As Americans embrace fitness resolutions each new year, the blend of exercise and spirituality is increasingly prevalent in modern workout culture. Fitness programs like SoulCycle and CrossFit are not just physical routines but offer something akin to a religious experience, fostering community, ritual, and even personal transcendence.
Historically, fitness has often been linked to spiritual discipline. From ancient Indian mystics to medieval Christian ascetics, the body has long been viewed as both a temple and a challenge to the soul. In the 20th century, movements like “muscular Christianity” and the YMCA merged physical fitness with Christian values, reinforcing the idea that a healthy body signifies a virtuous soul.
Today’s fitness trends, such as Peloton and boutique studios, continue this tradition, infusing workouts with religious language, ritual, and a sense of purpose. Instructors deliver sermon-like messages, workouts follow structured arcs of intensity and catharsis, and communities form around shared physical and spiritual goals.
The commercial fitness industry has capitalized on this intersection of body and soul, responding to modern secular desires for ritual and fulfillment. As traditional religious participation declines, fitness has emerged as a space where people seek spiritual connection—now available for purchase at the nearest studio.
Source: The Conversation
