Yoga studio growth trends.
AI, client behaviour and what studios need to know.
There’s a lot of noise right now about AI taking over fitness. Apps replacing teachers, digital classes killing in-studio attendance and wearables becoming the new personal trainers.
Look, some of it may be true, yes the industry is shifting fast, but the size of the industry is rapidly growing. According to this article in the pilates journal, the future looks bright.
But here’s the honest truth that most studio owners need to hear:
Yoga and Pilates are not going anywhere. But the yoga and Pilates businesses that refuse to evolve will.
This blog is your clear, unfiltered breakdown of what’s actually happening with AI, hybrid models and consumer behaviour… and what studios need to do to stay relevant, profitable and in demand.
Let’s get into it.
1. Is AI replacing yoga teachers?
No.
Absolutely not.
AI can do a lot of clever things:
build sequences
recommend classes
give mobility routines
guide breathwork
send reminders
track progress
personalise plans
But AI cannot:
read emotional cues
adjust for injuries
hold space
build community
offer spiritual guidance
understand trauma
teach subtlety
deliver energy, presence or connection
Yoga and Pilates are human practices. AI cannot replace the human.
What AI can replace is outdated studio business models.
And that is where the real shift is happening.
2. So what’s actually changing? Client behaviour.
Today’s clients:
train partly in studio and partly at home
use wearables daily
follow influencers for technique
expect personalisation
book on their phones
mix in-studio classes with YouTube or apps
want flexibility, convenience and support
stay with brands that feel modern and frictionless
This doesn’t mean they prefer online.
It means they have more options.
And they’ll choose the studio that delivers the best overall experience, not just the best class.
3. The hybrid model isn’t replacing in-studio. It’s supporting it.
Let’s clear up the biggest misconception in the fitness industry.
The hybrid model isn’t about:
turning a yoga studio into Peloton
replacing live classes with videos
creating huge on-demand libraries
running two businesses at once
The real hybrid model is simple.
It gives your students support for the days they:
are sick
are travelling
have kids home
can’t fight traffic
need a quick stretch
are stressed and want breathwork
want to maintain momentum
Hybrid keeps people connected to your studio when life gets messy.
It’s retention insurance, not a replacement for connection.
Even committed yogis miss classes.
Hybrid stops those gaps from turning into silent cancellations.
4. So how big is hybrid really?
Here’s the real data:
75% of gym goers combine in-person and at-home workouts
This doesn’t mean they want online instead of in-studio.
It means hybrid simply matches how people already train.
Digital fitness is growing at around 30% per year
But in-studio attendance for yoga and Pilates is ALSO growing strongly. This is not a zero-sum game.
Hybrid doesn’t replace your studio.
It expands your reach and deepens your retention.
The studios that integrate hybrid lightly, strategically and without overthinking it will pull ahead.
But hybrid is not the most important thing for success.
Let’s talk about what actually matters.
5. The studios that thrive in the AI era will nail 5 things
1. A modern, friction-free booking experience
This is the number one point of failure.
If your booking system is slow, clunky or confusing, clients bounce.
Your booking system is part of your brand now.
2. Strong onboarding and retention systems
Intro offers only work if:
the follow-up is personal
the nudges are timely
the journey is clear
the studio feels welcoming
Studios that don’t nurture new clients lose them fast.
3. A community that actually feels like a community
AI cannot replace belonging.
Studios win when members feel:
seen
connected
part of something
appreciated
This is your moat.
4. A brand and digital presence that looks current
If your website looks older than your teachers, clients notice.
People judge your professionalism by your digital footprint.
5. A small, supportive hybrid layer
Not a giant digital empire.
Not a second business.
Just:
10 to 20 on-demand videos
some livestream options
meditation and breathwork recordings
alignment tutorials
stretch sessions
Enough to keep people consistent when they can’t come in.
This is the modern studio model.
Minimal effort. Maximum retention.
6. The studios that will struggle are the ones who…
rely only on in-studio attendance
have a clunky booking flow
have old websites and do not embrace a mobile first approach
have weak onboarding
don’t follow up after intro offers
have no retention strategy
depend too heavily on a single star teacher
don’t offer any flexibility
aren’t active online
don’t understand their niche
don’t evolve their tech or systems
AI isn’t the threat. Consumer expectations are.
AI just accelerates the gap between modern studios and outdated ones.
7. So what should yoga and Pilates studios actually do next?
Here’s the short, strategic list, not only for studios, but for solo teachers who are looking to build their following. People need to be able to know where you’re going to be and how to book their next session with you.
1. Upgrade your digital experience
Start with booking, onboarding and your intro offer flow.
2. Strengthen community and retention
Small touches. Big results. Humans stay where they feel connected. I know this from experience, a big part of the reason I stay consistent is because I have a group of people I connect with and rain with.
3. Add a simple hybrid layer
Support your members between classes, think about an offering for when they are busy, or not at the gym.
4. Refresh your website and brand
If it feels modern, people trust you. If it feels outdated and the booking flow is clunky, they bounce.
5. Clarify your niche
Generalist studios fade. Studios that specialise win.
Final word
AI is not the enemy of yoga studios.
But staying still is.
The world is becoming more digital, not less.
But human connection is becoming more valuable, not less.
Yoga and Pilates studios that blend both worlds will thrive.
Studios that ignore digital altogether will slowly get squeezed out by more modern experiences.
You don’t need to be everywhere.
You don’t need a massive on-demand library.
You don’t need AI-generated flows, VR classes or full-time digital staff.
You just need a studio that feels:
modern
connected
supportive
easy to book
easy to stay with
easy to love
That’s the future.
And it’s absolutely within reach.
If you want help building the digital side of your studio so you can thrive in the AI era, that’s exactly what Crush It Digital specialises in. Let’s Chat.
Sources:
Pilates and Yoga Studios in Australia - Market Research Report (2015-2030)
