I am currently teaching yoga and Pilates in San Diego, California.

Living a life of sweating with various women every day in this sunny coastal city is truly a blessing.

However, lately, there is one significant change that catches my eye.

These days, women are really improving their figures.

Beyond just being "thin" or "slim", there are now many women with solid bodies shaped by real exercise.

Especially among Gen Z women in their early to mid-20s, it seems like someone has declared, 'From now on, apple hips are a standard feature', as most have well-defined glute muscles.

Their thigh lines are as firm as models, their posture is upright, and their walk is confident.

I can tell right away when I see their posture during yoga classes. "Ah, this person has a routine of exercising regularly."

When doing hip bridges or lunges, typical beginners would first feel tension in their thighs and lower back, but these individuals know how to engage their glutes first.

This is a trend of 'exercise becoming a lifestyle' that has spread among young women in America.

In the past, dieting meant strictly reducing food intake, and exercise was a secondary concept. But now, among Gen Z, especially American women, that standard has definitely changed.

Exercise has become a part of their lifestyle.

To exaggerate a bit, exercise is no longer a 'hobby' but a 'personality'. Some women do powerlifting, some do CrossFit, and others focus on Pilates for flexibility and core strength.

Sharing their workout styles on Instagram or TikTok, systematically managing their routines, nutrition, and supplements is not just a trend but a cultural change.

Apple hips are a product of this trend.

While previous generations considered a slim waist, smooth arms, and a small face as beauty standards, nowadays, strong glutes and a powerful lower body have become the core of beauty.

If you go to the gym, the busiest area is the 'hip exercise' section. Young women line up to do hip thrusts with barbells on their backs. Doing lunges with 20kg dumbbells for three sets has become a common sight.

Interestingly, these women are not simply trying to create a body for show. Their motivation for exercising is much more internally focused.

"I want to be a physically strong woman."
"I relieve stress through exercise, which is good for my mental health."
"Seeing my body change boosts my self-esteem."

Every time I hear such words after class, I realize how much today's women have truly changed.

Yoga and Pilates classes, which used to be mostly attended by housewives or middle-aged women for dieting purposes, are now voluntarily attended by women in their early 20s to 30s who come to learn about 'muscle connection' and 'alignment'. They express specific goals like correcting hip dips, strengthening their core, and pelvic alignment, shifting their focus from simply 'beautifying' their bodies to 'functionally strengthening' them.

I see this trend as very positive. The increase in women who know, love, and take care of their bodies, not just for appearance but for health, is a healthy signal for society as a whole.

Of course, compared to them, I might belong to an older generation. I also enjoy exercising and stretch daily to tone my muscles, but I don't strictly adhere to a diet or meticulously manage supplements like my younger friends do.

But one thing is certain.

Young women in America are not exercising to look pretty.
They are already strong and are exercising to become even stronger.
And the result is apple hips.

The reason Gen Z women are improving their figures is simple.
They have embraced exercise as a culture and integrated it into their lives.

Under the sun in San Diego, confidently spreading their mats and doing lunges. I think they are truly amazing.

And today, in my class, I enjoy being a part of that change and sweating together.