Is the Gym Gen Z’s Pub? A 40-Year-Old’s Thoughts on a Healthier Generation

I'll admit it — I'm 40. Definitely not Gen Z. You’ll probably guess that from the way I speak, my taste in music, and the growing size of my forehead. I still listen to full albums, I’ve said “when I was young” unironically, and my idea of a great Saturday night is a steak and glass of wine with my wife, and being in bed by 11:00.

So I’m not exactly the intended audience of The Guardian’s recent podcast asking, “Is the gym Gen Z’s pub?” But as a physio and rehab clinic owner in Brighton & Hove, and someone who works with people of all ages, I found it heartening.

Because if Gen Z is making the gym their new social hub, that’s a cultural shift worth celebrating.

From Hangovers to Handstands: A New Way to Connect

Gen Z is leading a quiet revolution—trading bar tabs for barbells, and swapping hangovers for handstands. And honestly? It’s one of the most positive cultural shifts we’ve seen in a long time.

What’s emerging is a generation that sees health and movement not as chores or punishments, but as social currency—something to be shared, enjoyed, and woven into daily life. In Brighton & Hove, this movement is especially alive. Our city’s energy, coastline, and community spirit make it the perfect playground for this new wave of connection.

There’s no shortage of ways to get involved:

• Join one of the many welcoming group fitness classes across local studios
• Try your hand (and feet) at martial arts—there are gyms dotted all over town
• Roll out your mat for beach yoga at sunrise or wind down in a candlelit studio
• Lace up for a seafront park run or local running club
• Head out to the South Downs for hikes with people who’d rather share trail mix than tequila shots

These aren’t just workouts. They’re ways to meet people. To connect over something meaningful. To build friendships rooted in shared values rather than shared hangovers.

In a world that often feels fragmented and overstimulated, this shift toward movement, connection, and presence feels like a breath of fresh sea air. And if you ask us, that’s a change worth celebrating.

Words of Advice

Every trend has its blind spots, so here’s some advice—not to scold, but to support:

Use social media wisely.

It can be an amazing resource for workout tips, mobility drills, and recipe ideas. But don’t spend your life doom-scrolling ridiculous morning routines or people with abs that seem to defy biology. Social media is great when used as an appropriate tool - but in can start to manipulate you if you let it.

Keep your eyes on health, not just aesthetics.

Wanting to look good is as old as time. It doesn’t make you vain—it makes you human. But let health lead the way. Strength, movement, energy, sleep, and function—these are the foundations. Focus there, and looking good tends to follow naturally (and sustainably).

Words on Balance: Gen Z, This Is Your Moment

No one can tell you what to do with your time. You don’t have to be in the gym six days a week, but you can if you want. If setting your alarm at 5am for sunrise yoga isn’t for you - you can get just as much out of a mid afternoon session in your living room.

But the research is clear—balance is a strong predictor of long-term health and wellbeing. The programs that stick are the ones people love. The ones they look forward to, not dread.

Forget perfection. Sustainability is the goal.

And here’s something else: movement is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. It’s medicine, no exaggeration. But if your whole fitness journey is filtered through unrealistic expectations, aesthetic pressure, or endless social media comparison, it can actually hurt your mental wellbeing.

And yes—there’s always a counter-narrative. Some people, often from my generation, will tell you you’re shallow for caring how you look. Or that aesthetics have no place in health. But if I’m honest? We just didn’t get it quite right. We grew up with toxic diet culture, shame-driven workouts, and little understanding of balance or mental health. Then came a decade of extreme backlash, where some tried to convince us that exercise and body weight had no connection to our health at all. None of this quite worked for us - and we have the health stats to prove it.

Gen Z? You’ve got a chance to do it better.

To build a culture of movement and health that’s inclusive, balanced, and joyful.

To build a life that works for you—and no one else.

So take it. Run with it. (Or hike. Or do yoga. Or lift.)

Whatever works. Just keep moving.

For more help and advice visit - lifeismovementclinic.com.