Fitness & Training

WASHINGTON – – November 06, 2026 -- Home lifters can now pre-order the MERACH P16, an all-in-one strength system that switches between a vertical and a 7-degree angled Smith rail and fits into roughly 38 square feet. The machine is expected to launch on November 16, 2026.

The P16 combines a power rack, dual cable system, pull-up station and landmine attachment. MERACH built it around an angled Smith rail, a feature more commonly found in commercial gyms. The two settings give users guided movement paths for squats, presses and rows, while the rack also supports free-weight lifting.

MERACH CEO Robert Luo said users can train on the Smith rail or use the rack for free weights, then move to cable work "without needing a room full of separate machines."

Jurupa Valley – November 06, 2026 -- Crunch Fitness members in Jurupa Valley, California, now have a $5 million, 40,000-square-foot gym at 8032 Limonite Ave. Crunch North Riverside has moved into a new Crunch 3.0 club just down the street from its original location.

The new club sits in the Jurupa Valley Spectrum Shopping Center

The gym is open in the shopping center near Limonite Avenue and Clay Street. Fitness Ventures LLC, the largest Crunch Fitness franchisee in the U.S., operates it. The move gives members more space, more equipment and the full Crunch 3.0 experience.

Fitness Ventures took over North Riverside in May 2026

The takeover was part of the company's acquisition of 22 Harman Fitness clubs, one of the largest deals in the Crunch system. Fitness Ventures announced the new club in June and moved North Riverside members over in late October. It held a pre-opening party on October 29.

OREM, Utah – November 05, 2026 -- Bucked Up is releasing two Limited Edition winter flavors, Winter Razz and Frosted Cranberry, across all five of its pre-workout formulas. They are available at buckedup.com and select fitness retailers while supplies last.

That makes ten Limited Edition products on a caffeine ladder running from 200mg to 400mg. The company says the formulas themselves have not changed.

Two flavors, two profiles

Winter Razz is a raspberry-grape blend. Raspberry comes first and grape closes it out, sweet and bright without turning syrupy, according to the brand. Frosted Cranberry pairs tart cranberry with lychee for a crisp, lightly floral finish. Both mix in cold water, and the packaging carries snow, frost and icicle-antler artwork.

Every caffeine level gets a winter option

Seasonal flavors usually land on a single product. This release covers the full lineup:

Summerville – November 05, 2026 -- Shoppers who want supplements verified by an independent body now have more than 60 Thorne products to choose from that carry NSF Certified for Sport status, including the newly certified Protein Optimizer and Vitamin B12.

Thorne describes the lineup as one of the largest in the industry.

The certification covers testing, audits and ongoing monitoring

NSF Certified for Sport combines independent product testing, formulation and label review, manufacturing facility audits and ongoing monitoring. The program helps verify that product contents match label claims. It also checks for unsafe levels of contaminants and tests finished product lots for substances banned by major athletic organizations.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – October 29, 2026 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – October 29, 2026 – The health and fitness industry is abuzz with innovation and growth, and at the forefront are trends that are reshaping how people exercise and prioritize their wellbeing. These trends not only reflect the evolving needs of consumers but also the industry's commitment to providing cutting-edge fitness solutions.

The Strength Training Boom

Strength training is experiencing a surge in popularity, with participation rates increasing by 15% in the past year alone. This trend is driven by a growing awareness of the benefits of strength training, which include increased muscle mass, improved bone density, and enhanced metabolic health.

Health club operators are responding to this demand by expanding their strength training offerings, incorporating innovative equipment and personalized programs to cater to a diverse range of fitness goals.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – October 29, 2026 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – October 29, 2026 – The health and fitness industry is experiencing a period of growth and innovation, with new trends emerging that are changing the way people exercise and prioritize their wellbeing.

The Rise of Brain Training

As the global population ages, healthspan and longevity are becoming increasingly important to consumers. This has led to a rise in brain training offerings, with facilities like Sparkd Fitness in Singapore pioneering brain-body fitness solutions.

Sparkd's multi-component training modality includes cardiovascular and strength training, coordination and motor-skill training, and cognitive motor training or dual-task training. This type of training, which involves doing two things at once, has been shown to increase neuroplasticity and improve brain health.

Female Empowerment Through Fitness

Boston – October 06, 2026 -- Life Time has announced plans to open a 45,000-square-foot athletic club and wellness destination inside Commonwealth Pier in Boston's Seaport District, with a target opening in late 2027.

The club will be Life Time's eighth location in Greater Boston since 2015

Life Time entered the Boston market with Life Time Westwood in 2015 and now operates clubs in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Framingham, Medford and Peabody, along with The Prudential Center location that opened in October 2025. Commonwealth Pier will mark the company's first waterfront club in the region.

The space will overlook Boston Harbor with 40-foot ceilings

The destination will feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows and panoramic harbor views. Planned amenities include boutique studio fitness formats, personal training, a co-ed rejuvenation wet suite with sauna and thermal experiences, recovery-focused spaces, and a LifeCafe and bar.

Horseshoe Bay, Texas – October 05, 2026 -- Horseshoe Bay Resort has announced its 2026 holiday season, "Big & Bright: A Hill Country Holiday," running Nov. 28 through New Year's Eve, with rates starting at $274 per night for resort guests and Club members.

Santa kicks off the season with a 50-foot tree lighting on Nov. 28.

On Nov. 29, families can ride the Jingle Bell Express to the "North Pole," complete with a hot cocoa station, dance performances by Pulse Dance Project, Santa visits and a holiday breakfast buffet.

Dallas – October 05, 2026 -- Urban Air Adventure Park is giving every family a free unlimited play pass worth up to $49 through its KidHub app, timed to National Adventure Day on Oct. 9.

Families must download the free KidHub app to claim a pass

Starting now, anyone who downloads and registers for KidHub, Unleashed Brands' free family activity app, by 11:59 p.m. local time on Oct. 9 will receive one unlimited play pass to a participating Urban Air park. Existing KidHub users also qualify automatically. The passes are limited to one per account, and anyone planning to visit on Oct. 9 itself is advised to download the app at least an hour in advance so the ticket has time to process.

Tampa – October 02, 2026 -- CR Fitness Holdings will give away two free 30-minute personal training sessions to each of its more than 1 million members on Saturday, October 10th, totaling 2 million complimentary sessions across its 99 Crunch Fitness clubs.

The one-day event spans five states

Dubbed TRAINing Day, the promotion covers clubs in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. All three CR Fitness Holdings entities -- CR Fitness Holdings LLC, Southwest Fitness Holdings LLC, and Blue Ridge Fitness Holdings LLC -- are participating.

Members get a second session after completing the first

Members who complete their first complimentary personal training session on October 10th automatically receive a second session at no cost. Sessions may cover strength training, functional fitness, mobility, nutrition, or recovery, led by certified Crunch trainers.