Table of contents
1. Virtual fitness
The trend toward online training has long been established, but virtual training will be even better in 2025. Remote personal training, perhaps the biggest fitness trend in 2025, is only a small part of virtual fitness. It also includes on-demand fitness classes, live classes, fitness apps, fitness community platforms and more.
Thanks to ever-evolving new technologies and accessibility for all, the virtual fitness trend is unlikely to leave us anytime soon. The biggest benefits: an incredible variety of programs, sports and trainers, and the ability to customize your workout at any time.
Virtual fitness solutions allow you to participate in live workouts from the comfort of your own home. VR goggles and augmented reality (AR) make workouts even more immersive and motivating. The lines between the real and virtual worlds are blurring.
For VR to work, the user must wear a special headset and move around the simulated environment using hand controllers or gloves. As the technology develops and new features are added, VR will become an increasingly interesting way for people to exercise.
VR could be the future of fitness training, enabling social integration, advanced biometric tracking, tactile feedback and integration with AI tools. As VR technology improves and becomes more accessible, we are likely to see a boom in this new type of training, including the ability for trainers to connect with clients around the world on a much deeper level.
The biggest hurdles to virtual training are finding the motivation and performing the exercises correctly. For some sports, it is certainly advisable to have a coach look at the execution of the movements from time to time.
2. Remote personal training
Among the myriad of technological innovations, artificial intelligence stands out as a particularly transformative force, and AI is redefining the role of the personal trainer. Instead of following generic training plans, more and more sports enthusiasts are turning to AI-driven features that offer adaptive training plans, real-time feedback and trend predictions. Several sources predict that remote personal training will be one of the biggest sports trends in 2025.
Fitness apps and smart devices are increasingly able to analyze individual data such as body composition, fitness level and even daily form in real time to recommend tailored training sessions. The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the fitness sector not only enables a highly personalized training experience, but also increases emotional engagement and motivation through an almost human approach.
Some potential benefits of AI coaching include:
- Round-the-clock support: automated tools never sleep, so people can turn to them and get answers to their questions within minutes, regardless of the time of day.
- Affordable: AI tools are more affordable than the cost of personal training or nutrition counseling.
- Tailored advice: AI analyzes each person’s data to make its recommendations increasingly accurate and relevant.
While AI is useful in many ways, it also has significant drawbacks:
- Lack of human touch: While a chatbot can answer questions and help with decision-making, it lacks empathy, understanding, and the ability to solve complex problems.
- Lack of motivation: To master a new exercise, do the right number of repetitions, learn from mistakes, and stay motivated during a workout, you need the guidance of a real trainer.
- Generic answers: While AI tools are impressive and becoming more sophisticated, they tend to oversimplify complex issues and give people similar answers in different situations.
3. Strength training
In parallel with the technological revolution, physical strength remains a central element of a comprehensive health routine. Strength training has regained its importance in fitness trends. It is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass and is recommended at least twice a week.
Strength training is closely linked to longevity and has numerous mental and physical benefits. Studies show that regular strength training not only increases longevity, but also improves sleep quality and reduces mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
However, the days of having to choose between strength and cardio training are over. In 2025, we will see more programs that combine multiple disciplines to maximize endurance, muscle gain and fat burning. With HIIT approaches and workouts that include both strength and cardio components, you can do more in less time.
4. Functional training
Functional fitness is any form of physical activity that prepares the body for real-world activities, including everyday tasks such as shopping and climbing stairs. The goal is to train the body so that muscles learn to work together, perform more complex movements, and keep us safe.
At its core, functional fitness is about our innate desire to move and stay fit. After all, life and longevity require a body that can move in a variety of ways. Exercises are designed to support and strengthen the body’s natural movement patterns, resulting in improved functional fitness.
There is a lot of talk about functional fitness and how it differs from traditional gym workouts. But almost all forms of exercise are functional, some just a little more so than others.
For example, even a simple biceps curl can be considered functional because it strengthens a muscle involved in pulling movements. Overhead presses are also functional because they help us lift heavy objects overhead. This can come in handy the next time you need to carry a heavy suitcase into the luggage compartment of an airplane or train.
Deadlifts are a great way to learn how to safely lift heavy objects off the ground. It may not sound like much, but countless people injure themselves by improperly lifting heavy objects.
5. HYROX
Hybrid training has been on the rise in recent years. People who traditionally only work out in the gym are changing their habits and trying their hand at marathons and hybrid runs.
HYROX is the ideal sport for hybrid training fans and is certainly the most eventful of the 2025 fitness trends. HYROX is a fitness competition that combines elements of cardio and strength training.
The sweat-inducing indoor fitness competitions include running events and a fitness course where competitors run through eight different stations, each of which presents a physical challenge. Each station consists of a specific exercise such as rowing, skiing, running, sled pushes and pulls, wall balls, kettlebell swings and other functional movements. Participants compete against each other in different age groups and levels of difficulty.
6. Fitness programs for older adults
Increasing life expectancy, demographic changes and a growing interest in healthy aging have led to an increased focus on fitness programs for older adults. Regular physical activity remains an important strategy for this population to maintain overall health, prevent chronic disease, improve quality of life and promote independent living.
Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, function and strength, affects a large proportion of older adults and increases the risk of frailty and/or falls. However, this population is less likely to achieve recommended levels of physical activity for their health. Developing fitness programs that address the needs of the aging population is our sixth fitness trend for 2025.
Conclusion
In 2025, the fitness landscape will continue to evolve with a mix of cutting-edge technology and traditional approaches. Virtual fitness, enhanced by VR and AR, will offer immersive experiences, while AI-driven personal training will provide tailored, real-time support. Strength training and functional fitness will remain critical to overall health, with an emphasis on longevity and practical movement. The hybrid training trend, exemplified by HYROX competitions, will attract athletes seeking dynamic, goal-oriented challenges. Finally, fitness programs for older adults will address their unique needs, promoting healthy aging and preventing age-related problems. Together, these trends demonstrate the many ways fitness is becoming more inclusive, innovative and impactful.
