From padel to callisthenics, these are the fitness trends to watch out for in 2025

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Its benefits are similar to tennis, offering competition, as well as a great form of stop/start exercise to help boost your cardio and muscular endurance.” It’s proving particularly popular “thanks to its social nature” and the fact it’s easily accessible, Oakey suggests: “Once you’ve found your local court, all you need is a racket, a ball and a partner.” Callisthenics If you’ve ever seen anyone doing impressive handstands in the gym, there’s a good chance they might be doing callisthenics – a type of body weight conditioning. As Carla Khouri, qualified mountain leader and outdoor instructor from the Merrell Hiking Club, says: “The UK is witnessing a hiking renaissance, with the activity poised to become one of 2025’s hottest fitness trends. As more people embrace this natural approach to fitness, they’re not just reaping the benefits of exercise, they’re also feeling a sense of community, adventure, and a renewed connection with the great outdoors.” Open water swimming Hiking isn’t the only outdoor activity set to make waves in 2025. Not only is it a lot of fun, Phippen says: “This style of training can improve strength, power and functional performance as it engages multiple muscle groups in the body, and promotes better posture and body mechanics.” Roller skating Roller skating hit its stride during the early days of the pandemic, and experts believe it’s going to see another burst in popularity in 2025 – particularly as sales of rollerskates went up by 30% at Decathlon in the last year.