For this piece, I interviewed fitness professionals, journalists, active women who love testing new sports, and more!

Goodbye “skinny”, goodbye “bodybuilder”. Finally, toned and muscular replaces the extreme “thinness trend”.

Over Instagram, Pinterest, and other social networks, women are showing off their muscular bodies and defined abs in bright gym outfits while sweating at the gym or working out with friends. The tendency to look skinny without being particularly toned is waning in the face of a more robust and toned body. It’s neither longer fashionable to have an overly muscular body where you can see abs a la Hulk. The reign of pretty-faced woman who sports a body without an ounce of fat is over. We’re returning to the healthily toned body, albeit one with resolutely feminine curves.

Explosion of Tabata

With all the time that we spend on social networks, busy at work, commuting via public transport, and in front of the TV, we have less and less time to be active. Hence, the famous excuse of “I don’t have time to exercise!” Based on this as well as studies on the rigorous protocols of great athletes, Japanese researcher, Mr. Izumi Tabata has scientifically proven that excessively intense sessions of 30 minutes are ideal for toning the body.

This research gave birth to 30-min fitness sessions at a breakneck pace and intensity. We have thus entered the uncontested reign of full throttle 30 min fitness sessions.

However, we cannot all be marines, hence, as a wellness coach I am opposed to this extreme trend as it is unhealthy for sedentary people who leave their office to jump and kick/punch for 30 min without warming up and stretching. The heart is also subject to strain because there is no recovery period.

Completely not recommended unless you are in the physical shape of an astronaut, are already doing 1 hr of cardio daily, and of course, you are not overweight (lots of limitations, hey?). You can find these classes at your local gym and online on YouTube under several names: GRIIT, GRIT, HIT, Tabata, High Intensity, Tabata 20:10, Total Body Tabata, Turbulence Training, etc.

Development of yoga

Paradoxically, the development of Tabata ® is accompanied by a growth in more gentle sports – almost as if in an effort to bring balance to our gyms.

More and more gym members are starting to do gentle activities including yoga and all its variations; The Booty Barre by my friend Tracey Mallett (a true inspiration!); Yogalate; Kundalini, which has become more fashionable than ever in Hollywood, and more.

Indoor surfing

SurfSet® is now a fast-growing trend: indoor surfing on an actual surfboard designed to give the sensation of being on the water. It is, undoubtedly, a great workout: quadriceps are engaged, glutes and abs are contracted, and to strengthen the upper body which is typically engaged when the surfer swims to meet the next wave, here you do push ups on your unstable surfboard. I am a fan of this workout, but people with fragile knees and ankles must pass on this one.