The fitness industry continues to evolve rapidly, with 2025 introducing interesting fitness trends driven by technology, convenience, and a greater focus on holistic health.
Remote personal training is emerging as a standout trend, reshaping how people approach their fitness goals.
Here’s a closer look at this trend and five others poised to define the fitness landscape in South Africa in 2025.
1. REMOTE PERSONAL TRAINING
According to iol.co.za, remote personal training has gained significant interest as people seek flexible and personalised solutions to maintain their health. Leveraging digital platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, and fitness apps, trainers can design customised programs, provide real-time feedback, and track progress from anywhere in the world.
This trend is particularly popular among people balancing busy lifestyles or those seeking to avoid crowded gyms.
South African fitness professionals are also adapting to this trend, with many offering virtual sessions tailored to local needs, such as outdoor workouts or home-based exercises requiring minimal equipment.
Shanna Peterson, owner of BodyLove Dance Studio in KwaZulu-Natal said, “Online training is a no-brainer because it is so convenient, no travel time, no traffic, no parking issues, and you don’t even have to wear makeup”.
“You receive the same benefits of in-studio training without the time wasted on traveling to and from the studio. It’s a diverse online class…from the stay-at-home moms to the high-flying executives of large corporations,” she said.
Peterson said she noticed a change in fitness trends from the beginning of COVID lockdowns.
“Online was already firmly established in numerous countries, but COVID really brought it home, (pardon the pun) for everyone. Many established fitness trainers the world over who were already offering online content led the way for the rest of us by offering live online sessions as well as other prerecorded content that clients could make use of in their own time. This essentially established a library of content of various fitness offerings for clients,” she said.
2. HYBRID FITNESS MODELS
Combining the best in-person and online workouts, hybrid fitness models allow fitness fans to take part in physical gym sessions while accessing virtual classes or pre-recorded content. This approach offers flexibility and is particularly appealing to those who enjoy variety in their workouts.
3. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
According to TechRadar, Smartwatches and fitness trackers remain staples in the fitness world, but 2025 sees an emphasis on advanced metrics like stress levels, sleep quality, and hydration tracking. These innovations help users adopt a more comprehensive approach to their health and wellness.
4. MENTAL WELLNESS AND FITNESS
Workouts designed to enhance mental health, such as yoga, Pilates, mindfulness exercises, and breathing techniques, are gaining popularity.
Peterson believes that a healthy body equals a healthy mind.
“As Joseph Pilates said, Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness,”she said.
Fitness routines that combine physical exertion with stress-relief strategies address the growing awareness of mental well-being.
5. GROUP VIRTUAL FITNESS CHALLENGES
Virtual fitness challenges bring people together from across the world to compete and motivate one another. These challenges often incorporate gamification, making workouts engaging and fun.
DOES THE LATEST FITNESS TREND, TIKTOK WALL PILATES WORK?
The TikTok trend of wall Pilates has gained popularity for its simplicity and accessibility. Wall Pilates is a low-impact workout using the wall as support to perform a series of Pilates-inspired movements.
EACH TO THEIR OWN
Peterson explains…
“Wall Pilates is meant to mimic Joseph Pilates’ method of Contrology, performed on the piece of equipment he designed, the reformer. Unfortunately, it is not the same thing – a wall can never be a reformer.
“But each to their own… however, none of the brilliant Pilates instructors and mentors that I know are offering wall Pilates in their studios. My advice…do proper Pilates with a properly trained and certified Instructor. In South Africa that would be either BASI or STOTT Pilates,” she said.
The fitness trends for 2025 demonstrate a clear focus on accessibility, personalisation, and sustainability. Remote personal training, bolstered by technology, is leading the charge, empowering individuals to stay fit on their terms.
WHAT FITNESS TRENDS WILL YOU BE BUYING INTO IN 2025?
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