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Cult uncovers India’s 2025 fitness rhythm: Flexibility rules
BENGALURU: Forget Monday motivation – in 2025, it was Tuesdays that ruled the gym floor. According to cult’s data from around 1 million users, fitness in India became less about fixed schedules and more about fitting workouts around life.
Contrary to popular belief, Mondays weren’t the busiest day. Instead, gyms and studios buzzed on Tuesdays, especially between 6 pm and 8 pm. Group sessions such as dance and strength training gained traction, while machine-led workouts remained popular.
Flexibility proved key. Users with adaptable schedules completed more workouts over the year than those sticking to fixed slots, showing that fitting exercise around life beats forcing life around exercise. About 37 per cent of members consistently worked out three to four times a week, highlighting that steady commitment trumped occasional intensity.
Working out with a buddy also became a winning formula. Attendance jumped 26 per cent when members trained together, proving that fitness is more fun and more sustainable, when shared.
Different generations moved in their own ways. Gen Z kept it simple with gym workouts, Millennials split time between the gym and group classes, while Gen X gravitated towards structured, instructor-led sessions such as Dance Fitness and HRX strength training. Women made up 52 per cent of group class members, embracing formats that offered community energy and camaraderie. Overall, group exercise accounted for over 30 per cent of all workouts in 2025. Interestingly, members over 30 completed 10 per cent more sessions than younger users, challenging the idea that fitness peaks in your twenties.
Workout timings were split almost evenly between mornings (48.7 per cent) and evenings (51.3 per cent). The busiest windows were 7–9 am and 6–8 pm, showing how Indians are syncing fitness with work-life rhythms. While younger users often postponed workouts until after office hours, Gen X were already ticking off their sessions before the day even began.
Regionally, the NCR led in consistency, followed closely by Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Gym workouts showed the highest repeat rates, while badminton and swimming were particularly popular in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Gurgaon. Impressively, 15 members worked out every single day of the year without missing a session, and the oldest active member at 55 still completed over 100 classes, proving that age is just a number when it comes to staying in motion.
In short, 2025 was the year India found its own rhythm – flexible, social, and tuned to life’s beats.
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ITC Sunfeast Farmlite launches Sugar Free Cookies range
New variants offer guilt-free indulgence for health-conscious snackers.
MUMBAI: ITC Sunfeast Farmlite is sweetening the deal for biscuit lovers who want to have their cookie and eat it too without the sugar. The better-for-you biscuits range from ITC Foods has expanded its portfolio with the launch of an all-new Sugar Free Cookies line, aligning with the company’s vision of ‘Help India Eat Better’. The range is designed for consumers who are rethinking sugar in their daily snacking but refuse to compromise on taste and indulgence.
The collection debuts with two tempting variants: Choco Nut Cookies and Hazelnut & Oats Cookies. Both are a source of protein and contain no trans-fat, while the Hazelnut & Oats variant is also lactose-free.
ITC Ltd. vice president (marketing), biscuits, foods division, Suraj Kathuria said, “At Sunfeast Farmlite, we believe mindful snacking should never come at the cost of indulgence. With this launch, we are catering to the growing need for guilt-free snacking while delivering a rich, satisfying cookie experience.”
ITC Ltd. vice president & head of food sciences for foods division Dr Shantanu Das added, “We have applied robust food science to develop cookies that are sugar-free while preserving the taste and texture consumers love.”
Each cookie comes in convenient single-serve packs to maintain texture and freshness. Both variants are available in 100g packs priced at ₹100 and can be found on quick-commerce platforms including Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto.
In a market increasingly leaning towards healthier choices, ITC Sunfeast Farmlite’s new Sugar Free Cookies prove that cutting sugar doesn’t mean cutting joy. For the health-conscious yet indulgent snacker, this could be the perfect bite-sized solution.
