5 wellness trends Charlotte is leaning into this year
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Pilates and contrast therapy clubs are set to remain two of the main characters in Charlotte's wellness scene in 2026. Photo: BodyRok South End (L) and Sunday Hot Springs (R), McKenzie Rankin/Axios
Charlotte's wellness scene is entering its next phase, and it's becoming more social, more mainstream and more intentional than ever before.
Why it matters: As wellness continues to grow into a major global industry, those shifts are showing up locally in how Charlotteans work out, recover and think about self-care.
Here are five of the biggest health and wellness trends shaping Charlotte in 2026.
Social wellness clubs
Everyone is jumping into cold water right now. Even more so, they're using it as a means of social connection.
- A couple of years ago, Charlotte had no facilities like this.
- Now, there's Sauna House in Wesley Heights and Sunday Hot Springs (formerly Bathhouse CLT).
- It's not uncommon to see cold plunge pop-ups at wellness parties like Chilly Coffee Club or plunge socials hosted by Plunge House.
- And aside from the communal clubs, there are dozens of other places to try hot and cold therapy, also called contrast therapy, that didn't exist until recently.
Between the lines: Communal or not, wellness spaces aren't sticking to just one offering anymore. New businesses like Pause, a full-service wellness studio opening next year in the Arboretum and South End, will offer everything from contrast therapy to IV drips and float tanks.
- Meanwhile, massage studios like MoodHouse have added infrared saunas, and hot-and-cold clubs such as Sauna House have rolled out massages, making it increasingly rare to find a one-lane wellness spot.
Pilates boom
Pilates is the fastest-growing workout in America — up 40% since 2019, according to Fitt Insider — and that growth is evident in Charlotte.
Context: There are several types of Pilates, but when you hear the term "Pilates princess" or "Pilates body," most people are referring to the high-intensity, low-impact workouts made popular by studios like Solidcore.
Zoom in: SolidCore recently expanded to Ballantyne. Reformer chain Bodyrok added a second location in South End. BK Pilates opened a fifth location in Optimist Park, and JetSet Pilates is opening a second Charlotte-area studio at luxury apartment complex Linea.
- High-end fitness clubs, like LifeTime and The Health Club, have dedicated reformer studios (so do even few Charlotte YMCAs).
Yes, and: Pilates isn't the only low-impact, high-intensity workout gaining traction. Lagree, a similar strength-and-endurance method performed on a platform-based machine, is also on the rise in Charlotte.
Between the lines: Even amid the Pilates boom, Charlotte still loves to lift. Strength training was the city's most popular workout in 2025, per ClassPass data, reflected in a mix of longtime gyms like Fitness Factory and newer businesses such as Core24, QC Pump House, Charlotte Lifting Club and BuckedUp.
Where to try reformer and mat Pilates in Charlotte
Injectables go mainstream
Botox appointments are becoming about as common as hair appointments, Axios has reported, and they're skewing younger.
What's happening: What used to feel like a hush-hush or special-occasion thing is now treated more like routine maintenance. And instead of being one of the services on a med spa menu, injectables are increasingly the main attraction.
Zoom in: Peachy, for example, is a Botox-focused skincare studio that recently expanded to Charlotte with a studio in Linea South End.
The intrigue: Peachy uses AI-powered facial mapping to determine where treatment is needed and charges a flat rate ($425 for upper face and $525 for jaw), regardless of how many units a client needs.
The big picture: Though certainly pricier than your typical manicure, these business models reflect how normalized aesthetic injections have become, especially as more people budget for them the same way they do other regular self-care expenses.
Go deeper: Botox gets younger, louder and more mainstream
Weight loss drugs
Weight loss GLP-1 drugs, like Wegovy and Ozempic, are surging in demand both nationally and locally.
That's partly because accessibility is changing, too.
- In addition to being able to order these drugs online through a virtual consultation, a number of local med spas, like Nova Wellness and Novella, offer weight loss injections, administered through a medical provider, such as a nurse practitioner.
- There are also local medical offices specializing in GLP-1 treatments, like The Aesthetic Concierge.
Yes, and: Nationwide, Costco pharmacies are now selling Ozempic and Wegovy for $499 per month for those without insurance or whose insurance doesn't cover it.
By the numbers: The number of prescriptions for anti-obesity GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic is rising in North Carolina, just as it is nationwide. From mid-2024 to mid-2025, about 91,000 Medicaid recipients in North Carolina used GLP-1s, the News & Observer reported. Nearly half of those were for weight management.
What we're watching: The continued rise of assisted weight loss studios and med spas in Charlotte.
Red light therapy
Sitting in front of a red light — how effective can it be? Turns out, quite a bit.
Zoom in: Benefits of red light therapy include reduced inflammation in the skin and help with signs of aging by increasing collagen and elastin production, says Elizabeth Lasswell, owner of holistic med spa Vela in South End.
Maybe you've seen the memes of people in their red light masks — which, with no context, can look quite frightening.
- Lasswell recommends the OmniLux Max mask, which she carries in-store, because it's "FDA cleared and has over 40 peer-reviewed clinical studies."
- Or, if you choose to try it outside of your home, you can opt for a full panel at local studios like Beem, Restore Hyper Wellness and Perspire.
Your turn: Which wellness trends are you leaning into this year? Is there a treatment or service you wish Charlotte had — or one you already love? Drop me a note at [email protected].