In 2025, the global Virtual Reality fitness market was estimated to be worth between $30 – $50 billion dollars and by the mid 2030’s, it is likely to be estimated to be worth up to 400 billion dollars. Big name companies like Meta, Apple, Sony, Samsung and Nike, are investing a lot of money into the field.

One 2025 study by the University of Victoria found that more people utilising VR fitness programs were exercising for longer periods of time. VR based fitness users actively worked out sessions that were an average of 34% longer and VR fitness users were also 2.2 times more likely to complete weekly physical workout requirements than users of traditional home workout equipment.

The real question is, how viable is the market and how much of an opportunity is there for VC-funded startups that are working on the future of fitness technology?

Why Virtual Fitness is Worth Watching

VR fitness is built to solve the problem of the dropout of users of home fitness programs. According to studies, traditional home workouts suffer from dropout rates of 50% within three months. Repetitive workouts become boring and are a drain on motivation.

However, exercising in VR allows fitness to be gamified and VR fitness studies have uncovered an important phenomenon: users perceive their heart rate and effort to be lower than it is and are likely to work out even harder than in traditional settings.

Can You Actually Become Fitter With VR Fitness?

There is no shortage of virtual fitness games out there and yes, you can actually become fitter through a faster heart rate and all while ‘playing a game’ that might not seem so exhaustive when compared to the gym. Active VR games can create an effective aerobic workout and burn calories on par with biking or light jogging.

These games produce real results and the research backs it up. Active VR workouts consistently produce heart rates in the aerobic zone. Game examples include Beat Saber, Supernatural, Les Mills Body Combat VR and Thrill of the Fight.

Opportunities to Expand into Mental Well-Being Through VR

VR fitness isn’t just about physical output. Immersive environments have documented effects on stress and mood, exercising in a virtual forest or on a clifftop coastline produces different psychological responses to a gym mirror.

This mental wellness dimension is opening a new product category: VR fitness platforms that blur into mindfulness apps, targeting the significant overlap between corporate wellness programmes and mental health investment.

What Are The Limitations of Virtual Fitness?

Currently the biggest weakness in VR fitness is the lack of options for strength training. The types of movements that build and maintain muscle mass, like squats and deadlifts, can’t be effectively done in VR without some added equipment. One of the few companies that have started to tackle this problem is Black Box VR, which offers gyms combining VR and cable resistance.

Startups Worth Keeping an Eye On in The VR Fitness Sector

There are a handful of innovative startups in the VR fitness industry that are worth watching in 2026 and beyond- from subscription-based fitness tools to interactive challenges that help increase stamina and even strength:

Supernatural

In 2023, Meta completed its acquisition of Supernatural and integrated the VR fitness platform into the expanding Meta Quest ecosystem. The service offers users daily workouts set in immersive real-world locations, enhanced by licensed music and guided instruction.

As a subscription-based platform, Supernatural has consistently demonstrated some of the strongest retention rates in the consumer VR market, highlighting the viability of the VR fitness subscription model. In 2026, Meta announced that Supernatural would be spun off into a new independent company, Supernatural Health, led by the platform’s original founders. Supernatural Health is expected to relaunch in autumn 2026 with higher subscription pricing, reflecting a renewed focus on growing the platform as a standalone fitness business.

Black Box VR

Purpose-built VR gyms seem to be the focus of Black Box VR. Combining resistance machines and immersive environments is an interesting approach, especially with the existing VR home ecosystems providing frictionless workouts. Black Box VR’s franchise model suggests that they believe the hybrid VR/gym model will bring an edge over the competition when compared to only a software solution.

HOLOFIT

HOLOFIT is a virtual reality fitness platform developed by Holodia that transforms cardio workouts into immersive experiences. Using a VR headset, users can row, cycle, run, or perform bodyweight exercises while exploring virtual worlds and completing interactive challenges.

The platform connects with rowing machines, exercise bikes and ellipticals, making workouts more engaging and motivating through gamification, virtual coaching and online competitions.

Special promotional content provided by White Plains Hospital

There is no time like the present to get your fitness routine back on track—or start one for the first time, advises Dr. Michael Schwartz, an Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Physician at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates.

Here’s what Dr. Schwartz wants you to keep in mind as you get moving this summer.

(PHOTO: Dr. Michael Schwartz, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates.) Credit: Contributed.

Q: If I’m completely new to exercise or have taken considerable time off, how can I get started again this summer?

A: It’s important to start slow, maybe two to three days a week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most people get about 150 minutes of physical activity a week, along with at least two days of strength training. And remember:

• Those minutes can be broken up throughout the week to help make the task more manageable.
• You can follow the recommended amount of time, but you don’t want to go too hard or too fast when you first start out.
• If you’re not used to running, start with a walk and then work your way up to more intense workouts. You can also do a lot of simple strength training at home with just a chair—search online for videos or apps to find the right routine for you.
• You should rest between exercises to give your muscles time to recover, repair, and rebuild.

Q: I hear a lot about overuse injuries. How can I avoid that?

A: These injuries can be common, which is why I often advise a combination of cardiovascular activities like running, rowing, and biking. If you switch up what you’re doing, then you’ll be using different muscle groups and hopefully not working one of them too hard.

Q: Workout trends seem to come and go. Is there one that you think is more beneficial than others?

A: People were really into their bikes when the pandemic hit and that was great. Some people enjoy Pilates, some like HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts—these are great because they balance strength and cardiovascular focuses. This also benefits your metabolic function, which is great for your overall health. The best exercise routine to follow is one that you are actually going to do consistently: Find something you like, and then work it into your routine.

Q: Knowing the importance of both cardio and strength training, is there a way for a person to determine how much of each they need?

A: This is going to be unique for each person. It’s certainly something that you could talk to a personal trainer about if you’d like a personal assessment and one-on-one guidance. For most people, it’s about doing what you can.

For instance, walking is a great way to get a workout without fancy equipment or hiring a personal trainer. Just put on some sneakers and go. And, eventually, you can turn those walks into more intense workouts by adding hills, hiking on different terrains, or even rucking, adding weight to a backpack so you can turn your walk into a strength-training routine.

Q: How might a person’s approach to fitness change as they age?

A: When we’re younger, it’s important to build a strong foundation through cardio and strength training to develop muscle, endurance, and overall fitness. This sets us up for long-term health. But as we age—often starting in our 40s—muscle and bone density naturally begin to decline. That’s when strength training becomes even more essential, particularly for women navigating changes during and after menopause. Maintaining strength helps preserve mobility, balance, and core stability as we continue to age, which are critical for preventing falls and staying active without pain.

Q: We’ve all heard the phrase, “No pain, no gain.” But how can you tell the difference between healthy soreness and an injury?

A: Some soreness following exercise is normal, and it is important to allow your body rest periods for your muscles to recover. On the same note, you also need to be in tune with your body. An acute pain could mean that you pulled or otherwise injured something and you should see an orthopedist. Regular muscle soreness shouldn’t last more than a few days.

Dr. Michael Schwartz is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Physician at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates. To schedule an appointment, call 914.849.7897.

This article originally appeared on Health Matters, a White Plains Hospital publication.

Related

Journalist and presenter Kaye Adams has regularly spoken about her health and fitness habits over the years. And while some of those have changed with age, it doesn’t mean strength and fitness don’t remain a priority. In fact, her podcast, How to be 60, champions the idea that ‘turning 60 isn’t about slowing down – it’s about shaking things up’.

Below, we take a look at Kaye’s approach to fitness in midlife and why it’s so effective.

She walks as much as possible

Kaye told The Sunday Post that having a dog has been a great way of ensuring she gets out for a walk (shoutout Bea the cockapoo!) every day, and that she’s ‘at my hap­pi­est walk­ing my dog’.

While it might sound simple, walking really is one of the best things you can do for your health. One scientific review of research on walking concluded that ‘the evidence overwhelmingly supports walking as a powerful anti-ageing intervention that can reduce the risk of chronic age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cancer.’

Even a short 10-minute walk after eating has been found to have tangible health benefits. One study found that a 10-minute walk straight after eating helps suppress blood sugar spikes – eliciting similar effects to those seen after a 30-minute walk.

She does a variety of physical activities

‘I also play ten­nis, run and do spin classes, as I have done for years,’ Kaye added in The Sunday Post interview. She also recently told The Sun, that she also does what she calls ‘disco Pilates’ – reformer with ‘bright lights and music’.

While all of these activities are effective individually (one study involving ​​more than 8,000 participants found that those who played tennis lived on average for a decade longer), the science also suggests benefits come from mixing it up, too – with a recent landmark study finding that exercise diversity is key for longevity.

Researchers found that compared with the lowest variety group, participants in the highest physical activity variety group had a 19% lower risk of death from any cause, and a 13-41% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and other causes.

She’s ditched higher-intensity training

After sustaining an injury at a HIIT class, Kaye told The Sun that she feels she’s ‘too old for them. It’s heavy duty circuit training, weights, burpees, all that sort of stuff’.

But as she’s shown, age doesn’t have to mean slowing down, but rather, finding a way of moving that works for you.

One of our most frequently asked questions here at Women’s Health? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer Oyinda Okunowo exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan – created exclusively for Women’s Health COLLECTIVE members – you’ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.

Get the plan

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women’s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis.  She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner’s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity.  A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She’s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.