It’s that time of the year again when many of us are thinking about how we can treat mind, body and soul a little bit better over the next 12 months, enthusiastically typing wellness trends 2026 into our search bar.
And as self-care, wellbeing and fitness movements continue to evolve in response to our ever-changing world and the demands it places on us, in 2026 there’s a whole new variety of wellness movements to consider.
In recent years, technological overload, cognitive overwhelm and rising stress levels have been named as some of the biggest culprits affecting us in everyday life. So it’s not surprising to see trends like digital detoxes and moments of conscious disconnection continue to grow.
Meanwhile, thanks to a general sense of uncertainty caused by economical, political and societal factors, a new focus on nervous system regulation has emerged. Brain and gut health, as well as somatic and fascia release practices, are also on the rise amidst the biggest wellness trends of 2026.
Here, we take a look at what’s coming in fitness, nutrition, and holistic practices to help you move through the inevitable twists and turns of life with clarity, strength and peace of mind.
Burnout Breaks
Yes, you read that right – and did it resonate?
If you felt the instant desire to book yourself onto one of these replenishing escapes, you may be amongst the rising number of workers who have experienced increased stress levels and burnout in recent years.
Officially acknowledged as an “occupational phenomenon” by the World Health Organisation in May 2019, almost seven years later it seems that the condition is still on the rise.
In research conducted for learning platform Moodle in 2025, two-thirds of participating US employees said they had suffered from its effects, while The Burnout Report 2025 stated that 91% of respondents had endured “high or extreme levels of stress” in the past year.
While it is sad to think that modern demands are forcing us to spend our precious personal time to recover from strenuous work environments, it feels more positive to see individuals putting their recovery first and dedicating time to restoring their mental and physical health following a period of unsustainable pressure.
So, what is a Burnout Break? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but the general idea is to take time off to recover from the physical and mental effects of prolonged periods of stress. Whether you decide to join a dedicated burnout recovery retreat – and there are plenty across the world – or curate your own break, the most important part is to not add any further pressure on yourself. Avoid jam-packed programmes, intense workouts or anything else that raises your internal stress needle.
Practices that can aid the recovery process depending on personal preference include breathwork, meditation, yoga, ice baths, walks in nature, journaling and therapy techniques such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).
For some, a burnout break might look like staying in the comfort of their own home and disconnecting from work, resting and following their intuition about what feels best in the moment. Others might prefer a change of scenery, escape to a quiet countryside setting or travel to the other side of the world to immerse themselves in a hosted burnout retreat with a varied therapeutic programme.
For further information on dealing with burnout and building your own recovery system check out Burnt Out: The Exhausted Person’s Six-Step Guide to Thriving in a Fast-Paced World by Selina Barker.
Nervous System Regulation
“Nervous system regulation” has become somewhat of a buzz phrase, but what does it mean?
Breathwork Coach Ramon Ghosh describes the process comparable to changing the gears on a car.
“During the winter we can have too much stationary time, and so need to press the accelerator to up-regulate. That might mean more movement and starting to walk or run more, joining a Pilates or yoga class, or doing a HIIT workout. This makes us feel more energised,” he says. “When work and life get busy though, we can become over-stimulated – very common in city living. Notifications, commute, deadlines: we move into a ‘wired and tired’ state. Here, we need to press the brake pedal to down-regulate.”
A great way to do this is to change our environment – by taking a holiday, immersing ourselves in nature, or spending time with people who help us feel grounded. But in modern life, we can’t always access those things. Our breath, however, is available anywhere, anytime, and completely free.
Ramon explains, “Breathwork can be both the accelerator and the brake. Done correctly, it provides calm and clarity, makes decisions easier and life feel slower. This is the secret power of the breath – and in 2026 it will become a major wellness focus, with the search term ‘breathwork benefits’ already seeing a 1000% search increase on Instagram.”
To find out more visit evolve-breathwork.com.
Intuitive Fitness
While Pilates has surged in popularity, much of its recent exposure has come through hybrid Reformer formats and fitness fusions. In 2026, classically-trained Pilates teacher Jade Edwards, founder of Coconut Wellness Studios, predicts that we will see a return to form -quite literally.
Movement will become more functional, intentional, and focussed on supporting us in everyday life and beyond the studio.
Jade says, “2026 will mark a clear shift away from ‘performative’ fitness and towards a deeper awareness of how movement actually feels in the body. While longevity has dominated the conversation in recent years, the focus is now sharpening on healthspan – not simply living longer, but living better, stronger, and with greater physical confidence.
“Reformer will remain popular, but curiosity around Pilates lineage will grow. Clients will increasingly embrace classical apparatus such as the Cadillac and Wunda Chair, drawn not by trends, but because the work feels supportive and inherently right for the body.
“Joseph Pilates famously said, ‘If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old; if it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.’ This philosophy feels more relevant than ever. Alignment, core strength, mobility, and spinal health are being recognised as the foundation of all sustainable movement – not add-ons.
“This shift is rooted in understanding why we move the way we do. People are becoming more discerning, recognising that effective exercise isn’t about copying shapes or chasing intensity, but about responding to the individual needs of their own bodies. In a landscape where fitness has become increasingly homogenised, intuitive movement will move from a ‘nice to have’ to a client expectation.”
To find out more and train with Jade visit coconutreformerstudio.com.
Hyper-personalisation through AI and wearable tech
From smart watches to biometric rings, we have become obsessed with measuring and analysing our own data.
Whether it’s tracking our sleep, counting our steps or measuring our glucose levels, thanks to AI we can use this real-time data to build a bespoke nutrition and fitness plan based on our personal goals.
Now all you need is a killer prompt for everyone’s favourite assistant, ChatGPT, to put together your 2026 wellness plan!
Somatic Fitness
Somatic work is an umbrella term that describes mindfulness and physical movement techniques helping to move difficult emotions caused by trauma and stress through the body – and its amongst the biggest risers of wellness trends 2026.
By analysing how difficult memories and emotions can manifest into physical symptoms, it helps people to process these remnants of past negative experiences to release physical tension and aid mental health issues.
“Somatic approaches to movement represent a paradigm shift in how we understand fitness, performance and wellbeing. The emphasis is on moving away from ‘doing more’ and conforming to ideal shapes, instead shifting focus on moving better, feeling in a more accurate way and using movement as an opportunity to regulate our nervous system,” says Vanessa Michielon, founder of the Transformative Movement Method.
There are many benefits to somatic work:
1. Increasing awareness – somatic practices train our capacity to notice the states of our autonomic nervous system; whether we are in a fight, flight, collapse or freeze state, or a calm and socially engaged condition. It also helps to identify possible holding patterns and postural conditionings that represent protective mechanisms we might have been living with for years.
2. A shift of priorities – old metrics of success, like high intensity, competition, and chasing a ‘perfect’ shape, are giving way to movement intelligence. A somatic lens teaches us to refine coordination, movement efficiency, and adaptability in a way that honours our body and mind.
3. Nervous system regulation – somatic techniques prioritise yielding, resting and repairing, helping us release habitual tension and recover from overexertion.
4. Coming back to the body – our culture is obsessed with metrics and optimisation, but more people crave an experience that feels embodied, intuitive and human. There are no mirrors or trackers here – somatic movement re-teaches trust in the body’s cues.
5. Sustainability and longevity – somatic movement supports ease, adaptability and awareness, qualities vital for lifelong mobility and healthy ageing.
For further information and to work with Vanessa Michieon visit vanessamichielon.com.
Micro-Moments of Awe
“Have you ever found yourself looking at the night sky, totally mesmerised by twinkling stars thousands of light years away? Or arrived at the top of a mountain on a hike and, all of a sudden, a new perspective shifts into focus with the realisation that we are a small part in this big world? This experience, this profoundly moving emotion, is called awe – and in 2026, an emerging trend will be to seek out these micro-moments of awe,” says Ciara McGinley, founder of Finding Quiet.
Research shows that awe is both a psychological and physiological full-body experience that can support our wellbeing. While there are different types, positive awe has been found to activate areas of the brain associated with reflection, emotional regulation, awareness and perspective.
It dials down the noise of the ‘ego’, and cultivates connection with others and the world around us. It makes us feel we are part of something much bigger – but in the best way. Awe forces our mind to stretch beyond its current frame of reference, so we can make sense of this profound experience – whether that’s a work or art or a sweeping natural landscape. It expands our perception of time and we feel a sense of vastness within.
A Meditation Practitioner and Sound Bath Facilitator specialising in the physical and mental health benefits that arise from connecting with nature, Ciara adds, “It’s not about escaping to farflung corners of the world to experience awe. In fact, awe can be found in the rhythm of everyday life – and nature is considered a gateway to experiencing awe.
“Blue and green spaces are awe-inducing environments that shift our perspective, engage our senses and ground us in the here and now. Research shows that ‘awe walks’ promote pro-social behaviour and positive emotions.”
Ciara continues, “This year, I think we’re also set to see ‘nature prescriptions’ and immersive outdoor wellness experiences go mainstream.”
Community & Social Fitness
With around 8% of adults reporting to feel lonely ‘often or always’, it’s no surprise so many of us are craving connection – so we can expect to see even more community fitness events and social activities pop-up in 2026.
From mindful walking and silent hikes, running clubs and group classes, exercising with others doesn’t just provide connection and accountability, it also boosts consistency and motivation.
Ciara McGinley explains, “We’ve already seen Gen-Z shift towards wellness-focused lifestyles, so I think this continued focus on spending time in nature to foster connection while also supporting mental and physical health is only natural – just look at the ‘soft hiking’ TikTok trend and the rise in mindful walking groups across the UK.”
Visit findingquiet.co.uk to find out more about upcoming sound bath and meditation experiences hosted by Ciara.
Brain Health
Since the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and led to persistent cognitive problems like brain fog and memory loss in many who contracted the virus, our brain’s vulnerability has been highlighted.
Simultaneously, our often self-diagnosed addiction to doom-scrolling ‘brain rot’ content on social media has made us more aware of the strain we are placing on one of our most vital organs.
Thus, many of us are keen to counteract the effects of our bad habits, and protect our precious cerebrum.
“Clarity, focus, creativity, emotional steadiness – these are becoming the true markers of success, says Health and Nutrition Coach Grace Williams. “Brain health is now at the centre of performance, longevity and wellbeing. Nutrition that supports cognition and mood – with omega-3s, amino acids, creatine, choline, polyphenols – is being prioritised over purely aesthetic goals. The brain, gut and blood sugar are deeply interconnected. When we fuel the brain well, we think clearer, recover faster and lead better.”
She continues, “Wellness 2.0 is where ancient wisdom meets modern technology. Longevity, clarity and resilience are not found in a green juice or 10-step morning routine – they come from supporting the body’s natural intelligence, and now we get to use innovation to do that with more precision.
“This is the next evolution of health: using science to understand our patterns, and wisdom to know when to pause, rest or recalibrate. A space where physiology meets intuition, where nervous system flexibility becomes the new status symbol, and where success is measured by how well we respond, not how much we do.”
To find out more and work with Grace visit grace-williams.com.
Barre for Longevity
The ballet-inspired Barre workout may have been around for a while, but as we are becoming more conscious of tailoring our exercise regime towards specific, personalised goals, the technique is being recognised for its multiple benefits – especially where longevity is concerned.
First developed by Lotte Berk in London in the late 1950s, the Barre method blends ballet and physiotherapy in a unique mix of strength, grace – and burn! Once a niche practice, barre has grown into a boutique fitness favourite thanks to its low-impact yet highly effective results. It sculpts, strengthens and tones without the joint stress of high-impact training, making it appealing across generations and fitness levels.
And with ‘first barre workout’ searches up 600% on TikTok, the workout is fast garnering interest and 2026 looks set to see newcomers embracing the class.
Movement coach, Pilates and Barre specialist and Functional Strength expert Tara Riley has developed a fun and ‘spicy’ take on the classic barre workout that she teaches in both her London studio and her retreats. Her signature Barre and Strength Fusion workouts combine targeted micro-movements with an uplifting soundtrack of ‘80s pop.
She says of the method’s benefits: “I like to think of Barre as precision strength training. There’s a big push, especially for women, to lift weights as we age to maintain bone density and muscle mass. And that’s right – lifting weights is fantastic. Barre can give you similar results because you are doing large range movements, like squats and lunges, but there’s a bit more mobility involved.
“Additionally, you are then asking your muscles to stay in certain positions – like a plie or a squat – and do tiny isometric pulses there. And those are the ones that make you go, ‘Oh my God, why is this burning?’ Barre will work your balance, and improve proprioception, which is when your body knows where it is within a space – and that’s important as you age.”
“My Signature Barre Suite offers four unique styles – Flow, Blast, Empower and Classic – so there’s a workout for every mood and goal. That sense of choice and variety reflects exactly what the modern fitness community is looking for: exercise that feels personal, sustainable, versatile and just a little bit luxe.”
For further information and to train with Tara visit tarariley.co.
