Top 5 Must-Have Fitness Innovations for 2025

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Get the massage

Many individuals anticipate the experience of a massage and eagerly await the vigorous kneading by a stranger. Conversely, some, including myself, carry their stress with them while silently lamenting their own reservations. Thus, the no-contact massage provided by an Alvica reLounge is my redemption. This remarkable apparatus, certified by the American FDA, offers heat therapy, EMS (muscle stimulation), and TENS (electric nerve stimulation) to our weary, stressed backs. Already present in spas, private healthcare facilities, and hotels (such as the Burj Al Arab in Dubai), the reLounge is set to debut in the UK with reservation-only trials available at the Royal Exchange in the City of London. Its objective is to diminish the prevalence of back pain and its various ramifications, both individual and societal.

Your primary task involves putting on a kimono or towel, receiving a gentle mist of water on your back, and reclining on this impressive furniture piece, crafted from oak, leather, and soft LED lighting. Its form is designed to elevate your legs (to enhance blood flow) and align your entire back with the 24-segment mat at the centre of the lounger, the area that administers the electrical treatment alongside a touch-screen control panel. You commence with a scan that evaluates the manner in which your upper and lower back muscles contract upon stimulation and identifies any strengths and weaknesses. This scan (color-coded in red, yellow, and green) is subsequently displayed, saved on the device, and utilized to suggest customized treatments. 

In total, there are 55 treatments available, divided into dynamic massage, muscle therapy (more akin to a gym workout), and pain therapy (for a variety of specific ailments). Once your session begins, there’s no necessity to interact with the screen; an external remote allows you to adjust the intensity at will, and halt if desired. However, you’ll likely prefer to continue; the distinct pressure patterns moving across your back prove thoroughly medicinal, the experience serene and quiet, with a post-session euphoria of contentment propelled by endorphins.

Good sport

Garmin has found an optimal balance between aesthetics and usability with this sport-oriented smartwatch; it’s filled with features (including GPS tracking, a capability missing in its predecessor) yet remains sleek and lightweight, which is a rarity in this category. The touch screen is a subtle monochrome, and the interface (featuring two side buttons) is user-friendly, but it collects a vast amount of data into the Garmin Connect app. Besides routine 24/7 health metrics (heart rate, steps, sleep heart rate variability), you can document specific measures for various activities, ranging from yoga to skiing to tennis. Phone notifications appear consistently (unless you disable them, as I did) and, thanks to its NFC chip, you can conduct contactless transactions easily without needing to retrieve your phone.

Sleep tight

The competition to create the perfect pair of sleepbuds has just heated up. Ozlo, having acquired Bose’s Sleepbud trademark, has introduced its debut product, making it a dream unit for side sleepers: comfortable to wear, stable performance, and sound quality that rivals any earbuds, meant for rest or otherwise. Notably, much of the intelligent engineering is executed by the case, which acts as an audio conduit between the buds and your smartphone while also assessing sound, light, and temperature. Drift off while listening to your favorite sounds; as soon as the biometric sensors within the buds register that you’ve fallen asleep, the soundtrack transitions automatically to soothing, continuous masking sounds intended to maintain your restful slumber. Upcoming firmware upgrades promise an array of tools aimed at tracking and addressing sound disruptions.

And breathe…

Out of all the muscle groups we might contemplate training, those assisting in air supply to the lungs (diaphragm and intercostals) often rank quite low. However, IMT (Inspiratory Muscle Training) can enhance endurance for athletes, wind instrumentalists, and vocalists, in addition to assisting with several health issues. The Powerbreathe Plus serves as a hand-held IMT device featuring adjustable resistance, which you inhale deeply through; a training session consists of 30 breaths, which takes me approximately three minutes. The optional smart adapter that fits between the mouthpiece and the device transmits data to a mobile app that meticulously tracks your escalating aerobic capabilities. As a former bassoon player, I look forward to performing the solo at the beginning of The Rite Of Spring in a single breath.

An emerging treatment to consider…

Robust assertions are made regarding red light therapy (photobiomodulation), particularly its potential to alleviate discomfort and enhance muscle recovery. Photobiomodulation has been examined as a medical resource since the 1960s and is endorsed by NICE for use by individuals whose oral mucosa has suffered due to chemotherapy and radiation. Concerning the effectiveness of at-home photobiomodulation devices, a recent review of research stated that they had observed “largely favorable outcomes” but that “definitive assessment of their effectiveness [would necessitate] further randomized controlled trials”. The Move+ Pro consists of three compact, robust modules, each featuring a blend of infrared lasers and deep-red LEDs. Upon charging (using a USB-C cable connected to a charging case), these modules fit seamlessly into a harness, which can be arranged suitably to encircle your shoulder, knee, ankle, etc. The modules are interconnected, so engaging one of their power buttons activates all three; pressing and holding it allows you to choose between five, 10, or 15 minutes of treatment. Thankfully, I have no discomfort to address, so I cannot personally attest to its effectiveness, yet the design and construction quality is undeniably impressive.