Breaking News and Important Announcements

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Latest News

AFS and ZUMBA Team Up to Grow Income and Success for ZUMBA® Instructors

OAKLAND, CA – (June 28, 2016) – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) and Zumba announced today that they will work together to provide fitness professionals who are a part of the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN™) with a range of tools and benefits to help them grow their businesses as fitness studio owners, which translates to more income and success.

“Zumba is the gold standard on how to bring A-list programming to the fitness industry,” said Josh Leve, AFS founder and CEO.

AFS Announces Educational Collaboration Agreement with Martial Arts Teachers Association

(OAKLAND, CA, June 20, 2016) – – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) announced today that it has reached an innovative education collaboration agreement with the Martial Arts Teachers Association (MATA) to promote martial arts programming best practices into the studio segment of the fitness market.

The collaboration between MATA and AFS will develop ongoing, relevant educational content for studio owners who seek enhancements to their current programming, brand differentiation, and improved revenue square foot – all achievable via MATA expertise.

JUST RELEASED! AFS 2016 Marketing Best Practices Report

After several months of planning, prepping, designing, and analyzing the data, I'm proud to announce that the AFS 2016 Fitness Studio Marketing Best Practices Research Report is here!

We surveyed hundreds of studio owners across the country - identified the successful strategies - and provide them to you, in this report. The first-ever market research of its kind for the fitness studio community! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

AFS, Nor-Cal Fitness Summit Announce Education Collaboration Agreement

(OAKLAND, CA, June 15, 2016) – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) announced today that it has reached an education collaboration agreement with the Northern California (Nor-Cal) Fitness Summit to promote best practices into the studio segment of the fitness market.

The collaboration between Nor-Cal Fitness Summit and AFS will develop ongoing, relevant educational content for studio owners on a variety of different topics highlighting operational expertise for dissemination through AFS communication vehicles.

P.E. – America's Inactivity 'Killer" - Is Getting Cheated Again

SILVER SPRING, MD – June 13, 2016 – Despite the fact there is clear evidence that physical education in schools is America’s best approach to raising active, smart, and healthy children, the state of Illinois is ignoring the evidence and allowing physical education to be cut out of schools throughout the state.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune reveals that Illinois -- once considered the model state for daily P.E. in school -- is pulling an about face and giving schools waivers on offering daily P.E. to its students. This is sending a bad lifestyle message to children in Illinois.

SportsArt Latest Fitness Supplier To Join AFS

(Oakland, CA, June 9, 2016) – The Association of Fitness Studios (AFS) today proudly announced and welcomed the addition of SportsArt to its membership and sponsorship ranks.

With over 38 years of innovative design and manufacturing excellence, SportsArt consistently seeks to advance industry standards, positioning itself as one of the most creative manufacturers of premium quality fitness, medical, performance and residential equipment.

Medical Fitness Network Founder, Lisa Dougherty, is Finalist for the White House Champion of Change

(May 26, 2016) Orange County, CA. –“Makers and builders and doers – of all ages and backgrounds – have pushed our country forward, developing creative solutions to important challenges and proving that ordinary Americans are capable of achieving the extraordinary when they have access to the resources they need” – President Obama, National Week of Making Proclamation.

It was announced today that Lisa Dougherty, founder of the Medical Fitness Network is a finalist for the White House Champion of Change for Making for the Medical Fitness Network project.

Brand New Reports Coming Soon!!!

2019 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report

The 2019 report is our most ambitious yet, including a financial breakdown of studios by region, studio type, and size to get the most accurate data possible.

Access the 2019 Report

2019 Fitness Studio Trend Report

To ensure a variety of feedback, AFS canvassed its Advisory Council, vendor partners, and leading studio and gym operators to reveal their top trends for 2019!

Access the 2019 Report

2018 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report

From coast to coast, the 2018 report canvassed the US to get the most accurate data possible. The 2018 report shows the studio market continues to thrive and become increasingly revenue efficient.

Access the 2018 Report

2018 Fitness Studio Trend Report

To ensure a variety of perspectives AFS canvassed it’s Advisory Council, Vendor Partners, and leading studio operators on trends they see growing or continuing in 2018.

Access the 2018 Trend Report

2017 Fitness Studio Operating & Financial Benchmarking Report

The 2017 Report has expanded the reach of respondents to mirror the expansion of AFS and the studio business. A full 30% of respondents to this year’s survey are from non-U.S. locations.

Access the 2017 Report

Marketing Best Practices Research Report

We surveyed hundreds of studio owners across the country, identified the successful strategies, and provide them to you in this first-ever research report!

Access the 2016 Report