Introduction:
The growing recreational services market, particularly in developing countries, is an interesting area in which to diagnose the behaviour, needs and motives of participants in recreational activities.

Objective:
To determine the hierarchy of motives for participation in organized physical activities for women, depending on the level of education, age and marital status.

Materials and methods:
The research sample consisted of groups of 180 women from three fitness clubs in Opole and Ruda Slaska, Silesia, regularly participating in organized physical activities. The method used was a diagnostic survey and the research technique was an original, anonymous questionnaire survey. Motives related to care, improving the appearance of the body and fitness are less important for women. Reasons related to interpersonal relationships in the decision to participate in fitness classes were significantly lower in the hierarchy of motives. The rank of health decreased with increasing educational level, and the appearance of the body seemed to be important. Health was the primary motive for participation in physical activities for the women, seen as the most important or as important as physical fitness, depending on the age of researched women.