In Los Angeles, with the city’s pervasive culture of movement and fitness, it’s common for people to have work meetings while on a hike or socialize with friends in a spin class. This exercise community’s purpose goes beyond the realm of physical health: It’s rooted in a desire for connection and belonging. While this has always been central to L.A.’s outdoor lifestyle, it’s a trend that has begun to spread to other cities around the world as fitness and wellness permeate popular culture and become part of the everyday norm.

In major hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, New York and Los Angeles, studios and gyms are embracing their role as “third places.” This concept, which was first introduced in 1989 by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place, refers to a space between our home and our workplace that bears markers of familiarity and belonging. This can be a fitness studio, coffee shop, library, community centre or park—anything that can be affectionately described as a “happy place.” Third places are geared toward bringing people from diverse backgrounds together, often uniting them through a shared activity.

Beyond society’s current focus on health and longevity, the idea of the fitness space as a third place has been reinforced by a conscious shift away from alcohol. The two drinks-per-week recommendation in Canada’s latest alcohol-consumption guidelines has pushed many to reconsider their social activities and the habits that come with them. Pilates classes, group circuits and shared workout sessions have become the de facto hangout for many in lieu of after-work cinq-à-sept or dinner and drinks.

The popularity of fitness meetups has also increased in part due to a higher number of people working remotely on a regular basis. Because while this flexibility has many benefits, it strips us of organic opportunities to connect with others in the office environment. A quick chat with the boss over morning coffee, lunch with a team member, asking a colleague for their opinion—these tiny interactions unconsciously feed our sense of belonging. The loss of these moments has given rise to a need for connection and growth in other settings, making third places more important than ever.

During my latest trip to L.A., as I tested out the programming at several studios, I couldn’t help but notice that many of the third places here share certain hallmarks. They’re often diverse and welcoming, having moved away from the exclusionary practices previously associated with certain fitness modalities. They’ve developed a culture that is centred on joy and energy and leans into the cathartic quality of movement practices. And while some still embrace both competition and goal-setting, they’ve generally moved away from isolating individualized practices. The trainers and teachers are focused on creating programs that embrace holistic approaches that encompass both the body and the mind. Most of these studios have also moved away from a traditional membership structure. They’ve committed to welcoming people who, like me, might be joining a friend or looking to explore a particular fitness community while travelling. Beyond offering flexibility, this also means that these spaces have committed to providing an experience that will keep people coming back.

Val Desjardins

I’m the owner of my own space, The Studio, in Montreal, and I’ve seen it become the third place for so many of my community members for all the same reasons. While the quality of the programming and training is what originally drew them in, their attachment is rooted in the ease and comfort they feel here. They have conversations with other class-goers about their children, careers and spouses. They also understand that regardless of their level of experience, they’ll always be treated with the same respect and dedication as everyone else.

Much like our homes, the spaces and communities we choose to inhabit are reflections of our desires and aspirations. As a leader in the Canadian health and fitness industry, I believe that we have a responsibility to never lose sight of that and to foster experiences that make individuals feel seen, included and challenged to grow.

WHERE TO FIND YOUR THIRD PLACE WHILE ON THE GO

Rise Nation (New York)
All the classes at Rise Nation are done on a VersaClimber climbing machine. The movement pattern that’s proprietary to this equipment engages all the major muscle groups, making it an ideal low-impact full-body workout.

Anatomy Fitness (Miami)
Workouts at Anatomy Fitness are a combination of elements from both sports performance and functional training. Co-founded by retired Canadian football player Marc Megna, this studio focuses on the science of strength and conditioning as well as creating an intimate wellness community that welcomes people of all fitness goals and profiles.

Yoga Joint (Miami)
One of the workouts Yoga Joint offers in-studio is a vinyasa-inspired hot flow class that’s designed to cater to all levels. It includes several foundational movements that can be dialed up to reach a desired intensity and align with individual goals.

The Class (Los Angeles)
The Class can best be described as a movement practice that combines strength, cardio and guided meditation. Mindfulness techniques are folded into the coaching, creating a cathartic workout focused on releasing energy and emotion.

Open (Los Angeles)
Open blends elements of mindfulness, breath work and functional strength training to create an all-encompassing holistic fitness experience.

Camp (Los Angeles)
Camp combines various modalities on one “campus,” offering yoga, group circuit sessions and mat-based sculpt classes. The combination of different practices under one roof allows for the cross-pollination of different communities and encourages Campers to try new workouts.

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