TESTED: As Someone Obsessed With Discovering What Helps Humans Thrive, These Are the Trends I’m Keeping in 2026

As long as I can remember, I have always been slightly obsessed with one question: What actually helps humans thrive?

Not simply survive, manage symptoms or just become more productive…

What makes us feel deeply alive, content, connected, purposeful, resilient, healthy and capable of experiencing the full spectrum of being human?

I guess you could say its a calling, as i decided to pursue Holistic Kinesiology and become a As a Holistic Natural Therapist back in 2010. Now, after more than a decade working with people, combined with my own slightly obsessive experimentation with psychology, nervous-system regulation, breathwork, movement, nutrition, relationships, spirituality, consciousness and longevity, I have become increasingly interested in separating the genuinely useful from the wellness-industry noise.

So, these are some of the things I am keeping in 2026.

Some are backed by mountains of evidence, some are emerging areas of research but which I've personally found fascinating and effective enough to keep exploring. Some are ancient practices that science is only beginning to understand, but they are all things I think are worth the hype.

1. Meaning, Purpose and Spirituality

This is probably my biggest one.

I increasingly think we have underestimated how important meaning is to human health.

What do I mean when I say spirituality? If you’ve ever had a session you may have heard me talk about your sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight.) Simply put, your sympathetic nervous system is there to meet the needs of the physical body (food, mates, shelter, resources etc.) We develop our personality (ego) to meet those needs. Eg. My sense of humour ensnares allies, my six pack gets me healthy mates for healthy offspring, my work ethic makes me money, etc, etc. The ego keeps the body going so the soul can have a human experience. That’s great, you can and should optimise your sleep, take your supplements, exercise religiously and eat beautifully, but eventually, once those basic survival needs are taken care of humans are left with some pretty big questions:

What is the whole point?

What am I doing here?

What matters to me?

Who do I love?

What am I contributing?

What makes this life worth living?

The Blue Zones researchers identify purpose as one of the common characteristics of the world's longest-lived populations, and their widely cited "Power 9" framework suggests that having a sense of purpose may be associated with as much as seven additional years of life expectancy.

I'm increasingly convinced that purpose is a health behaviour.

Spirituality can also provide something many modern people are desperately missing: a sense of connection to something larger than the individual self. And I don't mean organised religion necessarily.

It might be nature. Community. God. The universe. Service. Art. Consciousness. A sense of sacredness. Devotion to something you believe is worth protecting. You’ll notice many of the practices I discuss here also help us get beyond our individualistic programming, which is not a coincidence.

Without some form of meaning and onement with the rest of life, it is remarkably easy for life to become a treadmill of consumption, achievement and distraction.

So, how on Earth do we become more connected with our essential spiritual nature?

There are thousands of ways humans have attempted to access deeper states of awareness.

These are personal questions, and I have come to believe the most profound experiences of my life defied explanation. These were sacred, to me, not for me to use to validate that life is mysterious, magic and profound to anyone else, so you explore for you and see the below suggestions for anything that resonates, but, one thing i have found particularly helpful, life changing and fascinating:

2. Meditation

Meditation has survived thousands of years for a reason.

Different traditions and techniques produce very different experiences, from simple attention training and stress reduction through to profound experiences of self-transcendence.

Some experienced practitioners report visions, altered perceptions of self, mystical experiences and profound states of awareness.

Personally, I love exploring Dr Joe Dispenza's work, although there are thousands of meditation traditions to choose from. Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, Vipassana, mantra meditation and contemplative practices are all worth exploring depending on what you're looking for.

At its most basic level, meditation trains our capacity to observe the mind rather than automatically obey it, and that alone is extraordinary.

3. Breathwork

Breathwork is another area I am absolutely keeping.

There are practices designed for athletic performance, stress regulation, respiratory efficiency, meditation, emotional processing and altered states of consciousness.

I particularly love the fascinating territory where breath meets consciousness.

Holotropic Breathwork was developed by Stanislav and Christina Grof as a non-drug method for accessing altered states of consciousness and bringing material from the unconscious into awareness.

Intense rhythmic breathing can produce striking changes in subjective experience, perception and emotional state. When one hyperventilates they paradoxically deprive the cells and therefore brain of oxygen, to prioritise survival the body shuts down the front brain, which handles meaning, narrative and our fixed identity. When one transcends themselves and their narratives, astounding revelations and growth is possible. Additionally through liberation from cognitive bias and narrative we can access the limbic brain and limbic system more directly. This means one may process emotions stored in the body long past significant events. Without the emotional legacy, one may release the adaptive coping strategies deployed to attempt to avoid or prevent that suppressed pain, enabling us to make breakthroughs. Trully remarkable. 

Many practitioners also experience visions, profound awarenesses that rival a psychedelic experience. Because of this there is a theory that breathwork causes the brain to release large amounts of DMT (called the spirit molecule and responsible for dreaming and mystical experiences) While an intriguing hypothesis, it has not been established in humans. DMT is produced endogenously, (by peoples own bodies) DMT is ordinarily released at birth, death or during dreaming, but whether breathwork reliably triggers a psychedelic DMT state, remains speculative.

That doesn't make altered-state breathwork any less fascinating, or its potent effects less empowering. It simply means we don't yet know exactly how it works, and that's actually just as interesting to me.

Note: Breathwork is contraindicated for many health conditions including but not limited to glaucoma, detached retina, cardiovascular disease, Anxiety disorder and epilepsy. 

4. Conscious Touch, Sex, Pleasure and Connection

How cool is this one?

I trust some of my sex nerds are already on board.

Human sexuality is an extraordinary intersection of biology, attachment, pleasure, reproduction, nervous-system regulation, intimacy, identity and consciousness.

Humans are in fact quite sexually developed as a species. Females of our species have permanent breasts, males of our species have proportionately quite large penises, we are one of only a few identified species who also couple for pleasure, and we also do it bonding, expressing affection and expressing individuality. 

If we come back to the nervous system, if sympathetic (fight/flight) is the domain of fear, alert, the body, survival, individualism and protection, the parasympathetic (feed/breed) is the domain of love,  creativity, expansion, birth, creation, soul, purpose, pleasure, connection, onement and growth. Each switches the other off when active. When we have conscious, connected, intentional sex or self pleasure in regulated systems we suppress fight/flight and liberate energy to be utilised for healing, reproduction, creativity, pleasure and potentially peak, spiritual or transcendental experiences. 

Research from the Kinsey Institute suggests that orgasm and sexual pleasure can support relaxation, stress reduction, improved mood and sleep, temporary pain relief, and sexual wellbeing, partly through physiological and neurochemical changes associated with orgasm, including the release of oxytocin and endorphins. 

But I'm interested in something bigger than orgasm. I'm interested in what happens when sexuality becomes conscious. When we're present rather than performing. When we're connected rather than trying to achieve an outcome. When we feel safe enough to surrender control, or confident and empowered enough to take it.

Tantric traditions have explored this territory for centuries, using sexual energy, attention, breath, devotion and embodiment as pathways towards altered states of consciousness, energy orgasms, non-ejaculatory orgasm or extended massive orgasm.

Not just for the tantrica’s anymore optimum human performance researchers are finding that we can leverage what Jamie Wheal terms “super-sexy Biohacking” to optimise our performance and consciousness for unexpected outcomes. Contemporary researchers are now touting the benefits of deliberately cultivating altered states through combinations of breath, movement, sexuality, music, connection and other "high-performance" practices.

Beyond that we understand the importance of skin to skin contact supporting infant brain development and healthy attachment, as well as the destructive effects of touch starvation.

In short I believe humans thrive when they are well touched, frequently anchored in safety, affirming their bond to others, able to access power, surrender and freedom. 

I think there is fascinating territory here.

But, as always: Consensual, safe sex. Don’t fault yourself if you’re not interested or able to have fulfilling sex. Engage a professional wherever necessary and commit to lifelong learning.

5. Strength Training

This one has moved firmly from "something we all should probably do" to something I absolutely consider essential. Especially for women approaching and moving through perimenopause and menopause.

As oestrogen declines, women become increasingly vulnerable to loss of muscle mass, bone density and functional capacity. Resistance training can help preserve and build muscle, improve strength and support bone health, but what’s truly fascinating is the emerging awareness that increased muscle mass is neuro-protective, helping prevent cognitive decline and dementia in later life.

Effective strength training is less about lifting the heaviest weight possible and more about: 

• Consistently challenging the muscles with good technique and progressive overload. 

• Consistency: Aim to strength train at least 2–3 times per week 

• Target all major muscle groups with exercises such as squats, hinges, presses, rows, lunges, hangs and carries. 

• Choose a weight that makes the final few repetitions challenging while maintaining good form, generally working within a range of around 6–15 repetitions for most exercises, 

• Gradually increase the weight, repetitions or difficulty as you become stronger. 

This is not comprehensive, ask a trainer. 

Adequate protein, sleep and recovery are equally important, particularly as women move through midlife, when maintaining muscle mass, bone density, metabolic health and physical independence becomes increasingly valuable.

Beyond longevity, its benefits extend well beyond building muscle. Regularly challenging your body can improve mood, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, support better sleep and increase energy and confidence. There is also something psychologically powerful about feeling yourself become stronger: you develop a greater sense of competence, resilience and trust in your body. Strength training can provide a tangible experience of progress and achievement, while supporting health. Ultimately thriving is about continuing to grow, or at least get yourself out when you find yourself in a rut. Strength is helpful.

6. Targeted Nutrition and Personalised Health Data

I am also becoming increasingly interested in moving away from blanket nutrition advice.

"Eat healthy" is useful. But what is healthy for you?

There are times when symptoms, history, diet and lifestyle suggest we need to look more closely at what is happening physiologically. That might mean working with your GP or an appropriately qualified health professional like a nutritionist to investigate things such as iron status, B12, folate, vitamin D, thyroid function, glucose regulation, lipids, liver and kidney function, or other markers when clinically indicated.

Supplements are important and in many cases life changing when targeted, affecting everything from mood, executive function, energy, immunity, weight, hormones to sleep, and more. I believe it’s better to get what you need from whole food sources, and taking synthetic vitamins without supervision can be very dangerous, but many people say they don’t want to be dependent on supplements. I say, targeted nutritional supplements are important for many people. You wouldn’t say “I am trying to lessen my dependance on food,” though many supplements are making up for what’s unavailable, limited, destroyed or balancing what’s overabundant  in a modern diet. Good testing should however also lead to better dietary and lifestyle decisions and targeted support, not only a larger supplement cupboard.

Ask me if you would like to be directed to the appropriate professional. 

7. Embodiment

This one is deeply personal.

There was a moment during my first time at a super crunchy drug and alcohol free hippie festival dance workshop where something shifted in me forever.

First of all I guess my tolerance for “woo woo” is more robust than most people, but this had even me cringing…

I had attended at a friend's invitation and I had not known fully what I signed up for when I found myself in a field at 7am with 50 other attendees to try something called 5rhythms… The barefoot tie-dye clad moon-goddess-type instructor started us off gently, telling us to move like a tree, or water, or like playful children, it was unnatural and had me feeling very much like my primary school drama teacher had reincarnated to deliberately taunt and test me…

When she asked us to find a face in the crowd, I hesitated but already a tall woman ambled hesitantly to me and stood in my eyeline, I was trapped.

The instructor continued, instructing us to eye gaze. For those of you who are not familiar, that means gaze into the eyes of another person without speaking for a testing amount of time, usually a few minutes.

We began and inexplicably my heart started racing.

It was weirdly hard. I had a forced smile plastered on my face but inside I wanted to run. We aren’t conditioned to tolerate this much intimacy with a complete stranger. For decades the antidote to this type of social anxiety for me and everyone who I knew had been substances. Food, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. Something to lower those inhibitions, or perhaps, as I have come to see it, anaesthetise and take you out of your body. I hadn’t even had my matcha.

The truth is, people can’t touch the real, vulnerable person inside when you’re altered, or not really present, in your body, or distracted by another overpowering sensation.

I HATED IT! Skin-crawling, penetrating, weird, humiliating vulnerability. And this was ME! A white, privileged, female Kinesiologist who had been drawn to health and spirituality from a young age.

But the instructor, from a deep unshakable center, held us there. My cheeks were shaking from forced smiling, and eventually gave out. I surrendered. My natural resting-bitch-face exposed and in full view of my partner. Authentically ugly and real. It was about that time I noticed her eyes tearing. 

In that moment I moved beyond myself, into empathy and recognition. We both didn’t know how to meet someone's gaze fully without being deeply triggered. A sad realisation, but oddly unifying. My shame lessened. A bond started to form. My eyes teared.

I can’t speak for my partner but I believe we both learned to anticipate a social threat in being real, being present, being seen. A fear I had never challenged or shed light on because my tendency was to numb, avoid, joke, pretend, be polite (hello performative smile.) Standing there wondering what would happen, I ventured a little more trust and relaxed into it, tears streaming. In this safe container that trust was finally ventured for the first time probably since childhood, and shockingly, it was honoured and met. 

I became gently, gradually and profoundly aware of myself but not self-conscious.

For a moment, I wasn't watching myself and performing.

I was simply in my body, unedited, and I was enjoying it.

I let go of the fear of judgement, or the conditioning that we were acting “weird” and started to see the collective dissociation and conformity as the bigger issue. The dance continued, and I got bolder, brighter, more confident, and more empathetic to those who I met in that beautiful state of authenticity.

That experience is sometimes called embodiment and it changed the way I experience myself and the world.

We spend an extraordinary amount of time living from the neck up, monitoring ourselves, analysing how we're perceived and trying to control our experience.

Embodiment asks us to come back into sensation. Your body doesn’t lie. 

Sometimes through the practice you will find a trigger, staying with it can lead to catharsis and somatic emotional release, ultimately liberating you to thrive.

Embodiment asks: What am I feeling? Where? What happens when I stop trying to control it? What happens when I drop the performance?

I went from being physically present but disengaged, to being incredibly alive, in an embodied state of simply being, unedited. And it has gone onto be an incredibly valuable practice for helping me to resurrect more of myself, work through past pain, build safety with self expression and ultimately thrive. Whether through tantra, dance, guided practice or interoception it's a worthy inclusion in your practices.

8. Flow State Practices

Flow state is the experience of becoming so deeply absorbed in an activity that your attention is fully engaged, self-consciousness temporarily fades and the activity feels intrinsically rewarding. Often described as being “in the zone,” flow tends to occur when a task provides a meaningful challenge and potentially some risk but closely matches and tests your skills. 

Some people feel it dancing, driving, surfing, in yoga, etc. but part of the beauty of flow is that we usually gravitate to flow in ways that feel wholly unique to us. Our tastes, our talents and our values etc. guide where we feel most vibrantly alive, and we can show up to practice but aren’t guaranteed to experience it. This rarity only makes it more rewarding on the days we feel it click.

Research increasingly links regular experiences of flow with greater psychological well being, life satisfaction, happiness, engagement and a sense of meaning and fulfilment. A 2026 meta-analysis found a moderately strong positive relationship between flow and wellbeing, with particularly strong associations with deeper, eudaimonic forms of wellbeing such as personal growth and living well. Flow may also support a sense of competence, optimism and sustained engagement, making it a potentially important ingredient in a life that feels absorbing, purposeful and fulfilling.

When do you experience flow?

9. Strobe Light Therapy

This is one of the more experimental areas on my list.

Stroboscopic or flickering light can produce powerful perceptual effects and altered states of consciousness in some people. The idea of "cyberdelic" light experiences is particularly fascinating because carefully controlled flicker frequencies can create complex geometric imagery and unusual perceptual experiences without ingesting a substance.

However, you may encounter claims online that specific frequencies cause the pituitary gland to release DMT. We don't currently have good human evidence establishing that.

The subjective effects of flickering light are real and fascinating; the proposed DMT mechanism remains speculative.

And this is absolutely not suitable for everyone. Flickering light can provoke seizures in susceptible people, particularly those with photosensitive epilepsy.

So I'm keeping the science, the curiosity and the experimentation.

That being said. I have had some absolutely incredible experiences. My anecdotal reports are that it has deepened my meditations, improved sleep, supported executive function and seemed to support my circadian rhythms. The not-at-all-sciency side of me believes the light opened something in me that profoundly supported me in accessing a spiritual awakening.

10. Journaling and Self-Reflection

Safe, accessible and it’s FREE! I recommend a daily 15 minute journaling practice with Gratitude at a minimum. We are hardwired to look for problems and what’s wrong, so a positive mindset is something you practice. We want to convey to our lizard brain that we are safe, we have abundance and that we routinely interact with  real stuff that provides meaning to our lives. The longer we sit in gratitude the more joy we directly experience in our lives.

Another easy practice is the brain dump. Get out on paper whatever is spiraling,.. to do lists, frustrations etc before you go to bed. 

Journaling can liberate you from being all in your head or negative and supports mood, and I think that’s essential to thrive.

A Word of Caution

Spiritual and transcendental experiences can be extraordinary. They can be awe-inducing, perspective-shifting and, for some people, profoundly meaningful. But humans are wired to pursue pleasure and avoid suffering.That means we can become just as capable of using spirituality to escape life as we are of using food, sex, drugs, work, exercise or social media to escape it. All of the things explored here have significant health risks, too! Be an adult, do your own recognisance, but leveraged wisely may be just the thing to align you to your best self.

If you are stuck and don’t know how to thrive, it might be time you had an objective third party help you quiet the noise, direct your focus and develop bespoke recommendations for you. Kinesiology does just that. Book here. I would LOVE to help.

May you thrive.

E xx