LIFESTYLE MEDICINE

Integrative Medicine is an approach that puts the patient at the centre of care and addresses the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect one's health and wellbeing. It utilises conventional western medicine diagnostics and treats with evidence-based complementary functional medicine and alternative therapies.

Functional Medicine views the body as one integrated system and addresses the underlying causes of ill health, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both you and your team of practitioners in a therapeutic partnership. It is a personalised approach to preventative care and wellbeing with an understanding that every individual is different; genetically and biochemically unique. 

Through the lens of functional scientifically based medicine the question posed is: “What is the cause of this health challenge?” and “What can be done to restore function?

Lifestyle Medicine is a new branch of evidence based medicine in which comprehensive lifestyle changes (including nutrition, physical activity, stress management, social support and environmental exposures) are used to prevent, treat and reverse the progression of chronic diseases by addressing their underlying causes. The underlying cause of disease can stem from a variety of imbalances. 

The importance of healthy lifestyles in preventing and treating chronic disease is undisputed. Retreat environments provide a unique living laboratory where all aspects of lifestyle can be controlled and studied. Retreat experiences provide a unique opportunity for people to escape from unhealthy routines and engage in healthy practices and activities that lead to immediate and sustained health benefits. 

A health retreat creates an environment with a daily schedule of habits that support optimal wellness. Guided by experts from various modalities, guests are holistically supported towards harmony and homeostasis on all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. 

The body is intelligent and has the capacity for healing and immense vitality when given the right care - this is what a health retreat can provide.

A health retreat or wellness centre provides a holistic living laboratory that supports; 

Gut Health : Emotional Wellbeing : Detoxification : Nutrition : Exercise : Mental Health : Brain Health : Sleep & Rest : Relationships : Spiritual Wellbeing : Social Connection & Community : Digital Detox : Clarity of Purpose

Specific therapies, treatments and consultations address; 

Stress & Anxiety : Inflammation : Digestive Dysfunction : Hormonal Imbalance : Structural Imbalance : Physical Toxicity : Cognitive Health : Toxic Emotions : Trauma : Immune System Imbalance 

I have been an advocate for health retreats since my early 20s and I have witnessed the power and transformation that can take place when staying on retreat. There is no better investment than that of your health, and as one wise yogi said - “health is wealth and peace of mind is happiness”.

A GUIDE TO ECO CERTIFICATIONS

Wellness lifestyle real estate is poised for growth that is faster than the overall real estate sector over the next decade, driven by many factors ranging from ageing societies to the changing desires of younger generations, and the need to protect the environment and open space. 

Here are some eco-certifications that you might want to pursue when developing your project.

WELL CERTIFICATION : https://www.wellcertified.com

WELL works in conjunction with global green building ring systems like LEED, BREEAM. GreenStar and Living Building Challenge to enhance building performance for human health and the environment. 

LEED CERTIFICATION : http://www.usgbc.org/leed

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used third-party verification for green buildings globally. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas that address sustainability issues. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then receives one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. LEED-certified buildings are resource efficient. They use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As an added bonus, they save money.

BREEAM CERTIFICATION : http://www.breeam.com

BREEAM is the world's leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. BREEAM inspires developers and creators to excel, innovate and make effective use of resources. The focus on sustainable value and efficiency makes BREEAM certified developments attractive property investments and generates sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the people who live and work in them. BREEAM measures sustainable value in a series of categories, ranging from energy to ecology. Each of these categories addresses the most influential factors, including low impact design and carbon emissions reduction; design durability and resilience; adaption to climate change; and ecological value and biodiversity protection. Within every category, developments score points – called credits – for achieving targets, and their final total determines their rating.

LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE : https://living-future.org

The Living Building Challenge is the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings. People from around the world use our regenerative design framework to create spaces that, like a flower, give more than they take.

GREEN GLOBE CERTIFICATION : https://greenglobe.com

Green Globe is the global certification for sustainable tourism. It is a structured assessment of the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses and their supply chain partners. The Green Globe Standard includes 44 core criteria supported by over 380 compliance indicators. The applicable indicators vary by type of certification, geographical area as well as local factors.

GREEN STAR CERTIFICATION : http://new.gbca.org.au/about/

Green Star is an internationally-recognised sustainability rating system. There are four Green Star rating tools available for certification of design, construction and operation of buildings, fitouts and communities. Green Star certification is a formal process during which a building, fitout, or precinct is awarded a rating by an independent, third party assessment panel of sustainable development experts through a documentation-based assessment. A Green Star certified rating provides independent verification that a building or community project is sustainable.

THE GLOBAL WELLNESS ECONOMY

The Global Wellness Economy Monitor report was released this month at the 12th annual Global Wellness Summit, which was held at Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy. 630+ industry leaders from 50 nations were all holding their breath in anticipation of discovering the latest statistics. Here below is the press release with details.

The global wellness industry grew 12.8% in the last two years, from a $3.7 trillion market in 2015 to $4.2 trillion in 2017. This all-new data on the ten markets that comprise the global wellness economy provides fresh evidence that wellness remains one of the world’s biggest and fast-growing industries.

Economic context:

From 2015-2017, the wellness economy grew 6.4% annually, nearly twice as fast as global economic growth (3.6%).*
Wellness expenditures ($4.2 trillion) are now more than half as large as total global health expenditures ($7.3 trillion).**
The wellness industry now represents 5.3% of global economic output.

The 2018 edition features more global, regional and national data and analysis than ever before – from the fact that Europe is the fastest growing spender on workplace wellness to the finding that China and India are the fastest growing wellness tourism markets. 

Among the ten wellness markets analyzed,*** revenue growth leaders from 2015-2017 (per annum) were: 1) the spa industry (9.8%), 2) wellness tourism (6.5%) and 3) wellness real estate (6.4%). For the complementary medicine market, the definition changed since 2015 (adding traditional medicine sectors like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine), so a formal percentage growth rate can’t be provided.

“Once upon a time, our contact with wellness was occasional: we went to the gym or got a massage. But this is changing fast: a wellness mindset is starting to permeate the global consumer consciousness, affecting people’s daily decision-making – whether food purchases, a focus on mental wellness and reducing stress, incorporating movement into daily life, environmental consciousness, or their yearning for connection and happiness,” noted Katherine Johnston, senior research fellow, GWI. “Wellness, for more people, is evolving from rarely to daily, from episodic to essential, from a luxury to a dominant lifestyle value. And that profound shift is driving powerful growth.”

Spotlight on 5 Markets (Original GWI Data)

Wellness Real Estate

Real estate that incorporates intentional wellness elements into its design, materials and building, and its amenities and programming, is growing fast as more people want to bring more health into the places where they spend the majority of their time. For comparison, the $134 billion wellness real estate market is now about 1.5% of the total annual global construction market and about half the size of the global green building industry.**** There are now more than 740 wellness real estate and community developments built or in development across 34 countries – a number that grows weekly.

Workplace Wellness

Valued at $47.5 billion, the workplace wellness market remains very small in comparison to the massive economic burden and productivity losses (10-15% of global economic output) associated with an unwell and disengaged workforce. Only 9.8% of world employees are covered by a workplace wellness program (321 million people), and programs are heavily concentrated in high-income countries in North America, Western Europe and Asia.

Wellness Tourism 

The $639 billion wellness travel market’s annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2015-2017 is more than double the growth rate for tourism overall (3.2%). World travelers made 830 million wellness trips in 2017, 139 million more than in 2015 – and these trips now represent 17% of total tourism expenditures. Wellness tourism growth is very much a tale of developing markets, with Asia-Pacific, Latin America-Caribbean, Middle East-North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa all clocking robust gains, and accounting for 57% of the increase in wellness trips since 2015. Over the past five years, Asia is the #1 gainer in both wellness tourism trips and revenues (trips grew a whopping 33% in two years, to 258 million annually). China and India rank #1 and #2 for growth worldwide, adding over 12 million and 17 million wellness trips respectively from 2015-2017.

Spa Industry:

The spa economy, which includes spa facility revenues (now $93.6 billion yearly), and also education, consulting, associations, media and event sectors that enable spa businesses (now $25.2 billion), has grown to a $118.8 billion market. Spa locations jumped from 121,595 in 2015 to over 149,000 in 2017, employing nearly 2.6 million workers. The 9.9% annual revenue growth for spas is much higher than the pace from 2013-2015 (2.3%). From 2015-2017, the hotel/resort spa category added the largest number of spas and revenue, and has now surpassed day/salon spas as the industry’s revenue leader.

Thermal & Mineral Springs:

The thermal/mineral springs market continues to clock strong growth as more people turn to water for stress relief, healing and community. The market grew from $51 billion in 2015 to $56.2 billion in 2017, while facilities jumped from 27,507 (in 109 countries) to 34,057 (in 127 countries) – employing 1.8 million workers. The market is intensely concentrated in Asia-Pacific and Europe, which account for 95% of revenues.

Projected Market Size

“In the face of longer lifespans, and rising chronic disease, stress and unhappiness, we only see growth for wellness ahead,” said Ophelia Yeung, senior research fellow, GWI. “But the wellness market isn’t just growing, it’s extremely dynamic. We believe that the three sectors that represent the core spheres of life will see the strongest future growth – wellness real estate, workplace wellness and wellness tourism – while other sectors will also grow as they support the integration of wellness into all aspects of daily life. And wellness markets will become less siloed and more interconnected, converging to offer solutions and experiences in the places where people live, work and travel.”

For more details on Growth Projections, 2017-2022 please visit: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org

2018 WELLNESS TRENDS

TRANSFORMATIONAL TRAVEL 

This is the 2018 buzzword. More wellness destinations will use the power of wellness circuits and epic storylines to create a “necklace” of linked wellness experiences; a dramatic wellness saga; where spa-goers follow an emotional and sensory voyage. More wellness experiences will deploy fantasy and wellness “avatars”. More performance, music and art (“story” immersion) will get served up with wellness. The future wellness will be engaging people’s emotions as much as evidence-based healing.

WELLNESS MEETS HAPPINESS 

The World Happiness Report (155 countries surveyed) reveals a world with a mediocre 5/10 happiness score. All the happiness research concurs that strong social connections and community are the most fundamental components for happiness. Constant digital connection, addictive smartphones, and social media are creating a depression and anxiety epidemic. Happiness is no longer a frivolous concept, it has a powerful impact on everything from physical health to employee productivity.

PATERNITY

Parents are turning to the same wellness therapies and techniques that have improved their own lives, in order to add wellness to their children’s formative years. Healthy treatments and programs, from baby yoga classes to organic baby food to relaxing “baby moon” preconception getaways, will be a growth factor in spa and wellness for years to come. 

EXTREME WELLNESS 

Encompassing many things three relevant trends are ice bathing, cryotherapy and brain hacking.

THE WELLNESS KITCHEN

More consumers than ever before are conscious and concerned about not just their own health, but the health of the planet. Food storage, preparation, cooking, consumption, and disposal are reengineered to cater to fresh food and living, organic ingredients. 

CLEAN AIR 

The fight for clean air is leading to innovations across the world. Air purification systems clean indoor air quality. Expect more greenery to be incorporated into buildings, like vertical forests and living walls inside and outside of buildings. A clear winner will be spa and wellness destinations that promote themselves as havens from air pollution 

FEMINIST WELLNESS 

The women’s empowerment-meets-wellness trend takes so many crucial forms. We’re seeing a surge in new women-only clubs, co-working spaces, and collectives, designed for women to meet, network, support each other and be active together–served up with much wellness. We’re seeing a new brigade of women doctors, technologists and designers spotting unaddressed issues for women’s bodies and lives and creating an explosion of new “FemTech”.

MUSHROOMS / PLANT MEDICINE

Mushrooms and plant medicines are emerging for their powerful and positive effects on depression, addiction, creativity and neural rewiring. Medical evidence is also showing that mushrooms are beneficial for health, ageing, personality improvement and deepening spiritual life. Finally, mushrooms will be in beauty products, supplements and food. 

HOW TO BE A HOLISTIC HEALER

In recent years, holistic medicine has been growing in popularity. With more and more people burning out, many are turning to holistic medicine to seek new ways to manage stress.

Whatever the reason, holistic healing practices are increasing health care options.New-age disciplines like acupuncture, intensive massage therapy, Ayurveda and holistic health coaching are becoming more accessible. This has inspired more people to turn to unconventional healing practices.

Holistic Healing Defined

Holistic healing can be described as aligning the body’s mental and physical state back into its natural “state.” It addresses the imbalances in the body, bringing it back to its natural state of function. Holistic healing focuses on a wide array of healing practices. Each of these practices falls outside the conventional healing treatments. This includes treatments that are pharmaceutical and surgical in nature. Holistic healing is complementary to traditional medicine. Its healing practices are often integrated with conventional medicine, complementing conventional care. With numerous types of holistic healing practices available and new therapies emerging continuously, those starting out in the field of holistic medicine may be a little overwhelmed. Becoming a better holistic medicine practitioner requires a mindful approach. Here are several ways to become a better holistic healer today.

Find Your Specialty

While numerous holistic practices exist, they can often be grouped into five categories. These include:

●      Biological-based therapies (aromatherapy, herbal medicines, etc.)

●      Energy therapies (Reiki)

●      Alternative medical systems (Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, etc.)

●      Mind-body interventions (relaxation classes, cancer support groups, etc.)

●      Manipulative and Body-based methods (chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.)

Becoming specialized in one holistic practice means you are able to arm yourself with a kind of detailed knowledge that holistic clients are looking for. Pursuing a specialty to focus on provides greater opportunity to become a subject matter expert and differentiate yourself. Specialising in education and experience defines you as a quality resource — one that many clients will seek out to address their medical concerns.

The Importance of Continuing Education

Whether you’re a seasoned holistic practitioner or simply getting your feet wet, continuing professional development is important. Remaining competent in your holistic profession is an ongoing process. Throughout your professional career, this will require continued holistic therapy training. To be a successful holistic health practitioner requires a commitment to lifelong learning. There are several ways for holistic practitioners to continue developing their skills in an ever-changing environment.

Volunteering

Volunteering your time and experience can be invaluable in furthering your skills as a holistic health practitioner. Health practitioners are afforded many options when it comes to volunteering. Some can choose to go serve in their local communities, aiding under-served populations with limited access to holistic medicine. Others still can go abroad with agencies like Natural Doctors International or Acupuncturists Without Borders. These opportunities enable holistic practitioners to improve access and promote the use of integrative alternative medicines. Students still on their holistic education path can also commit time to volunteering. Volunteering as a student in a clinic provides practical clinical experience.Volunteers are given comprehensive training from staff and physicians who are involved in this holistic community. These experiences help students realize their full potential, which is crucial for when they seek out professional roles.

Work Based Learning

While many holistic practitioners can choose to become self-employed, there’s something to be said about working in a healthcare clinic. Job opportunities are plentiful in healthcare clinics, from wellness centers to physicians’ offices. These clinical settings create a learning environment that will provide long-term continuous learning opportunities. Such learning environments will be essential further on in your career if you ever decide to pursue your own practice.

Upgrading Courses

Earning a position within a healthcare clinic provides additional opportunities in gaining further certification and licensures. These can be crucial in furthering your specialization in a specific holistic practice. Many healthcare clinics will even support your desire for continuous learning, enabling you to receive ongoing training and credentials through healthcare training courses.

Holistic Medicine and Technology

Another approach to becoming a better holistic healer is to use technology. The dynamics and use of modern medical technology improve the delivery of healthcare. Enhancements provided by technology advocate the prevention of illness and the preservation of health. Holistic medicine can employ modern technology to create a multi-faceted approach to wellness.

Technology-based holistic medicine:

●      Provides better communication between holistic health practitioners and patients

●      Promotes a greater ability to research

●      Promotes a healthier body

●      Provides better treatment options for various illnesses and ailments

Pulling it Together

Taking a holistic approach to your professional career requires more than just examining your current career experience. A holistic approach encourages complete participation, understanding where your career has taken you and where you hope it will continue to take you. A holistic view of your successes, goals and dreams empowers your ability to become a better holistic health practitioner for all of your clients.

AUTHOR BIO
Marc Innes is the Owner and Principal of the School of Natural Therapies, a training school for Massage & Holistic Therapies located in London. Marc began his career in the NHS, working in a number of managerial and training roles within the Ambulance Service in London. He spent much of that time educating and coaching medical staff. Over time, he developed an interest in all things complementary to Allopathic Medicine, in particular, Reiki Healing and EFT, which culminated in running a successful teaching and ‘energy healing’ practice. Marc is passionate about the massage and complementary therapy industry.

THE BUSINESS OF FLOW

Loving what you do and being in flow is a key ingredient for happiness, success and fulfilment, and vocational wellness is one of the fundamental ingredients to an overall sense of wellbeing and happiness. Yet for many of us, it can at times, be really difficult to understand what makes us tick at our best. Where are we most in flow? Why do we do what we do? What is our underlying talent? And how do we ensure that we are creating and living the life and work we love?  

Last year I discovered 'Wealth Dynamics', which is a psychometric personality test that identifies your natural talent and tells you exactly which path is correct for you, and what strategy you should follow to build wealth. The clarity I received was just what I needed to understand where I best serve my business and which other profile types can best support me to grow the business in a sustainable and balanced way. 

Wealth Dynamics is a holistic approach that encompasses the wisdom of the I Ching, Chinese Five Elements and classic psychometric testing. A business approach that weaves in all of these elements spoke to me as I highly value 'self enquiry', 'knowing thyself' and 'creating a business and life I love'. 

Upon completing the profile test I was then guided to Genius U, which expanded upon what path I should follow in life. When you follow your natural genius, life becomes a joy. But if you focus on your weaknesses, everything becomes hard work. Again this highly resonated for me. 

A comprehensive series of Microdegree's are attached to Genius U, which lay out the foundational steps for progressing up the Lighthouse, which is another tool that identifies your wealth spectrum level and then explains how to take yourself to the next level. The underlying philosophy is based on the levels of consciousness and chakras. As we expand in our awareness and take action steps to move to next level our business cannot help but grow. 

Roger James Hamilton is a NY Times Best-Selling Author. Futurist and Social Entrepreneur. He is the Founder of Entrepreneurs Institute and the creator of GeniusU, Wealth Dynamics & Talent Dynamics. Roger presents seminars on these principles around the globe and last year I attended his Fast Forward Summit in Melbourne. As a result of this inspirational event I booked myself into iLAB, a two week retreat in Bali.

Joining a group of wonderful business owners from all around the world, we were guided through an educational journey that included personal growth, business learnings, clarities and experiential workshops with various experts. Set in amongst a beautiful tropical resort serving delicious wellness food and with a morning schedule of exercise I absolutely loved that I was able to merge wellness and business in this two week experience. 

For more information visit: www.entrepreneursinstitute.com

HEALTH IMPACT OF A RETREAT

The retreat industry is a niche sector of the wellness tourism industry that focuses on transformative experiences that aim to improve the health of participants through healthy lifestyle experiences, along with providing the skills and knowledge to help maintain healthy behaviours. The findings from the reviewed studies suggest there are many positive health benefits from retreat experiences that includes improvements in both subjective and objective measures. The results suggest that retreat experiences can produce benefits that include positive changes in metabolic and neurological pathways, loss of weight, blood pressure and abdominal girth, reduction in health symptoms and improvements in quality of life and subjective wellbeing.

In addition to facilitating general health improvements, there is evidence that retreat experiences can have a positive impact on chronic disease processes and provide benefits for some people with life threatening and/or chronic diseases. 

The finding that retreat experiences can lead to sustained and significant health improvements long after participants return home suggests that these experiences assist guests in making positive lifestyle changes and adopting healthy behaviours that lead to a variety of positive psychological, physiological, cognitive, clinical and metabolic effects. The ability to influence participants’ health once they return home is dependent on many factors including the type of participants involved, the education and experiences provided during the retreat program, and the provision of follow-up activities such as online coaching, nutrition programs, or follow-up consultations with practitioners. 

While it is not possible to determine which parts of the retreat intervention have the greatest influence, it is likely that improvements in health are due to a combination of psychological and behavioural factors that lead to better coping mechanisms and enhanced resilience to stress, as well as metabolic factors that lead to alterations in gene expression and DNA repair mechanisms.

Despite the potential for retreat experiences to benefit people with chronic and life threatening disease, the retreat industry does not routinely interact with the health care sector with few patients being referred to retreats by medical practitioners and retreat experiences are generally not covered by third party payment schemes or eligible for tax deductions or incentives. The lack of integration between the healthcare and retreat sectors may be partly due to a lack of data with which to evaluate retreat experiences.  

Such data could include a combination of psychological, cognitive, physiological, anthropometric and biochemical measures that together provide a holistic assessment of outcomes. This would allow retreat participants to evaluate and monitor the impact of their experiences and provide data to engage the medical profession and third party payers. It would also be beneficial for the industry to develop a standardised reporting system for retreat activities so that the influence of different types of retreat experiences can be assessed and results meaningfully compared across retreats and studies.

While retreat experiences appear to have positive health impacts, there is no published data on the economic impact of retreat experiences. There is however, substantial evidence that non-residential wellness programs, which share a similar focus on health promotion and lifestyle modification, provide a substantial economic return. A review of 28 studies of corporate wellness programs finds that the economic benefit of participation is substantially higher than the costs of providing the program. Stead reports benefit-to-cost ratios averaging 3.4–1 which indicates that corporate companies receive on average US$3.40 for every US$1 invested in the respective wellness program. In addition to return on investment, employees benefit from participating in corporate wellness programs through experiencing better health, lowered disability payments and reduced health care expenditures, while companies benefit from reduced employee turnover, increased productivity and reduced absenteeism and presenteeism along with intangible benefits such as being an employer of choice and attracting highly skilled employees and creating a positive corporate culture 

While the economic benefits of corporate wellness programs are becoming well established, it is unclear if similar benefits are offered by residential retreats. Future studies that include a health economic analysis are therefore needed to determine the cost-benefits of retreat experiences and the return on investment for participants, businesses, health insurers and policy makers. This may enable retreat operators to advocate for tax benefits, as well as inclusion in health insurance policies, and corporate wellness schemes. 

As the observed improvements in chronic diseases are based on a small number of patients, future research using larger numbers of subjects and longer follow-up periods is needed in order to determine the populations most likely to benefit and quantify any long-term health benefits. Future studies could also benefit from more rigorous study designs including the use of standardized outcome measures, more detailed descriptions of the retreat interventions and study population, and the inclusion of a health economics analysis in order to determine the economic benefits of retreat experiences for individuals, as well as for businesses, health insurers and policy makers.

Excerpt from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-2078-4 

Researched by: Dhevaksha Naidoo, Adrian Schembri and Marc Cohen

WELLNESS AS A STATUS SYMBOL

The Global Wellness Institute have now released their trends for 2018, which are very conceptual and a little difficult to grasp at the 'grass roots' operational level. However, the trends below presented by Euromonitor struck a chord with me and I thought they were definitely worth sharing. 

LONGEVITY ECONOMY - In 2018, almost a quarter of everyone on the planet will be over the age of 50, a record number. It is being suggested brands focus less on millennials and more on customers over the age of 50. The growing population over 50 represents a fast-growing contingent of active, productive people who are working longer and taking the economy in new directions. Women over fifty want to be represented by the media.

AUTHENTICITY - is a standout consumer value in 2018. Visual communication is inspired by flawed images drawing on wabi-sabi as its founding principles, advocating that beauty is to be found in imperfection, impermanence and the authentic. 

REAL WORLD HOLIDAY - Due to digital dependency and the difficulty of uninterrupted reflection, several tour operators, cruise lines and resorts are now promoting unplugged vacations (Digital Detox Trips). Participants pledge to leave digital devices behind while the Intrepid Travel tour leader emails updates to their loved ones. Urban hotels helping guests switch off include Renaissance Pittsburgh hotel, offering a family digital detox package letting guests exchange their devices for traditional board games. 

EXPERIENTIAL LUXURY - high-end personalisation is thriving due to demand for “experiential luxury”, the shift from “having to being”. 

POST-PURCHASE CONTACT - with the company’s representatives, the medium and the tone of the response are also critical parts of the customer journey, shaping their view of the business. 

STATUS SYMBOL - The desire to be fitter and healthier seems to be almost universal. Healthy living is becoming a status symbol, as more consumers opt to flaunt their passion for wellness through paying for boutique fitness sessions, “athleisure” clothing, food with health-giving properties and upscale health and wellness holidays. The spectacle of those willing to throw money at their quest for spiritual improvement is seen via the frequent consumer Instagram posts of retreat experiences posing against scenic backdrops. Consuming “stuff”, was once an indicator of wealth, but is now being replaced with the lack of things, lack of excess fat, and even a lack of wayward thoughts, which now defines aspiration and is at the heart of the consumer interest in wellness.

WEARABLE DEVICES - now offer to track mental wellbeing as well as physical fitness. 

BOUTIQUE HEALTH - The consumer interest in staying well sees them combining wellbeing activities with cathartic physical activity. This is reflected in a thriving menu of more esoteric, boutique fitness workout choices in urban hubs and spas. Some unlikely combinations have emerged, including BoxingYoga, BootyYoga etc

SLEEP - Many consumers are increasingly interested in products that promote healthy sleep, urged by professionals not to view sleep as a lifestyle choice, but to respect it as they do diet and exercise, as a core health building block. An estimated three million people are listening to sleep playlists on Spotify, making it one of their most popular genres. The above-mentioned sleep monitoring machine Sense has sustained its consumer appeal with the addition of new sounds to sleep to and greater accessibility

WELLNESS HOLIDAYS - Promote the idea that consumers can take some time out, transform themselves and return a better, happier person. Activity holidays for physical and mental health are a growth sector. Money is no object when it comes to top-of-the range luxury pampering and rejuvenation treatments in hotel spas and dedicated wellness centres.

So as I step into my 2018 spa and wellness projects I will certainly be considering how these trends might apply to any given project. 

VANA RETREAT, INDIA

Three years ago I was contacted about a role, for a soon to be opened retreat in India, called Vana. It was an interesting offer, but alas my gypsy soul was well settled back in Australia so moving to another continent was not an option. However, my curiosity was piqued and I was keen to follow this wellness newcomer to see what it would offer when opened. Cut to October 2017 and I find myself touching down at Dehra Dun airport prepared and ready for 7 days of contemporary ashram living. 

A friendly and humble Indian driver was waiting to collect me at the gate and then we drove through villages and countryside for an hour before arriving through the gates of Vana. A welcome bracelet (red thread) was wrapped and tied around my wrist upon arrival, which is traditional when entering temple ceremonies and rituals.

I was inducted into the Vana way and shown to my room before I made my way back to the Tibetan Healing Centre for a Sowa Rigpa therapy, which followed with dinner and bed. The next morning I began my day with a classical hatha yoga class, which included pranayama and yoga nidra to close the class. Something the yoga classes in the west have lost. After breakfast I made my way to the wellness centre with 'spa wish list' in hand. My initial wellness consultation was with an Ayurvedic Doctor and based upon the discussion I was asked to surrender to the prescribed plan that was seen to be best for my dosha and current imbalance. By lunch time I had received my spa itinerary for the entire week, which includes a daily Ayurvedic massage, tibetan healing, a consultation with the Tibetan Doctor and a number of other treatments. 

This is a contemporary ashram in every sense. Vana Retreat offers inspiration as to the power of simplicity, spirituality and silence. This retreat model was appropriate given the location and design of the property as it is not an expansive property and by way of its very design causes one to go on a journey of inner reflection. No mobile phones are allowed in public spaces and this causes further 'present moment awareness' and makes me realise how attached I have become to my device. I enjoy this digital detox. A set of white kurta pajamas are delivered to the room every day and not having to think about what to wear is one less decision each day and has a way of removing the egoic need we typically have to be 'special'.

Currently Vana offers a minimum 7 day retreat and soon this will be a minimum of 10 days as they strive to preserve a purist philosophy and maximise the healing result for guests. I met quite a number of guests who have already been to Vana 5 to 7 times in the 3 years it has been open. Certainly testament to Vana doing something very right. There is certainly a purity to the Vana way that is expressed through the ecological approach of the building, the spa and healing therapies, and the approach to food. The Dalai Lama has been to visit and bless Vana, and quite honestly the strong intention that belies this business can be felt in the ether. Spiritual and cultural traditions are honoured and as a guest I have the opportunity to touch the authentic essence of India without the usual dirt and noise of the country. 

Finally where would a retreat be without its food? Well I can say the approach to food is not restrictive in terms of flavours and colours, but rather served in small portions so that the taste buds can enjoy a variety of ayurvedic foods in a contemporary sense. A cooking class is also presented twice a week. One of my favourite times is afternoon tea in the lounge with my book 'The Road Less Travelled' by Scott M Peck. Apparently when the student is ready the teacher appears, and it seems I am now ready to read this classic tale of personal growth and spiritual development, which lands deeply inside of me given the reflection time I have had on retreat.

Day 7 comes around all too soon, but what I can say is that I am well rested and ready for the final leg of this 5 week exploration holiday. Upon departure another red thread bracelet with a charm is wrapped and tied around my wrist with well wishes. I am also given a red thread (presented on a copper platter) and invited to make a wish whilst tying the thread around an installation on the wall in the welcome/farewell pavilion. I pause and think for a moment before tying my 'lucky' thread to the wall. 

Overall Vana Retreat offers something very unique. Bringing Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and healing together ensures that the Vana way offers a lot of wisdom, integrity and applicable philosophies for modern day life and psychological development.

THE NYC WELLNESS SCENE

Whenever I am researching fitness trends there is one city that just keeps on popping up. New York City! So it made sense to add a 'fitness/wellness holiday' in NYC following the Global Wellness Summit. Here are some of the experiences and brands I had the chance to visit and try on. 

1 HOTEL - I have been dying to visit the 1 Hotel in Brooklyn and was not disappointed. Its such an excellent model of a socially conscious brand with ecological design at the core of its philosophy. Every sustainable detail has been considered making it every bit authentic. The brand is part of the Starwood Capital Group and brainchild of hotelier Barry Sternlicht. There are currently 3 hotels in USA with 4 more opening internationally in 2018/19, which tells me this sustainable model is wanted by our guests and wellness warriors. 

BAMFORD SPA - Thinking I was going to have to visit the UK to visit a Bamford Spa you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the 1 Hotel has partnered with Bamford Spa. The spa offers a complete ecological perspective throughout its operation and it was nothing short of eco luxe exquisite. Next time I will definitely be treating myself with a treatment, but for this visit a retail bag of bamford goodies had to suffice.  

AIRE ANCIENT ROMAN BATHS - I was told if visiting NYC I had to visit AIRE, and so I booked my first 'night out' here and was not disappointed. This exquisite thermal bathing area is set below ground level featuring candles, music, various baths including a magnesium float bath, jacuzzi, thermal baths, cold plunge pools, a salt pillar for self applied body scrubs, steam room and a space for treatments. I added a salt stone massage to compliment my bathing experience. This brand is expanding across Europe and the UK and I can see why its such a popular choice for city dwellers as it offers an 'other worldly' relaxation experience in the heart of the city.

INSCAPE MEDITATION - This space features two meditation pods with specialised lighting. The variety of seating props were excellent, offering something suited to every type of person and their physical comfort. The class is introduced by a facilitator who sits in the centre but the class itself is lead by a recorded voice. The brilliance in this is being able to offer a class that is universally likeable, with good sound and without requiring an expert meditation teacher to be present. The retail store at Inscape offered an excellent range of boutique wellness products and a very nice relaxation area to hang out with a cup of fruit infused water and a book.

WOOM YOGA - I jumped in a cab and went downtown for a midday yoga class in the Woom room. This centre offers yoga classes and sound meditations amidst a light show of patterns and imagery projected onto the wall. The music was quite loud and the lighting reminiscent of a night club in parts and I felt energised and engaged in the journey. Definitely worth a visit when in NYC.

PELOTON CYCLING - This class is a convenient and immersive indoor cycling experience, streaming daily live classes from the NYC studio. This could be an excellent offering for the wellness hotel room concept. The advantage of this model is that guests receive a consistent standard of instructor. I see this model being perfect for homes and hotels. 

SOUL CYCLE - This class is a style of cycling that incorporates motivational and dance based instruction. It is a fun, intense workout in a dark room that is similar to a dance studio. Taking the cycle scene by storm its an excellent style of class to consider for any health retreat. 

TRAMPOLEAN CLASS - Ive often thought that rebounding classes need to enter the fitness arena. Well NYC offers trampolean and I really got a workout in this class. In a dark industrial style room we did all sorts of moves on the rebounder with the addition of hand weights and therabands to tone and stretch the entire body. This was an excellent low impact class with high impact results. The health benefits of rebounding are numerous as it cleanses the lymphatic system and exercises every internal organ and cell in the body, whilst delivering excellent aerobic exercise without impacting on joints. 

In addition to soaking and fitness classes I also did what anyone must do when in NYC, which was to go up to the top of the Empire State Building, see a show on Broadway and add in a spot of shopping in Times Square. I loved every minute in this vibrant city and cant wait to visit again.