Every year, gyms throw on costumes, snap a group photo, and call it festive.
It’s fine, but it doesn’t hit.

Holiday content only works when it feels real. Not staged. Not forced. Just your community having fun their own way.

When your staff and members are actually laughing or getting into the spirit, people can feel that energy through the screen. That’s what makes it worth watching and sharing.

How to Nail Holiday and Themed Content

Your themed posts shouldn’t look like a different version of your brand. They should feel like you, just in costume.

Keep it simple. Have fun with your people. Capture real moments that show your community being itself.

That’s exactly what these gyms got right this week.

↓ Scroll down to see what’s working right now.

Engagement: 🧠 2.7k Likes • 95 Comments • 128k Views
Format: Reel (0:12)
Source: @burnbootcampacworthga

🧠 Why It Worked:
This one was pure, simple fun. A trainer gets asked to take out the trash, only for a staff member in costume to jump out. The setup, reactions, and laughter all feel natura, it’s just people having fun at work.

💡 Try This:
Keep your holiday content light and personal. Film short pranks, reactions, or behind-the-scenes moments that make your staff and members laugh. If they’re genuinely enjoying it, your audience will too.

Engagement: 🧠 447 Likes • 19 Comments • 28.1k Views
Format: Reel (0:18)
Source: @heaths_healthandfitness

🧠 Why It Worked:
Perfect mix of commitment and creativity, members or staff training in full costume with catchy audio syncing to each lift. It’s playful but still shows effort and culture.

💡 Try This:
Themed workouts can be gold if you don’t overthink them. Pick one trending audio, film short clips throughout class, and make it fun to watch. Energy sells better than production value.

Engagement: 🧠 4.5k Likes • 192 Comments • 232k Views
Format: Reel (0:14)
Source: @otfportsmouthnh

🧠 Why It Worked:
This one nailed self-awareness. A member in costume jokingly says “when you have to keep up with social media trends.” It pokes fun at the algorithm chase. Something everyone who creates content can relate to.

💡 Try This:
Laugh at yourself once in a while. Self-aware humor always performs, especially when you’re clearly in on the joke.

We still see gyms posting staged costume group photos with captions like “Spooky Season 👻💪.” It’s fine, but it doesn’t connect.

Your audience doesn’t just want to see you in costume — they want to see you having fun with the people who make your gym what it is.

Themed content isn’t about perfection — it’s about connection. When your gym looks like a place people actually enjoy being part of, that’s what builds loyalty.

Holidays and themes are opportunities to show off your gym’s personality — not change it.

You don’t need to reinvent your content every season. You just need to capture what your community already does best: having fun together.

When your content feels effortless, organic, and true to your people, that’s when it resonates.

Keep it human. Keep it light. Keep it you.

And if you post something great this week, hit reply — I’d love to see it and maybe feature it next time.

This newsletter exists to raise the bar for gym content everywhere.

If it helped you see what’s working, it’ll help someone else too.
Share it with a gym owner who’s ready to stop guessing and start posting with purpose.

Don’t want to miss next week’s report?
Move this email to “Primary” or reply to train your inbox.