio dance, mind and body flow, hip hop abs, Jazzercise, ballroom dancing, sensual dance, plus a couple already mentioned in this countdown like barre ballet and Zumba. All dance classes will offer a great cardio workout. Plus, they'll also improve your flexibility, balance, and coordination. Not to mention the additional mental health benefits by being in these very sociable classes. Go for it!

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Larry MartinoEditor

Larry Martino has been the afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ since 2007. He is also Music Director and Assistant Program Director. He’s been a professional radio broadcaster since 1980, serving as on-air talent, Program Director, and Music Director during his career. As a content creator for 96.3 KKLZ, Larry specializes in writing articles about music, recording artists, movies, food/restaurants, and hockey.

Shape Up With One Of The Top 7 Most Popular Exercise Programs

It’s a brand new year, and that means New Year resolutions. Anytime you watch broadcast television, you’re going to see ads for all sorts of weight loss products and programs….

Larry Martino