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This Month

Why Gurner gave up alcohol – and what he learnt

The property developer and wellness entrepreneur has rarely had a drink for 18 months. He doesn’t like what he sees from people who are imbibing.

  • Sally Patten and Martin Peralta

Is this the year of the sober office Christmas party?

Employers are ditching traditional drinks for team building events such as crafts and sports.

  • Emma Jacobs and Eri Sugiura

November

Some sleep trackers correctly detect the stage of sleep someone is experiencing just 50 per cent of the time.

What science says about sleep trackers (and beware of orthosomnia)

Most sleep trackers are good at measuring whether somebody is asleep or awake, but perform less well at determining which stage of sleep they’re in.

  • Euan Black
Bill, the co-owner of Acai Underworld in Sydney’s Lansdowne, sometimes turns away 100 cars a night.

The muscle and clout behind Australia’s $750m acai boom

Australian businesses are scrambling to jump aboard the superfood trend as it attracts fitness buffs and social media users entranced by colourful desserts.

  • Updated
  • Simon Evans
Continuum’s roster of A-list clients value their privacy.

My day as a guinea pig in one of the world’s most expensive gyms

New York’s $15,000-a-month fitness centre, Continuum, aims to boost members’ longevity. But is it really worth it?

  • Susie Coen
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Pickleball is US tennis great Andre Agassi’s new passion.

What playing pickleball with Agassi taught me about finding purpose

The former US tennis great prioritises participation over success but says pickleball isn’t in competition with tennis.

  • Michelle Bowes
Vuori CEO Joe Kudla: “Yoga streamlined my physique, but more crucially, it changed my psyche in a way I’d never imagined.”

I doubted yoga – until it cured my pain and inspired my $6b business

When a sporting injury left Joe Kudla in agony, he discovered a fitness phenomenon that became the seed of his staggeringly successful active brand.

  • Jess Salter and Susanna Galton

October

Property developer Tim Gurner (centre), tennis player Iga Świątek and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are among those who tape their mouths shut at night to get better sleep.

Why are athletes and rich people taping their mouths shut at night?

Rich Lister Tim Gurner and Manchester City footballer Erling Haaland are among those who swear it promotes better sleep. But medical experts are not convinced.

  • Euan Black
Studies have found that regular sauna use could reduce the risk of heart attacks, dementia and stroke.

How a 10-minute sauna compares with a brisk workout

Lady Gaga, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Grealish all swear by them. Have the Scandinavians have been right all along?

  • Maggie Alderson
The premise of Hyrox is simple: Run a kilometre, complete a workout challenge, and run again.

Gruelling but thrilling – why Hyrox is the ultimate workout

The race – favoured by endorphin-hungry health nuts – has become a global phenomenon. Here’s everything you need to know.

  • Cameron Henderson
Rory Warnock

To become a better runner, try taping your mouth shut

Forget barefoot jogging or anti-chafe shorts – nasal breathing is the new performance enhancer for endurance athletes.

  • Luke Benedictus

Kirsten King wants you to flex; but don’t push Pilates to the limit

Pilates is often seen as a shortcut to lean, lithe muscles. For this wellness instructor to the stars, it’s a way of life.

  • Lauren Sams

The Vitruvian Trainer+ is a lot like the Peloton – but for weights

You connect handles to ropes and pull on them, in a sort of human-versus-machine tug of war.

  • John Davidson

Move over pubs, socialising has moved to the steam room

Luxury communal bathing houses are popping up everywhere, wooing the swim-sweat crowd with a focus on state-of-the-art interior design.

  • Eugenie Kelly

September

Warwick Parer, managing director of Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat, in the bushland surrounding the luxury facility.

Even $10,000-a-week rehab is no guarantee of getting clean

A luxury industry has grown around helping wealthy drug addicts kick their habit, but patients say recovery takes more than money.

  • Julie Hare
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After years grappling with childhood trauma, Rebecca Huntley tried MDMA therapy.

I took ecstasy at 50 and it changed my life

I got divorced, my father died, I cut ties with my mother, turned fifty, bought my first home of my own and did MDMA for the first time. This is an extract of the book that resulted.

  • Rebecca Huntley

August

Amy Castano (left), who runs boutique gym in Sydney with Jono Castano (right) is a firm believer that it is possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle with only two days of sweating a week.

How to stay fit even if you only work out on the weekend

Take heart weekend warriors. Experts say you can get the same mind and body benefits even you cram workouts into two days.

  • Gus McCubbing

This off-grid Himalayan walk will re-boot you from $1225 a day

Crawling not running towards the end of the year? Book this six-day trek in remote north-eastern India for a reality check, and a nature-fuelled recharge.

  • Fiona Carruthers

The uncomfortable truth about Dad bod

New fathers often find themselves with extra upholstery. Although polishing off your kids’ meals doesn’t help, that’s not the real culprit.

  • Luke Benedictus

July

Exhausted? Something more restorative might allow the stress to decrease.

The five best exercises to beat burnout and stress

Knowing what type of exercise to focus on when needed is key to allowing the stress chemicals to move through you more effectively.

  • Boudicca Fox-Leonard

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/fitness-trends-1msa