Goat yoga is out, sleep concierges are in: 6 new wellness trends to watch

Ready for a wellness getaway? You're not alone. The global wellness tourism industry is booming, predicted to soon be worth more than a trillion dollars a year. Self-care is in, stress is out, and a balanced nervous system is the ultimate flex. In the fast-paced (and sometimes furious) world we live in, it seems more and more of us just want to feel better, and we're willing to travel far and wide to cure what ails us.

But wellness travel has come a long way from the days of goat yoga and fat-loss retreats. Here are the wellness world's six hottest trends, plus how and where to tap into them.

The good news is health and wellness holidays have come a long way since the punishing days of strictly enforced hikes and vegetable broth for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I speak from experience: years ago, I flew to Queensland for five days to stay at a well-regarded spa retreat. It looked so serene yet indulgent in the brochure, but in reality they rationed out the bland food as stingily as if we were all on a hunger strike and woke us at dawn's crack to run up hills.

Once released from this ravenous hell, I made straight for the airport kiosk to refuel with a Kit Kat and some Pringles. Wellness mission, not accomplished.

So, it was a lovely surprise recently at Absolute Sanctuary on Koh Samui to experience a health program that was all about guided meditation, yoga, nutritious meals and daily massages from some of the most caring bodywork experts in Thailand.

I left Samui feeling like a new, improved, satiated version of myself. If this is wellness in 2025, I want more of it, namaste.

I'm not alone in the quest. The search for quality experiences that promote physical and emotional wellbeing is leading many to spa clinics in Switzerland, silent retreats in Bhutan and digital detoxes in California.

Wellness travel means different things to different people. It can be a multi-day walk in nature in Japan, high-tech diagnostic testing at a Costa Rican longevity clinic or a pampering package in Bali. It can even mean checking in to a hotel, closing the curtains and settling in for a good, long nap.

Hotels around the world are transforming their rooms, gyms, spas, menus and leisure facilities to cater to the demand for healthier holidays. Accor, one of the largest global hotel operators, surveyed 7500 customers across six countries and found that 79 per cent of them identified wellness as a priority.

Expect to see more collaborations between hotels and wellness-minded celebrities. Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has partnered with Aman, for example, as the ultra-luxury brand's first global wellness advisor. As part of a multi-year partnership, he has launched a series of "longevity pathways" at seven Aman properties from New York to Thailand and Turks & Caicos, spanning supervised fasts, sunrise yoga and traditional Ayurvedic treatments.

Another wellness trend, the rapid rise in popularity of low- and no-alcohol libations, has hotels rethinking champagne welcomes, minibar choices and main bar menus. As much thought is now put into creative mocktail recipes as it is to boozy cocktails and fancy wine lists.

We're also living in the age of sleep concierges who specialise in improved shut-eye, next-level organic beds and dreamy snooze playlists. Zedwell, London's first sleep-focussed hotel group, has prioritised noise-reducing walls and superior mattresses for a blissful slumber. At Soneva's two idyllic locations in the Maldives, guests can sign up for the Soneva Soul Sleep program.

The beds at Four Seasons properties are so well-made for optimal sleep, there's a risk of weary guests oversleeping. That happened to me at their hotel in Portugal, sleeping so deeply I almost missed my flight the next day. In truth, I wouldn't have minded if the plane had taken off and left me in lovely Lisbon.

I've stretched out my limbs on complimentary-loan yoga mats in the privacy of hotel rooms from Hawaii to Hanoi. More than once, I've taken up the offer of a relaxing herbal soak in a tub drawn by a bath butler.

At the Organic Spa conference in New York last year, Dr Michael Roizen, the chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic, explained how there is an 80 per cent probability that medical advances in the not-too-distant future will make it possible for 90-year-olds to reverse their genetic ageing clocks by up to 50 years.

Therapies and targeted "biohacks" will soon make it possible for older people to restore the strength and vigour they had in their middle-aged years and to live much longer, according to the good doctor. My first thought? I'd better start adding more to my superannuation fund.

Travellers are flocking to spa hotels and longevity clinics where they can have a full suite of diagnostic health tests undertaken, while enjoying treatments ranging from massage to vibroacoustic therapy and saltroom immersion, all in luxe surrounds.

Six Senses has launched a multi-day Female Wellness program, aimed at helping perimenopausal and menopausal women improve their hormonal balance. It includes supervised fasting, glucose monitoring and sleep tracking at glamorous locations including the Maldives, Vietnam and Italy.

At The Langham, Sydney, a pioneering collaboration with IV Nation means guests can now hydrate and boost their energy with B12 shots and vitamin infusions at Australia's first in-hotel intravenous therapy facility.

Thailand leads the world in assimilating East/West, modern/ancient treatments and innovative approaches to healthy living. At RAKxa Integrative Wellness retreat outside Bangkok, guests can step into a cryotherapy chamber, undergo DNA analysis and micronutrient testing, enjoy traditional Thai massage and get a Botox shot. And that's just before lunch.

Some of the most popular wellness trends of 2025 are inspired by traditional healing methods that have been used for centuries.

Taking the waters has never been hotter, from the abundantly mineral-rich springs in Palm Springs, California, to Korean bathhouses and thermal spas in regional Victoria. The undisputed highlight of my recent visits to Reykjavik, Budapest and Fukuoka was marinating for hours in piping-hot geothermal water.

From bathing to soundbaths, stressheads are turning to Himalayan bowls, tuning forks, chimes and crystals for a serve of auditory Zen. What's not to love about curling up and listening to soothing sounds? I enjoy a good soundbath, but have had to stifle giggles during a couple of posey, pretentious attempts.

The one wellness treatment I will always sign up for is a massage with CBD oil or balm. Derived from the cannabis plant, CBD is non-intoxicating and doesn't cause the mind-altering effects associated with marijuana. It has an incredibly powerful effect on stress, muscle aches and inflammation (don't plan on doing anything but chill out after a treatment). I've tried it in spas from Koh Samui to West Hollywood and central London. It's a 10 out of 10 recommend.

All aboard! The focus on healthy holidays is growing as quickly on cruise ships as it is on land. For many wellness-minded passengers, cruising is no longer about maxing out the unlimited drinks package or piling up plates at the buffet. It's an opportunity to soak up vitamin D and fresh air, and to make use of spas and fitness facilities that are as good as anything you'll find on terra firma.

There's no excuse to skip a workout on a cruise, with fitness classes at sea now available from the most popular international fitness franchises. On a recent Princess Cruises voyage, I did my valiant best in classes led by Pure Barre, StretchLab and CycleBar instructors.

NCL guests can choose from high-intensity boot camps, TRX suspension training, indoor cycling and yoga. On select Celebrity Cruises ships, F45, Peloton, HIIT and bungee workouts are on the menu.

With ample time to attend specialist lectures and workshops onboard, cruisers are also driving the demand for themed voyages and expert instruction. Book a golf cruise and improve your swing at some of the best golf courses in the world, or explore Europe on two wheels when you take a river cruise that offers daily guided bike rides.

On Viking ocean ships, unlimited access to the Nordic Spa is included for all passengers (massages and other treatments are at additional cost). The spas are some of the very best at sea, softly lit and fitted out with heated pools, hot tubs, snow grottos, saunas, steam rooms and heated ceramic loungers.

During a cruise from Montreal to New York on Viking Mars, I visited the spa almost every night at 7pm. While other guests were at dinner, I had the spa and all facilities to myself. It was blissful, one of the most relaxing cruises I've ever been on. I floated off the ship in the Big Apple.

Viking's signature spa treatments are inspired by Scandinavia, including the Northern Stillness combination of blueberry body wrap and invigorating back massage. The Arctic Cure involves dry brushing, remedial cupping and hot stone massage.

In November, Crystal will set sail on its second annual wellness retreat cruise, featuring special treatments at Aurora Spa, nutrition consultations, art journalling, meditation under the stars, breathwork and mental wellbeing coaching. All that, plus some of the best cruise cuisine (the only Nobu at sea), should keep body, mind and soul happy.