New year, new you — or at least new ways to move. A recent report has revealed the top fitness trends set to take over 2026, and Toronto gym owners are weighing in on which ones are likely to actually stick in the city.

A new U.K.-based study from health club PureGym is predicting the next wave of workouts, with a shift back to basics through low impact exercises and more accessible forms of movement, though a few questionable fads are still sneaking into the mix.

The report’s top ten fitness trends for 2026 are:

Japanese walking

Walking yoga

Plank hover

Nord Pilates

10-20-30 method

Bridal arm workouts

Virtual fitness challenges

HYROX

Dead hangs

75 Medium

But which of these trends are actually sure to take off in Toronto?

To find out, Now Toronto spoke with two local boutique gym founders who are seeing these shifts play out in real time: Ryan Rambarran, owner of Unity in Scarborough, and Ottillia Giralico, owner of North York’s Club Enhergy.

HYROX IS ON THE HORIZON

If there’s one trend both experts agree has real staying power, it’s HYROX.

Launched in Germany in 2017, HYROX is a worldwide fitness competition that blends endurance and strength in a hybrid race format, allowing everyday gym-goers to train like athletes without needing elite-level skills.

“Everybody is doing HYROX,” Rambarran said. “They’ve created an atmosphere where anybody can feel like they’re at the Olympics. You feel representation, a sense of belonging, a sense of confidence. It empowers you.” 

Giralico says HYROX fits Toronto’s personality perfectly.

“Toronto loves structure, competition, and something you can train towards,” she tells Now Toronto. “HYROX hits all of that. It’s not just a workout — it’s an event, a goal, and a community.”

She says she’s witnessed gyms begin to program around HYROX and clients change their mindset from aesthetic goals to performance-based ones.

“Conversations are shifting from “I just want to lose weight” to “I’m training for something,” she said. 

SOFTER CHALLENGES WITH TOUGHER MINDSETS 

The PureGym list also highlights 75 Medium, a more flexible version of the viral 75-day challenges that have dominated fitness social media in recent years.

Rambarran notes that extreme challenges like the strict 75 Hard, popularized by Andy Frisella, have brought discipline back into fitness conversations. 

“It’s pretty intense training,” he said. “People don’t necessarily do it for the fitness aspect. They do it for the mental aspect.”

Giralico also believes the city is gravitating toward moderation and balance in the new year.

“Toronto is shifting away from all-or-nothing mentalities. People want structure, but they also want something realistic that doesn’t burn them out socially, mentally, or physically,” she said. “People are craving a reset that doesn’t feel punishing. It’s that mindset of ‘I want discipline, but I also want to live.’” 

That thought process may explain the growing interest in the number one trend, Japanese walking, a high and low intensity interval-based walking method designed to improve cardiovascular health without overwhelming the body.

“Fitness doesn’t always need to be extreme to be effective,” Giralico said. “It fits into busy city life — high return on investment, low barrier, very sustainable.”

PILATES AND YOGA WILL CONTINUE TO RANK HIGHLY 

Pilates, especially Nord Pilates – which blends traditional Pilates with Nordic training principles – continues to be popular, something Rambarran says is already obvious with the boom it had in the previous year.

“You’re going to see more Pilates studios open up in the new year,” Rambarran predicted. “Pilates studios give off a certain type of aesthetic, a certain type of vibe. It’s not only there for people who are working out but it’s more of the feeling, the ambience, the experience of being a ‘Pilates girly’ or Pilates baddie.’” 

Yoga also remains a staple in fitness, not just for flexibility but for mental health. 

“Yoga is making a comeback because we’re in a very fast-paced world,” he said. “It’s allowing people to refocus their mind, refocus their body, and also help with their attention span.”

WHAT TRENDS ARE MISSING THE MARK?

Not every trend on the list earned praise.

Both experts were critical of the “bridal arm workout,” which targets brides sculpting their upper bodies specifically ahead of the wedding.

Rambarran bluntly said he has never heard of the phenomenon.

“I can’t tell you how many brides that I’ve trained, and I’ve never had somebody come up to me and say, ‘Hey, how do I get my arms toned quickly for my wedding?,’” he laughed. “The biggest thing from a woman on her special day is how she looks standing behind her groom or partner, and how their whole body looks, not necessarily just the arms.”

Giralico understood the concept, but was also a bit skeptical.

“I think they’re creative and fun, and I get why they resonate—weddings are emotional, meaningful milestones,” she said. “That said, I don’t love the idea of training only for a single date. Fitness shouldn’t be something you pick up for 12 weeks and then drop once the photos are taken. I believe movement and strength should be part of your identity and lifestyle, not just a countdown.”

She’s similarly cautious about hyper-specific trends like the 10-20-30 interval training method, which Rambarran argues lacks strong evidence of drastically changing your body. 

“I can’t imagine myself doing a group class and saying ‘we’re gonna do 30 seconds of low intensity.’ It’s not very stimulating for your mind, and it’s important for your mind and your muscles to be engaged so you get the full results that you’re looking for.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR TORONTO FITNESS?

Beyond the PureGym list, Giralico sees one major trend gaining momentum in Toronto: performance-based strength training for women.

“Less focus on shrinking and more focus on capability,” she said. “Women want to lift heavier, move better, and feel powerful in real life.”

She also sees growing demand for community-driven challenges that prioritize showing up consistently rather than chasing extreme transformations.

Rambarran adds that as fitness trends multiply, accountability matters more than ever and argues that government incentives could play a role in making health and fitness more accessible across the city.

“I think that we’re in better shape than we were before,” he said. “I think a lot of us could learn the importance of taking care of their health and the value of it. It’s not just about doing it because you want a quick story on your Instagram, or you’re doing it because you want to look good, but it’s also about how you age gracefully.”