Sleep Quality, Vagus Nerve Stimulation and LED Therapy: These are the Biggest Wellness Trends of 2025
It is hard to believe we have already made it to March of this new year and yet so much chaos has already happened. From political upheaval to natural disasters to war to a frozen job market to whatever you want to call Emilia Perez. It’s a lot. That is why wellness is more important than ever and as this industry, now worth $6.8 trillion, continues to grow and evolve, it becomes harder and harder to keep up with the latest developments and advances as well as trends. That is why we have made a list of the most significant wellness trends being practiced right now and a look into why they are so coveted.
Sleep Quality Awareness
Sleep quality and the importance of it has definitely been under the microscope for the last few years. Sleep as part of wellness has especially grown with spas and hotels putting sleep-wellness trips and offerings at their forefront. The sleep quality trend could honestly be its own entire category as there are several micro-trends within sleep quality such as AI integration with sleep, exercise focused on better sleep, sleep snacks (now you are encouraged to eat snacks for sleep but they have to be healthy like cherry juice), Sleep Coaching and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and have you heard of Therapeutic Laziness? It is basically an entire science devoted to you bedrotting guilt-free. However, this therapy involves less phone scrolling and more making your relaxation time intentionally unproductive to help you recharge both physically and emotionally. Basically it is arguing for you to do nothing and just chill for extended periods to let your brain recharge. JOMO just met its match. Dr Kadam Nagpal, Head, Neuroimmunology and Senior Neurologist at Salubritas Medcentre told IndianExpress.com that though one could argue that meditation or exercise may be considered as ways to relax those require a level of active participation (you gotta put on leggings and a sports bra and decide whether to bring your Stanley or Owala and then, you know, do the workout.) Nagpal said, “Intentional inactivity, also known as ‘therapeutic laziness,’ can have a calming effect on the mind. It permits people to pause, rest, and be without feeling guilty.”
As mentioned earlier, sleep tourism continues to grow. This is travel with the main goal of improving sleep health. More and more hotels are making sleep offerings part of their appeal. March is Sleep Awareness Month and a number of hotels have curated sleep menus and packages like 1 Hotel Central Park, which is partnering with Bamford Wellness for a three-day residency to honor World Sleep Day. This in-suite offering features the Bamford Wellness signature B Silent Treatment, a 60-minute treatment designed to promote deep relaxation and improve sleep quality using products from Bamford’s B Silent range.
National Sleep Month Menu at Virgin Hotels New York City: Virgin Hotels NYC has also introduced a National Sleep Month Menu featuring thoughtful in-room amenities available through the in-room TV ordering system. This National Sleep Month Menu includes: Luxury Sleep Masks; Relaxing Herbal Tea to wind down in the evening; A Day Pass to Halo Salt Therapy at exhale Spa (25 minute session that helps promote relaxation); and an Aphrodita Elixir, a botanical blend designed to promote relaxation and better sleep. And you can opt for the Pillow Menu at The Rockaway Hotel: The hotel ensures guests will have a restful night’s sleep with the Pillow Menu, featuring selections including: a Gel Fiber Pillow, Feather Pillow, “Soft” Pillow, Firm Pillow, Synthetic Pillow, and Body Pillow.
LED Light Therapy
Yup, those disturbing looking masks all the influencers wear may just be the secret to keeping your skin looking young (because filler ain’t going to do it for the long haul.) Rachel Nazarian, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York, explained to “CBS Mornings Plus” that LED (light emitting diodes) produce a focused wavelength that can deeply penetrate the skin, which likely accounts for its significant potential in skin care. The anti-aging effects of LED therapy are numerous as they can stimulate collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles with consistent use, and enhance skin quality. If only the witch from Snow White had known about this. Though LED therapy is being offered at more spas, the at-home masks are considered to be quite effective and safe. The Zutta LED face mask from Amazon is one to consider.
Brunette Hair Makes a Comeback
One could argue this is more of a beauty trend but we will allow it. Good news for brunettes and former brunettes (which, let’s be honest, is the majority of women.) Brown hair is back baby! After years of highlights, ombre, balayage, icy ends, bleach blond and pretty much anything the Kardashians do, good ol’ brown hair is back. L’Oreal Professionnel has seen a rise in Google searches for brunette hair inspiration, especially for #candlelitbrunette and #cherrybrownhair. As a response to this, they’re launching a new range of brunette shades in salons nationwide to meet the growing demand. Now brown hair is gorgeous but it is also cheaper than keeping up blond hair or highlights. The New York Post called this trend “recession hair” You could also opt to be a “lived-in blond” which means partial, versus full, highlights or balayage,but recession brunette just sounds better.
Stimulating the Vagus Nerve to Help with Stress Relief
This one seems like it is out of science fiction but this is really happening (and if you were wondering, yes, Gwyneth Paltrow is on board.) The vagus nerve is essential for communication between the brain and the intestine but it can also play a significant role in stress reduction. If stimulated it can contribute to stress alleviation by shifting the body out of fight or flight mode. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, and ear seeds can help stimulate the nerve but some people are trying more direct approaches such as implanting electrical devices close to the nerve. And now you can do this in the comfort of your own home with handheld devices. “Vagus nerve stimulation pulls you out of that stressful physiologic state. It puts you into a more metabolically stable and healthy state,” Dr. Peter Staats, the chief medical officer for Truvaga, a handheld VNS device, told The New York Post. Truvaga 350 allows for 350 two-minute stimulation sessions and costs $299.
Cold Plunges for Anxiety
If you don’t like the sound of electro-shock therapy (sorry, DIY vagus nerve stimulation) but still want to work on your anxiety, a cold plunge may be for you. Though immersing yourself in freezing cold water (between 44 and 55 degrees) sounds more anxiety inducing it has the opposite impact and has numerous health benefits. Cold plunges stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, optimize circulation, promote detoxification, boost the immune system, and trigger the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, activating the parasympathetic nervous system for faster recovery and mental clarity. As a result cold plunge therapy is being integrated into more and more spa offerings. And if both vagus nerve stimulation and cold plunges still sound stressful a steam in a sauna and a hot tub may be right for you.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s The William Vale hotel has its Scandinavian-inspired al fresco Winter Spa featuring therapeutic treatments in panoramic open-view barrel saunas and deep-soaking red cedar hot tubs through the end of March. You will feel completely rejuvenated with the breathtaking views and soaking up all the benefits such as relieving muscle strain, promoting deeper sleep and detoxifying the body.
Regenerative Wellness
As the trend of regenerative wellness continues to evolve in 2025, a new wave of high-end, medically-focused spa experiences is redefining the future of spa offerings. These spas are not just including traditional relaxation therapies but instead integrating advanced treatments that blend medical-grade precision with holistic healing to optimize the mind, body, and soul. A prime example is the exclusive collaboration between Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and Next|Health, which offers a revolutionary health optimization experience. Here, guests can enjoy a range of cutting-edge therapies such as NAD+ IV (the “fountain of youth”), Ozone Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy, Exosomes Therapy, and customized Vitamin Shots.