The advancements in digital technologies enable digital classes, such as live-streamed classes, to complement traditional fitness services. Although digital fitness classes are a far-reaching offer for sports-interested individuals, the participants’ motivation compared to in-person classes may differ significantly. Information Systems (IS) research is needed to understand these socio-technical systems and the long-term motivation and engagement in digital fitness activities. This paper presents preliminary findings from a qualitative study with group class participants in Germany. The participants included both regular and occasional attendees who had experience with in-person and digital class formats. Based on an inductive, exploratory analysis approach, we develop a conceptual model demonstrating different motivation sources for fitness engagement. The model highlights the differences between the underlying motivation factors in online and in-person settings and creates a basis for future studies on technology-driven fitness solutions by offering insights for digital fitness class improvement.