The origins of wellness began with ancient practices like ayurveda as far back as 3000 B.C. By the 2000s, modern wellness trends like workplace wellness and boutique fitness became more commonplace. And we are now entering the age of custom wellness, largely driven by celebrities' obsession with anti-aging and living longer, trickling down to the mainstream.
If there's one word you're going to hear in 2025, it's longevity. Not only do we want to live fuller, more satisfying lives, we want to live as long as possible.
In pursuit of staying abreast of the fascinating world of wellness, we spoke with four local experts on trends they're seeing clients loving and asking more of.
Dr. Christine Salem, owner of Precision Health & Wellness, encourages people to get their labs done and schedule a consultation at the beginning of the year in order to get off on the right foot come January 1.
"Taking care of your health starts with awareness," Dr. Salem says. "And there’s no better way to kick off the new year than by understanding what’s going on in your body."
Dr. Salem says red light therapy, a non-invasive treatment that uses red or near-infrared light to stimulate cells and promote healing, is one of her favorite tools for boosting cellular health and supporting skin and energy.
"Bringing the Sciton Laser into our practice has been one of the most exciting milestones at Precision Health & Wellness," Dr. Salem says. "Patients fall in love with their skin through treatments like the BBL Hero for brightening and evening tone and the Halo Laser for rejuvenation and texture improvement."
Other key components of longevity offered at Precision Health & Wellness include Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, medically assisted weight loss and NAD+.
Rebecca Milnes, owner of The Avenu Wellness Center, has seen firsthand how much suffering (physical, mental and psychological) can be alleviated by the innovative treatments offered at The Avenu, finding the hyperbaric oxygen chamber particularly beneficial for post-stroke and post-concussion repair.
According to Milnes, the oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber is pressurized, which alters the way it is delivered in the body.
"Pressurized oxygen is able to travel deeper in the body than through the normal respiration system," Milnes explains. "The pressurization also increases the amount of energy produced by the body."
Coupled with diminishing pain, a hyperbaric oxygen session accelerates healing of tissue and bone, creates new stem cells and helps with nerve regeneration.
In addition to anti-aging remedies and energy-boosting therapies, staying physically active is, of course, a big piece of the health puzzle that can't be ignored.
Megan and Pete Yeh, owners of Starting Strength Columbus, say that exercise is so important that "you must make fitness a priority by scheduling it into your calendar and ensuring family support." Further, the two encourage to focus on workouts that provide measurable health benefits like strength gains (lifting more weight) "rather than just feeling sore or sweaty."
The duo explains that fitness trends like focusing solely on cardio or low-fat diets are "finally fading," which is a result of the consumer taking a more informed approach to what matters for overall health and longevity.
"Now, more than ever, there is a greater emphasis on self-care, healthy lifestyle choices and muscle-building as a solution to obesity and age-related frailty," they say. "Strength training empowers individuals to take control of their lives and face difficulties with greater confidence."
The key to a successful wellness program no matter what your workout or treatment of choice is? Consistency.