1. HORMONAL HEALTH FOR ALL

Hormonal health will no longer be solely in focus for women’s fertility, but will become a universal focus for both men and women.

Monitoring key hormones like cortisol and testosterone is gaining attention in optimizing muscle mass (addressing GLP-1 side effects such as muscle-loss, as well as conditions like dynapenia and sarcopenia), metabolic health, stress management, and sexual well-being.

The future landscape is ripe with innovation, beginning with consumer-grade, single-use kits for tracking hormones via saliva, sweat, or blood. These tools will mark an essential first step in empowering individuals to take charge of their hormonal health, with continuous hormone monitoring technologies realistically expected to debut in 2026.

2. NON-INVASIVENESS INVADES 

The invasion began with compression recovery therapy, but the concept of passive, involuntary relaxation will tighten its grips and become the next staple in muscle recovery. 

Innovations like water massage, robotic massage, and assisted stretching are making their way in fitness and wellness studios, setting the stage for targeted and potent modalities such as soundwave therapy, electrical neuromuscular stimulation (EMS or PEMS) pushing further into recovery and performance enhancement. 

The trajectory is clear: the recovery and wellness offering is diversifying, becoming more advanced, and is poised to thrive on the foundations laid by early adopters.

3.THINGS ARE HEATING UP OVER CONTRAST THERAPY

Heat therapies–whether wet or dry sauna, and to a lesser extent infrared lights–are set to gain significant ground over cold plunges. 

The accumulating body of evidence supporting the benefits of heat therapy on health and longevity has become impossible to ignore. The convenience of sauna over cold immersion is another of its driving forces, as it does not necessitate the element of courage to endure discomfort and necessary cold shock. Beyond convenience, heat therapy also contributes to heat acclimation–increasingly addressed as a performance limiter.

A careful reconsideration is warranted for brands and wellness facilities focusing solely on cold plunge to align with shifting consumer preferences.

4. POSTURAL HEALTH FROM ALL SIDES 

From the ground-up - Foot and toe fitness 

Although anatomically positioned as a good indication, the feet have only recently been recognized as fundamental to posture, stability, spatial proprioception and key levers in injury prevention and performance. 

This renewed focus will give momentum to foot anatomy & fitness evaluation tools, smart insoles to track load and more, textured mats & balance-training apparel to stimulate proprioception, and, why not, foot fitness coaching platforms. 

As we expect more barefoot training, take advantage of the Holiday season to step up your sock game !

From the top-down - Neck and upper-back strength 

On the other end of the postural chain, attention is turning to neck and upper back strength as key contributors to postural health. 

The Paul-Tyson duo and F1 drivers have shed light on neck training equipment such as the Iron Neck which is now extending beyond elite athletes, gaining traction down the ranks of fitness and wellness practitioners as a key component of posture, stability, and overall resilience.

Additionally, jaw muscle strengthening is emerging at the surprising intersection of postural health and face-skincare, signaling opportunities for innovative tools and routines bridging aesthetics and function.

5. ECCENTRIC TRAINING

Out-of-the-box training methods are set to reinvigorate traditional fitness routines in 2025. 

Modalities like blood-flow restricted (BFR) training are proving effective in building strength, muscle mass, and endurance by creating localized hypoxic conditions, forcing greater muscle fibers recruitment and challenging metabolic resilience. Weighted yoga and even backwards walking are also gaining ground in those seeking novel fitness experiences.

However, not all trends will sustain their 2024 momentum. For one, the Norwegian training method, which received high expectations in the Olympic year, is likely to lose favor over disappointing results. 

The pendulum will also swing back from experimental practices like hyperbaric oxygen and inhalation therapies, nutrient infusion, plasma exchange, and consumer full-body scans. 

Out-of-the-box or unconventional is no compromise for scientific validity and accessibility.

6. CAMERA EATS FIRST

The habit of photographing meals is here to stay—but now for entirely different reasons. Shifting towards nutritional tracking, we can expect increasingly sophisticated and capable food tracking features integrated into popular wellness devices and platforms like Oura and Veri.

Personalized nutrition is surging with nearly one in five US consumers preferring personalized products and brands like Bioniq and Elo are leading the way and growing rapidly with (make believe) n-of-1 tailored supplements. 

Looking further into the future, this could lay the foundation for even more revolutionary innovations like at-home nutrient-printing, which should ignite a transformation of the food industry and redefine how we approach nutrition in the decade to come.

7. FERTILE GROUNDS FOR INNOVATION

Millennials and Gen Zs churn - For younger generations, fitness ranks as a “very high priority”. Maybe a witness of their fleeting attention span, they embrace innovative sports, exercises, and wellness proposals, but are quick to discard what does not stick.

These generations are seeking innovations and demanding creativity and novelty–making them an equally fertile and challenging audience shaping the evolution of the fitness and wellness industry.

Sports of our Times - Accessible sports with a strong component of social connectedness are thriving.

• Hybrid fitness events like Hyrox are gaining momentum by combining competitiveness with camaraderie. With participation expected to more than double in 2025, there are certainly positive signals and room for growth, as finish times can still well be improved with specific training and a dose of strategic planning.

   

• Gravel biking continues its ascent and takeover the road cycling scene for its versatility, inclusivity and wide-ranging types of events and community rides. 

   

• Running, meanwhile, continues to reign atop popular activity on Strava. From record Marathon attendance and more stringent qualifying times to unpretentious and playful events like wedding 5Ks, and turkey trots & New Year’s runs, running is emerging as a bridge of fitness and community. 

We have written about specialty brands and run clubs, as well as the value of challenging ventures like Hyrox and adventure cycling. With their mix of inclusivity, challenge, and social connection, the sports embody all the ingredients for sustained growth in years to come.

MORE PREDICTIONS IN BULK

• Oura ring will rule them all. 
• Zwift solo-breakaway will meet competition.
• Strava’s privacy concerns and decision to tighten its grip on data, is a first step in a bigger paradigm shift in the user data economy.
• AI and LLM are no longer sufficient as a buzzword remedy for all ailments, with the focus shifting to practical applications delivering real results.
• Longevity resonates across all age groups, a realization resulting from the enlightening and controversial study published earlier in Aging).

Healthy and Playful 2025 from everyone at LangLeven ! 🎊