Axios Chicago

Three years since the pandemic started upending our daily routines, Chicagoans are turning gyms into the new watercoolers.

Why it matters: As working from home has become the new normal, gyms have morphed into places not just for exercise, but also for screen-free socializing.

Driving the news: The annual Mindbody and ClassPass Wellness Index ranked the Windy City fifth-highest in terms of health and wellness nationwide.

• Mindbody, a popular fitness booking platform and ClassPass' parent company, surveyed more than 17,000 adults in the 50 most-populous U.S. cities to determine the rankings.

Zoom in: The survey found Chicago residents are focusing on mental health and wellness — not just physical health — and improving their relationships.

• Three-quarters (76%) of Chicago residents prioritize exercising at least once a week, according to the MindBody survey.
• Building strong relationships matters a lot to Chicagoans, who ranked third in the country for having close relationships with their loved ones, according to the survey. And they're bringing that mentality to the gym.

What they're seeing: Erik Marthaler, owner of Lateral Fitness, told Axios he has seen people at his gym spend time with their friends, partners and spouses, especially as more people have been working from home.

• "I don't think people really realized — especially the ones that haven't gone back to the office — how much the social aspect plays a part in mental health and wellness and the happiness in their lives," he said.
• He added that people increasingly are signing up to work with personal trainers, giving them an opportunity for more one-on-one conversations.

Zoom out: The Chicago findings speak to a trend nationwide, where there's been a shift in how people view working out, according to Mindbody's survey.

• Nearly 25% of people nationwide said they focus on their wellness to stay connected with others.
• More than one-third of survey respondents said they were more likely to pick a spa or fitness studio if it's known for creating social connections.
• For example, Chicago's Strong Hands Gym bills itself as the city's first LGBTQ-friendly training facility.
• Studio Three — which has multiple Chicago locations — offers group exercise classes and encourages newcomers to meet people and build a community.

The bottom line: Every Michael Jordan needs a Scottie Pippen.

Looking to hit the gym or fitness center? Here's some info to get you started, courtesy of the Best of ClassPass Awards.

• The most-popular studio designations were based on a combination of user nominations and reservations on the ClassPass app, according to Mindbody.
• The most popular workouts were determined by ClassPass booking data.

Most popular workouts:

• Strength training
• Yoga
• Pilates

Popular studios:

• Studio Three fitness studios focus on yoga, cycling, strength training and more.
• There are locations in Lincoln Park, Fulton Market and River North.

Popular wellness businesses:

• Blueberry Moon Salon Spa is a boutique salon spa offering services for style and wellness.
• Mitazi Salon offers nail, waxing and airbrush, as well as tanning options.
• 7am Nail Care is a non-toxic nail salon.

Popular instructors:

• Erin Corcoran of Studio Lagree, which offers classes for its own Lagree Fitness Method.
• Laken Browning of Studio Three.
• Alyx Steltz of Ritual Hot Yoga, which offers fast-paced hot yoga. Prices vary depending on membership.

Wellness is increasingly a priority for consumers, according to the latest research from consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Axios' Sami Sparber reports.

The big picture: Estimated spending on wellness products and services is more than $450 billion in the United States and rising at more than 5% annually, McKinsey found.

• Digestive or gut health, women's health and sexual health are among the areas driving more of that spending and purchasing power, Anna Pione, a partner at McKinsey, tells Axios.

Between the lines: Millennials are the key group to watch. They prioritize health and wellness more than any other generation, Pione says.

Reality check: Health products like supplements fall under the purview of the Federal Trade Commission, meaning they are not regulated the same way as prescription medication, which is managed by the Food and Drug Administration.

What's next: Consumers want more offerings to fully meet their needs, particularly for sleep and mindfulness, which includes therapy and meditation, per the research.

• "In both of those categories there's a lot of evolution in terms of what is being brought to the table," from sleep-tracking apps to direct-to-consumer mental health services, Pione says.

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