Fitness News

By Megan Whitby   28 Jan 2025

www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has unveiled its 2025 Future of Wellness Trends report, outlining 10 trends that will shape the US$6.3 trillion global wellness industry in the coming year.

Launched today (28 January) during a media event in New York City, the 130-page report showcases emerging directions that the GWS predicts will have the most meaningful impact on wellness businesses and consumers worldwide.

The publication delves into a diverse range of trends, from the revival of analogue wellness practices and the global sauna renaissance to the wellness industry's innovative approaches to tackling water scarcity and the Middle East's rapid emergence as a global wellness hub.

Each trend is brought to life through contributions from leading journalists, analysts and wellness specialists, who spotlight the innovators and companies driving each development.

Beth McGroarty, GWS VP of research and forecasting, presented the trends live, noting a continued divergence in the wellness market.

“In last year’s report, we noted that the wellness market was fast becoming a place of contradictory mindsets. A dramatically more high-tech, medical, hyper-optimising and expensive market was emerging (‘known as hardcare’).

“At the same time, we saw a sharpening desire for much simpler, low-tech, less relentlessly self-optimising and affordable wellness, where social and emotional wellbeing matter most (‘softcare’). We said these polarities would only widen, and you see it in our 2025 report.”

Here’s an overview of the GWS' top 10 wellness trends set to shape 2025.

Ten Wellness Trends For 2025

1. Analog Wellness

Beth McGroarty

2025 will mark a cultural shift toward “logging off” as the world pushes back against the overwhelming effects of the digital age. From “calm tech” solutions and device-free experiences to tactile “dumb homes” designed for privacy and simplicity, the movement will evolve from trendy nostalgia to a social movement for focus, peace and human connection.

2. Sauna Reimagined

Jane Kitchen, editor-at-large, Spa Business

Saunas are experiencing a renaissance, transforming into vibrant communal spaces with global appeal. From stunning waterfront saunas in Norway and forest saunas in Canada to immersive sauna art installations in Japan, saunas are becoming destinations that celebrate culture and social interaction.

The growing Aufguss sauna ritual movement – an event combining performance, heat, and aromatherapy – is helping saunas attract a younger, dynamic audience and redefine how relaxation is experienced worldwide.

3. The Supplement Paradox

Jessica Smith, brand consultant and wellness/beauty expert, Rennie Creative

The US$178 billion supplement market is at a crossroads. Premium supplements are being elevated to status symbols—complete with high-end packaging and celebrity endorsements—but the industry faces increasing scrutiny. Lax regulations and exaggerated claims have eroded consumer trust, creating a demand for products backed by science. This trend highlights how innovations such as personalised formulations, DNA-based supplements, and AI-driven diagnostics are redefining the supplement space and rebuilding credibility.

4. Teen Wellness

Kate O’Brien, author and journalist

With mental health challenges among teens escalating, the wellness industry is expanding to cater to younger audiences. Family- and intergenerational-focused wellness programmes are emerging to combat anxiety, depression and addiction in a tech-driven, high-pressure world.

Resources such as mindful breathing apps, teen-focused retreats and wellness education in schools aim to provide a holistic approach to mental health, empowering younger generations to manage stress in healthier ways.

5. Watershed Wellness

Jane Kitchen

As water scarcity intensifies globally, the wellness industry is addressing its environmental footprint by adopting sustainable practices. Iconic wellness retreats such as Rancho La Puerta are leading the charge, implementing water-saving initiatives like drought-resistant landscaping and water recycling systems.

From spa facilities that reduce water waste to innovations in personal hydration and water stewardship programmes, the trend underscores the wellness sector’s critical role in promoting environmental sustainability.

6. Augmented Biology

Olivia Houghton, deputy creative foresight editor, LS:N Global (The Future Laboratory)

Advances in genetic engineering and health tech are unlocking new possibilities for human potential. Technologies such as brain-computer interfaces, wearable robotics and CRISPR-driven genetic modifications are no longer confined to labs – they’re becoming consumer-facing tools that push the limits of physical and cognitive performance.

This trend explores the rise of “extreme human enhancement,” where health and fitness are augmented in ways once thought possible only in science fiction.

7. Longevity Redefines Work

David Stewart, founder of Ageist and Super Age

The ageing population is reshaping the workplace, with over-65s becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the workforce. Employers are adopting new workplace wellness initiatives to support longer, healthier careers. This includes flexible schedules, on-site health programmes, and policies tailored to the needs of older workers.

This chapter highlights how businesses can embrace the expertise of older employees while addressing their evolving wellness requirements, making workplaces more inclusive and productive.

8. Wellness Tackles Addiction

Claire McCormack, senior editor, Beauty Independent

The wellness industry is breaking taboos by addressing addiction in innovative ways, challenging long-held stigmas. From harm-reduction strategies to integrated recovery programmes that blend traditional therapy with wellness modalities like yoga, mindfulness, and nutrition, addiction recovery is becoming more holistic.

With alcohol now labelled a Class One carcinogen, wellness brands are also exploring alcohol-free lifestyles and alternative social rituals to combat dependence.

9. Wellness on the Line

Jane Wilson, wellness and travel journalist

Slow, immersive travel is fueling wellness experiences on trains and cruise ships, offering an alternative to fast-paced, high-stress tourism. From dedicated Dior spa carriages on Belmond’s fleet of luxury trains, to a boom in wellness retreats at sea, this trend explores how wellness is playing an important role in offering unique programming that helps users differentiate in a crowded marketplace.

10. The Middle East’s Wellness Ambitions

Thomas Morris, senior partner, Middle East, Finn Partners

The Middle East is emerging as a global wellness leader, blending cultural heritage with cutting-edge innovation and sustainability. National strategies and massive investments in preventative healthcare, sports and wellness infrastructure are transforming the region into a wellness destination.

From futuristic health solutions in Saudi Arabia’s Neom giga-project to wellness-focused religious gatherings, the region is leveraging its resources to create a thriving hub for global wellbeing.

For the full 2025 Future of Wellness Trends report and deeper insights into these transformative trends, visit the official GWS website.