I tried Solidcore—a high-intensity workout class on a Pilates-inspired reformer—for the first time in 2023. I spent all 50 minutes cursing under my breath, convinced that my muscles were ripping apart. (They were, in fact, not.) I hated it. And yet after it ended, I immediately booked my next class.
A quick scroll through Instagram and TikTok proves I’m not the only one addicted to the grueling workout. Every December, Solidcore hosts the “Solidays Challenge,” in which members commit to taking 10 classes over 15 days; in return, they get an exclusive mockneck sweatshirt along with products from Salt & Stone. This year nearly one third of members opted in, Athletech News reported, a 65% increase from 2024. Over the past five years, Google searches for Solidcore have steadily risen—and are currently at their highest of all time. Yet even amidst its widespread popularity, devotees of the cult workout still complain about the pain of the class. “It’s so hard that it’s borderline uncomfortable—but in the best way,” notes one TikTok user.
Solidcore isn’t the only rigorous workout gaining traction. In its 2025 report, ClassPass noted that searches for Hyrox classes increased 432% year over year. Hyrox, a global fitness competition that combines running and resistance training, was previously referred to by one expert as “the marathon of functional fitness.” (So in other words: Not for the faint of heart.) Another indication of the rising popularity of high-intensity workouts: Barry’s, the bootcamp-style class, reportedly plans to open 20 new studios worldwide in the next few years, according to CoStar, an outlet covering commercial real estate.
Why are these seemingly masochistic workouts on the rise? And why do so many of us—myself included—keep going back?
Rationally, I know that research indicates that exercise doesn’t have to be the most strenuous in order to benefit my overall well-being. But I put myself through it anyway—the choice to return to these high-intensity classes goes beyond simply wanting to get fit and live a healthy lifestyle. Ellin Gurvitch, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor and performance coach, says while social media trends can encourage us to do a particular workout or class, they’re not the only thing driving us to the studio or gym. “That feeling of what you’re getting after [your workout] is so powerful,” she says. Doing hard things, whether a two-minute plank or 20 burpees, ultimately leads to a boost in self-satisfaction, self-respect, and self-confidence in the minutes, hours, and days following your workout, she adds. Perhaps, in some instances, pain is gain.