Longevity remains the ultimate buzzword of 2025 and people are pursuing it by embracing everything from rucking to pickleball. If your workout is feeling stale, here are the latest fitness crazes that can spice up your routine.
Everyone is Rucking
You may be wondering if vests are the latest fitness fashion trend. They aren’t a style statement. Walkers, hikers, and even yogis are wearing them to get an extra boost from their workouts.
The concept of rucking, or walking with a weighted backpack, isn’t novel. The term originated in the military from the word “rucksack.” For decades, soldiers have used it for training. It’s a simple way to improve your cardio and muscles strength without taxing the joints and can help burn extra calories.
The ease and efficacy of rucking has made it the latest pi in mainstream fitness circles. Goruck, a company that makes weighted vests, now runs more than 500 rucking clubs around the globe. The company recently launched group rucking retreats in destinations such as Costa Rica and programs at hotels. Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks of Missouri introduced rucking in May and it quickly became one of the hotel’s most in-demand offerings, says Operations Manager Barbara Uchtman. “What began as a simple ruck around property has grown into glow-in-the-dark and yoga rucks, where guests ruck to our pool for a 30-minute vinyasa session,” she says. “It’s simple, effective, and energizing. Guests often say they’re inspired to continue rucking well beyond their stay.”
“It’s low impact and the movement can be adapted for both steady-state cardio to build endurance or interval training.”
—Lindsay Ogden, a personal trainer at Life Time Eden Prairie Athletic
Rowing is the New Spinning
Peloton and SoulCycle had their moment. Now, spin-inspired studios like Row House, City Row, and Rō Fitness are attracting members looking for a full-body cardio workout in a lively group setting. Peloton introduced its own rowing machine in 2022, along with instructors and virtual classes. And sleek new equipment designs, like the cherry wood Ergatta machine and the oak WaterRower from Nohrd look nice enough to be left on display in your living room.
Rowing works nearly 90 percent of your muscles and delivers an efficient cardio and strength workout in as little as 15 minutes. “It’s perfect for clients looking to get more variety in their cardio,” says Lindsay Ogden, a personal trainer at Life Time Eden Prairie Athletic in Minnesota. It’s low impact and the movement can be adapted for both steady-state cardio to build endurance or interval training, she says.
Aerobics are Cool Again
Dust off your leg warmers. The iconic 1980s fitness fad has been reimagined for the 2020s crowd. Today’s aerobics-inspired classes take their cues from high intensity interval training workouts. Traditional moves like grapevines and high knees are complemented by exercises from boot camp classes, like squats and mountain climbers, which deliver an extra dose of cardio and strength.
“For years, it was all about hardcore, no-smile workouts,” says Abrea Wooten, who teaches the aerobics-based Remixx classes at Life Time fitness clubs. “Now there’s this fresh excitement around formats that are fun, easy to jump into, and full of energy.” Gen Z is helping lead the charge and through the power of social media has made these formats cool again. “They’re loving the challenge of learning choreography and the chance to express themselves,” Wooten says. “Step classes, in particular, are showing an elevation of over 120% in participation. We’re seeing a whole new generation of group fitness participants fall in love with these retro-inspired moves.”
“Step classes, in particular, are showing an elevation of over 120% in participation. We’re seeing a whole new generation of group fitness participants fall in love with these retro-inspired moves.”
— Abrea Wooten, Remixx instructor, Life Time fitness clubs
Hyrox is the Ultimate Test of Fitness
Fitness competitions like Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, and CrossFit Games have always appealed to the extreme set. Hyrox, a competition that launched in 2018, has become a global sensation thanks to its super accessible format rooted in functional fitness. In the UK event tickets sell out as if it were Glastonbury. Participants run eight repeats of a 1km loop, followed by a circuit station of exercises such as sled pulls and burpee broad jumps, and run 1km between each station.
Hyrox Founder Christian Toetzke describes the competition as the “18-hole golf course of fitness.” One of the fastest-growing fitness businesses, Hyrox will host 83 events with more than 650,000 participants in 2025. And the brand has more than 7,000 training clubs that offer its workouts worldwide, which means you can train like a Hyrox athlete even if you don’t want to compete.
Photo credit: HybridFitty, CC BY 4.0
Mobility Training is Having a Moment
People are finally realizing the importance of training mobility and flexibility. And it doesn’t have to involve yoga. Gyms are introducing dedicated classes such Best Stretch Ever, a group fitness class offered across Equinox fitness clubs that involves joint mobilization, strength training, and deep fascial stretching. And dedicated studios, such as StretchLab and Stretch Zone, offer one-on-one sessions with trained “flexologists” who help loosen tight muscles and ease stiff joints.
Pickleball is Here to Stay
America’s pickleball obsession isn’t fading. It’s been the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for three consecutive years, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, seeing 311% increase in participation. Nearly 20 million people played the easy-to-pick-up paddle sport in 2024. Unlike other racket sports, the learning curve isn’t steep. Nearly anyone can learn to play. Pickleball is played at a slower pace than tennis and covers less ground. The wiffle-like ball is less bouncy, and the paddle is lighter than a tennis racket. But it’s still a workout. Studies have shown it qualifies as a moderate-intensity exercise like yoga or water aerobics. And new pickleball clubs like Bosse in Natick, Massachusetts, and CityPickle in Long Island City, New York, double as community hubs with both courts as well as restaurants and bars for post-play socializing.
Recovery Essentials
The age-old mantra, “no pain, no gain,” has finally fallen out of favor. “People are understanding the importance of taking days off and incorporating active recovery into their routines,” says Albert Matheny, founder of SoHo Strength Lab in New York City.
Cold plunges and infrared saunas have become the new “it” amenities at health clubs, spas, and even homes, as people look to reduce inflammation and improve circulation. Self-massage tools like foam rollers are now staples at gyms and many health clubs also offer percussive massage guns and leg compression sleeves, which can speed up recovery and reduce muscle soreness.
But active recovery can also be as simple as going for a walk, says Matheny. The key is taking time to let your mind and body rest.
