It’s January so, naturally, wellness is the word on everyone’s lips right now. From holistic treatments and wellbeing hacks to tailored training programmes and personalised nutrition, we are a society obsessed with health and fitness trends. So what can we expect from the year ahead? 2025 sees a mixture of new and old concepts, from the comeback of strength training to the rise of AI-driven fitness, a boom in sauna use and high-tech longevity practices. We’ve spoken to the experts and put together an edit of the wellness trends set to dominate 2025. 

2025 Wellness trends

Longevity

Longevity will continue to be a buzzword in the wellness sector throughout 2025. Simply put, longevity defines the concept of living a longer, healthier life. While some factors, such as genetic makeup are out of our control, lifestyle choices including diet, exercise and sleep can influence and improve our life expectancy and quality. This year will see a focus on healthcare trends such as preventative treatments and prejuvenation products aimed at keeping the body protected for the long-term, as well as targeted fitness and supplements to maintain a strong and healthy mind and body. Peloton instructor Ben Alldis explains, “Ultimately, it’s about finding things that you enjoy and can input into your schedule and that will change over time as you age.”

Athletic wellness travel

Insights from Accor, led by Global SVP of Wellbeing Emlyn Brown, and 2025 predictions from F45 Training, show that wellness travel is evolving this year, shifting from clichéd relaxation escapes to action-packed experiences centred around outdoor sports-based wellness activities. ‘The Fitcation’, as F45 names it, sees travellers craving more than just relaxation, setting ambitious fitness goals and taking them on the road. From hiking and cycling to walking excursions and open-water swimming, embracing movement in nature, whether in groups or on solo expeditions, is on the up. Accordingly, many hotels are jumping on the bandwagon, offering guests all sorts of wellness adventures – from Fairmont’s Chateau Lake Louise providing glacier skywalks and scenic hiking trails amidst Canada’s picturesque Rocky Mountains to padel courts, tennis courts and bike hire at Fairmont Windsor Park.  

Vagus nerve stimulation

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) will be one to watch this year. As the term suggests, this treatment uses mild electrical impulses to target the vagus nerve (the longest nerve of our autonomic nervous system, running from the brain to the large intestine) with the aim of influencing brain activity. VNS is currently used to treat medical conditions including epilepsy, inflammation and stroke rehabilitation, and increasingly in 2025, stress and depression. By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system to promote relaxation, mental clarity, and overall recovery, Jane Ollis, founder of MindSpire, explains that “stress will no longer be something we simply cope with; it will be something we actively manage and master using VNS”. 

This targeted vagus-nerve technology will become mainstream, “offering a convenient way for users to maintain a calm, balanced lifestyle and combat the negative effects of chronic stress.” Even better, it’s something you can try at home. Look to brands such as Sensate and Nurosym, which provide wearable technology to destress the nervous system and improve brain functionality and mood. 

Saunas

A hot and steamy session in a warm sauna sounds pretty good right now — and it might be just what the doctor ordered, with regular sauna use set to become a popular phenomenon in 2025. An ancient practice that is proven to enhance physical and mental wellbeing, settle into a 15-20 minute session and reap the benefits, from reducing stress, anxiety and blood pressure to helping with joint ailments such as arthritis. Saunas also provide a complete detox from the everyday, forcing you to be away from screens and giving you time to recalibrate in peace. Visit in London at the likes of Hackney’s Rooftop Sauna or book a break in nature with Unplugged, whose co-founder Hector Hughes, says, “Saunas add another dimension of wellness to our digital detox breaks that can further boost mood and reduce stress.” We’re all in.

2025 fitness trends

Functional fitness

According to Accor’s Top 2025 Wellness Trends report, functional fitness is trending as gym enthusiasts shift their focus to balance, flexibility, and functional muscle development this year. The umbrella term ‘functional fitness’ focuses on movements that mimic real-life activities, including pushing, pulling, squatting, lunging, core exercises and walking, to help improve “strength, mobility and balance in ways that support everyday tasks,” explains Jon Booker, fitness expert at Westfield Health. “This approach to fitness not only enhances athletic performance but also reduces the risk of injury, improves posture and boosts overall quality of life.” Workouts such as Pilates are surging as a result (gaining an increasing male following – see the hashtag #RealMenDoPilates) while low-impact exercise classes are also on the rise.

AI and data-driven training

Artificial Intelligence is no new kid on the block anymore and this year it will continue to infiltrate the fitness world by offering up data-driven insights to help you train more effectively and efficiently. Technogym has introduced Technogym Checkup, which scans for body composition, balance, mobility, strength and cardio conditions as well as cognitive function, and uses the data to create hyper-personalised training plans. Peloton’s Form Feedback (available in strength classes) uses AI technology to analyse users’ movements and provide real-time corrections and suggestions to boost performance, sustain form and gain confidence while working out. Then there are wearable devices, such as Whoop and Oura, which utilise AI-driven insights to provide real-time feedback, as well as AI-enhanced recovery technologies such as infrared therapy and cryotherapy to speed up recovery and prevent injury.

Strength training

Along with functional fitness, strength training is making a comeback this year. Using resistance and weights to isolate muscles and build strength across the body, strength training works to increase muscle mass, as well as improve cardiovascular health, balance and coordination. Technogym’s latest strength training offering, Technogym Connected Dumbbells, packs 12 sets of dumbbells into one pair, which can be adjusted from two to 24kg for versatile weightlifting, while Peloton’s Discover Strength six-week beginner programme, created by instructor Joslyn Thompson-Rule, focuses on building fundamental movement patterns. Thompson-Rule explains, “This is so important as mobility gives you greater access to your range of motion and therefore strength.” 

2025 nutrition trends

Personalised nutrition

Out goes the ‘one size fits all’ approach and in comes personalised nutrition. According to Accor’s report, this year individuals are seeking more tailored dietary solutions to enhance both physical and mental health. Genetic testing, as well as AI-powered tools and wearable devices, will play a major role, tracking nutrient levels and giving real-time insights into what your body does or does not need. Taking into account genetic predispositions, fitness regimes, mental health and personal needs, a more personalised approach with bespoke nutrition will let you take control of your own wellbeing and adjust it accordingly. 

Brain nutrition

With longevity and life expectancy on the rise, brain-boosting nutrition will be a popular trend this year, focusing on enhancing brain health, cognitive function and mental clarity. Emlyn Brown explains, “As life extends, so does the quest for a sharper mind – wellness now means nurturing the brain as much as the body." According to Accor’s research, the market is responding with four key trends: brain supplements, nootropics (such as ashwagandha), high-tech brain devices and personalised brainwave programs, each designed to optimise cognitive performance.

Functional drinks

Looking to improve your overall physiological health? Step in functional drinks – drinks that provide more than just hydration, with specially-formulated ingredients added to offer energy boosting, digestion improving and immune system supporting benefits. With searches spiking on Google Trends since the end of 2024, functional drinks will mark their territory in the health and wellness sphere this year. “The primary reason seems to be that consumers are seeking healthier options with less sugar, along with the added benefits of vitamins and minerals,” according to Ants Kristian Kipper, global head of insights at Vitamin Well.

From CBD and natural energy drinks to adaptogen and gut-friendly fermented options, look for added vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to help support your overall performance, cognition, relaxation, and, of course, hydration. Brands including Vitamin Well, Trip and Tenzing are great starting points.

Low or no alcohol

Some of you may have started the New Year with Dry January, but with a global decline in alcohol consumption and plenty of alternative drinks out there, you may decide to jump on the low/no alcohol trend and ditch the booze full stop in 2025. Turn to low- or no-alcohol options instead which, according to insights from Accor, are “taking centre stage this year and reshaping social gatherings”. From the vast selection of alcohol-free tipples available, including spirits, wines and beers, to the forward-thinking bars offering low- and no-alcohol alternatives, social sober drinking has just got easier (and headache free).

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