I’m sitting in a sealed, submarine-esque chamber breathing in 95% pure oxygen from an airplane emergency mask and counting my blessings that I’m not claustrophobic. No, I’m not embarking on a deep-sea expedition; I’m sitting in a slick wellness clinic in Battersea Power Station, testing its health-boosting Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
After years of late nights, gallons of wine and 736 Deliveroos (yes, an accurate figure), I’m finally ready to take care of myself – and it seems I’m not alone. According to NIQ, people are future-proofing their health, with 57% of the population now prioritising ‘ageing well’ and 55% willing to spend over £100 a month on wellness.
But which of the trends you’ve witnessed on TikTok are worth your time and money? I’ve done the hard work for you by testing everything from futuristic Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to ancient Qi Gong to break down exactly what 2026 has in store for your health – plus ways to incorporate these trends into your routine on a budget at home.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves casually settling down into a military-grade chamber, fixing on an airplane emergency mask and breathing in 90-95% pure oxygen. This apparently helps enhance tissue repair, boost energy levels, support cognitive function, and reduce systemic inflammation – essentially amplifying the body’s natural healing and regenerative mechanisms.
“HBOT has been our biggest breakthrough this year,” declares Ashleigh Auckland, Fractional Chief Marketing Officer of Biowell Health. “We’re seeing everyone use it; elite athletes, individuals recovering from traumatic brain injury, women navigating menopause, founders looking to improve cognitive endurance, and anyone wanting faster healing or better brain health.”
After an initial panic my ears were going to explode, I’m breathing in pure oxygen and feeling calm and alert – a feeling akin to one I experienced in a Las Vegas nightclub famous for blasting oxygen onto the dancefloor at 5 am to keep gamblers going for longer. I got home and didn’t snap at my kids, I fell asleep within 20 minutes, and a further session genuinely cured my hard-to-banish migraine.
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"I put a little electrode here in my ear. It stimulates my autonomic nervous system, trying to make my body more parasympathetic, more chill,” declared tech millionaire Bryan Johnson on his Netflix documentary, Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever. I want in.
However, the ‘little electrode’ that Johnson casually refers to is actually a £599 device called NuroSym by ParaSym. It’s a wearable gadget designed to stimulate the vagus nerve – one of the major nerves that connects your brain to your body and helps regulate automatic functions like heart rate, breathing, digestion, stress response and mood.
I clip it onto my ear as I crawl into bed, crank up the notches until I feel a light tingling and let the device work its magic. These tiny signals travel up into the brainstem and interact with the nervous system, boosting the parasympathetic nervous system - your body’s ‘rest and digest’ mode - which counterbalances stress responses. Six months on, and this device has become my nightly ride-or-die. I genuinely sleep deeper and wake feeling more calm and focused.
There’s no denying the price tag is off-putting, which is why Tracey Adam, Qi Gong Practitioner & Breath Coach, believes you can stimulate your vagus nerve by simply massaging your ears. “Qi Gong is a slow, gentle practice that blends movement, breath and awareness to help the body feel more balanced and supported. It’s often experienced as a way of softening tension, calming the nervous system and creating a sense of space — physically, mentally and emotionally. One of the reasons Qi Gong is so accessible is that it can be practised at home, with simple, adaptable movements that meet the body where it is. Even a few minutes a day can help restore a feeling of groundedness, ease and connection. Gentle ear massage is sometimes used in Qi Gong, with slow, mindful strokes around the outer ear helping to stimulate the vagus nerve and encourage the body’s natural relaxation response."
Really focus on the tragus, the small flap just in front of the ear canal and using your index finger, tap or gently press and release this area on each ear for another 30–60 seconds. This is one of the most commonly targeted areas for vagus nerve stimulation. To deepen the effect, add humming or slow exhalations while tapping. Aaaaand relax.
But let's be real, coffee still tastes better.
Most people's New Year's resolution involves pounding the pavement in a bid to get fitter. Mine? Laying beneath my Higher Dose Red Light Mat every other night. Aside from causing my room to resemble something from Amsterdam's red light district, this red light mat uses targeted red and near-infrared wavelengths that mimic the beneficial parts of sunlight without heat or UV exposure to support skin vitality, mood, muscle recovery, and circadian balance.
As Max Clarke, Co-Founder of Healf, a UK-based health-tech company on a mission to empower wellbeing by connecting people to the world’s best wellbeing products, explains: “Red light therapy is one of those wellness trends that can deliver great results for skin, energy and mood without a whole lot of effort. It’s also one that feels both premium and practical — you can put on a red light face mask or panel for 15 minutes a day and engage in other activities.”
And Max is adamant that the growing body of scientific evidence behind red light therapy proves its benefits. “For skin, the best-supported evidence shows that red and near-infrared light can support collagen and elastin production in the skin, potentially improving elasticity and firmness over time. When used after sunset and in place of artificial blue light, red light therapy can also offer the benefit of syncing your circadian rhythm and promoting deeper rest at night/energy in the day.” Max predicts that over the next year, we may well all be wearing a red light device (think caps for hair growth and targeted bands). “Performance can vary drastically by device, so opting for high-quality brands is essential,” adds Max, who sells notable brands include BON CHARGE, HigherDOSE and Therabody on Healf. I'm a fortnight in to using my red light mat every other night and I can already feel the benefits; I'm sleeping miles better, my post-partum blotchy skin has cleared up and I genuinely look forward to crawling under it (plus, you can watch the latest episode of Traitors whilst doing so).
Thanks to COVID changing the WFH landscape, we’ve spent years hunched, crossed-legged at our computers – and wreaked havoc with our posture in the process. “We ‘posture people’ stand tall, feel proud, stay active and live pain-free,” declares Posture Ellie, a posture therapist who runs a membership platform called The Posture Squad and is the author of 'Posture Power'.
Ellie believes that improving your posture is less about holding yourself stiffly and more about improving your movement patterns across every joint and muscle in your body, through corrective posture exercises.
“By changing the quality and efficiency of your movement patterns, you'll change your body's ability to handle more quantity of movement. You'll stop blaming your age or your sport for your injuries, and you'll realise it was imbalances in your posture all along.” I’ve been a member of Ellie’s Posture Squad for six months, and it has completely enhanced my mobility; I actually discovered that I need to focus on my foot and hip function to address my upper body issues. “Without pain and stiffness dragging you down, you can concentrate on simply enjoying and excelling at your sports and hobbies and, crucially, spending enjoyable, quality time with your friends and family, free from limitations.” To get you started, Ellie shares helpful introductory videos on her Instagram and YouTube.
‘People are suddenly rediscovering the power of human touch,” Flavia Morellato, Lymphatic Drainage and Post-op Expert who works with Ellie Goulding and Millie Mackintosh, explains. “After years of so much technology, screens and biohacking, my clients are overwhelmed, overstimulated and emotionally taxed. Touch feels grounding, nourishing and emotionally regulating. It brings people back into their bodies.”
That’s exactly why touch-based therapies like lymphatic drainage, gentle massages that encourage the movement of lymph fluids around the body, are so popular for calming the nervous system, reducing inflammation, and helping the body exit ‘survival mode’.
Resembling an immobile slug, I’ve been seeing Flavia for years to give me the energy boosts I need to get through early mornings and late nights with two kids under four - and it works instantly. I feel lighter, more energised and less like a walking toxin. Sessions start from £200 but Flavia emphasises that simple at-home rituals can make all the difference to your health. Morning light, tongue scrapping, breathing practices, leg elevations before bed and lymph-friendly routines at home (see her Instagram for at-home tutorials) are simple ways to make all the difference.
As I aimlessly peruse TikTok waiting for my toddler to fall asleep, I’m met with impossibly calming videos of someone getting their scalp massaged in a serene, dimly lit room while water gently cascades over their hair. Originating from Japanese shiatsu traditions, head spas focus on scalp health, combining therapeutic massage, deep cleansing, aromatherapy, and targeted pressure-point work. “The experience is as much about restoring balance to the mind and nervous system as it is about improving the condition of your hair,” says my spa therapist at Woolley Grange.
The treatment costs £85 for 55 minutes, but you can easily recreate a Japanese head spa at home with a little TikTok inspo. Begin by warming scalp oil between your hands and massaging it slowly into your scalp using circular movements to melt tension and boost circulation. Then wrap your hair in a warm, damp towel or sit near a gentle, steamy shower to soften buildup and open the follicles. Once your scalp feels relaxed and supple, cleanse with a clarifying shampoo, taking your time to massage as you wash. Then apply a nourishing conditioner or hair mask from mid-length to ends and continue a light scalp massage while it sits. Rinse with cool water (or sparkling water for a more authentic experience) to boost shine and pop on a viral ASMR Japanese head spa TikTok video in the background for the full experience.
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Cold plunges a la Winhoff are very 2025; next year is all about contrast therapy. Practised for centuries by Finnish people, contrast therapy involves alternating between heat and cold exposure by moving from a hot sauna (or hot bath) into a cold plunge, ice bath or cold shower in repeated cycles. This hot–cold routine is designed to create a kind of ‘vascular workout’ for your blood vessels and nervous system, enhancing circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting relaxation and recovery - it’s little surprise that Jennifer Aniston and Demi Moore have raved about the transformative benefits. “Contrast therapy can promote mental clarity, better sleep, reduced anxiety, and a boosted mood (all contributing to greater emotional resilience and overall wellness),” says David Jackson at ProBreathwork.
These bohemian oases where tops are optional and ambient sound baths and chillout zones are commonplace are wholesome sober hangout spots.
The spa team at Pennyhill Park in Surrey, the official England Rugby training ground, are so convinced by the benefits that they've launched a Contrast Therapy Journey, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a carefully curated journey of hot and cold, moving between their ice igloo, plunge pool, drench bucket, experience showers, and steam and sauna rooms.
Despite a few pathetic squeals in the ice igloo, the circulatory boot camp fixed my niggling backache and brain fog in 30 minutes. "It’s like pressing the reset button for your body and mind,” explains David, who will be launching a Contrast Therapy retreat at Pennyhill Park. Try it at home by simply spending a few minutes in a hot shower and one minute in a cold shower.
According to Max Clarke, co-founder of Healf, people could even be swapping wine-fuelled nights at the pub for sober ice plunges. “People are no longer just seeing health and wellness as a way to tune into themselves, but they’re leveraging it as a way to tune into the people around them. From sauna raves to run clubs to community-centred ice plunging, the list of spaces to connect through wellbeing is vast and growing.”
I blame my hormones for a lot of things (just ask my long-suffering husband), but hormones quietly influence everything from energy, mood, weight and sleep to fertility, longevity, and mental wellbeing. Topics once considered taboo - perimenopause, PCOS, postpartum hormone shifts - are now mainstream conversations and people are seeking practical ways to support internal regulation and work with the body’s natural rhythms.
“One of the key trends will be low-effort, nervous-system-aware tools that fit into everyday life,” says Ada Ooi, Founder of 001 London. That’s why she’s launched purse-friendly at-home patches that use gentle warmth and functional herbs to help balance our hormones. Ada’s Thermal Hormone Balance Acu-Patch, which I felt the positive effects of in mere seconds, works by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing stress hormones, slowing heart rate, and easing muscle tension.
Ada says foot rituals will also emerge as a major wellness focus to help hormone health. “The feet are a powerful yet often overlooked regulatory centre. In both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western science, the feet play a critical role in circulation, nervous-system signalling and systemic balance, meaning that targeted foot care can influence how the entire body relaxes and restores. That’s why I launched my Functional Restore Foot Soak, which supports circulation, relaxation and parasympathetic activation."
The benefits of the nutrient are major, but overdoing it can come with some consequences.
Thanks to the plethora of trendy water bottles on the market, suddenly everyone knows exactly how hydrated you are, how many litres you’ve consumed, and which limited-edition colourway sold out in 30 seconds (Stanley Quencher, we’re looking at you). But it isn’t just the amount of water you drink but rather the quality of it that’s important.
From advanced filtration systems to mineral-balanced spring waters, pure hydration is being recognised as foundational for energy, digestion, skin health and hormonal balance. As Sans, Co-Founder, Adam Bedford, explains: “Water quality plays a much bigger role in health than most people realise, and we’re still uncovering the full impact. Emerging research suggests a link between long-term exposure to certain chemicals in drinking water and neurological conditions, and there are repeated examples of chemicals leaching into municipal water supplies. Against that backdrop, people will start questioning everyday choices like drinking straight from the tap or relying on basic pitcher filters and start looking for better solutions.”
I put the Sans Water Purifier (£399.99), which features a four-stage reverse osmosis system that removes 99% of contaminants including lead, chlorine, PFAS, and microplastics, to the test. Slick, easy to use and far better for the planet than my Perrier sparkling water habit, I’m a convert. A cheaper option is the Ninja Jug, which creates pure water and infuses it with beneficial alkaline minerals, for a much more reasonable £29.99.
Ultimately, next year's wellness trends aren't about pushing our bodies to the limit, but more about slowing down and actually listening to what we need to thrive. “In 2026, awareness of inflammaging is growing as people become more interested in what’s happening inside their bodies, not just how they look on the outside," explains Sasha Watkins, Mindful Chef's Head of Health.
Inflammaging is the low-grade, chronic inflammation that tends to increase as we get older due to daily habits including diet, stress, sleep and activity levels. “Rather than dramatic fixes, attention is turning to steady, supportive routines that reflect a broader re-definition of health; one that values balance, nourishment and consistency over extremes, and recognises that small, repeatable habits can play a meaningful role in supporting health as we age.” From resetting your nervous system with some gentle ear tapping to adding a water filter to your kitchen arsenal, there are so many simple and sustainable ways to support your health for the long-term. And with the UK’s fastest-growing wellbeing company, Healf, now selling supplements and red light masks on Deliveroo, I guess I have no excuse.
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