Silence and neuroscience

May 25, 2018

The newest wellness trends promise all kinds of fascinating twists and turns. From neuroscientists as a permanent fixture on spa teams, to completely Wi-Fi and mobile-free resorts. In fact, there’s every chance of you encountering either or both of these things on your next spa holiday.

We list the current trends in the world of wellness, here:

1 Architectonic wellness

Spas and resorts with stunning exteriors are nothing new. The increasing focus on their interior workings, however, is. More and more hotels will be run with the environment in mind, taking their energy needs into their own hands, as Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda in Italy already does. In addition, we’ll see more and more high-tech gadgets such as dawn simulators to help you rise naturally in the mornings, or similar innovations to help promote sound sleep.

2 Silence

In an online world where we can be reached 24/7, by email, Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram and the rest, silence has become golden. An increasing number of wellness resorts will begin offering their guests ‘silence’; before long, we’ll witness the rise of silent restaurants, gyms, shops and airports. The first silent spa is already a reality, as is the first Wi-Fi- and mobile reception-free retreat. For a breathtakingly silent, natural environment, head to Bali’s COMO Shambhala, situated on the banks of a river on the edge of the jungle. Or to The Retreat, with an equally peaceful location in the tropical hillsides of Costa Rica.

3 New beauty

Going forward, beauty on the inside will be what counts. At least in terms of wellness focus. Because – however beautiful we want to look and stay looking – we want to retain our authenticity and individuality. That means less of the Botox and more of the food and drink that nourishes our skin from the inside-out. It also means less curative medication and more preventative therapies, such as Dr. Mayr’s intensive colon cleanse, available at Parkhotel Igls in Austria. Along similar lines, Italian resort Villa Eden offers health checks and medical consultations at its multi-award winning medical spa.

4 Mental wellbeing

Where we would previously book a wellness holiday with a view to re-connecting with our bodies, in the future, our motive for these ventures will be to reconnect with our souls. With depression representing one of the fastest growing illnesses in the world, wellness destinations will come to offer more and more trips that target mental wellbeing. Psychotherapists, neuroscientists and coaches will be recruited to join teams. Guests at the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary in Thailand, for instance, can consult Rajesh: a wise Indian monk capable of enlightening you on what it is that’s holding you back in life, and how you can make those all-important shifts.

5 Special cancer focus

Puurenkuur has been running Borstkanjer weekends – special trips for breast cancer survivors – in Zeeland for some years now. It would appear that we set a trend, as more and more therapists at spas and resorts are specialising in treatments tailored to cancer patients, such as special massages or oncology esthetics.

6 Giving back

This final trend capitalises on the global phenomenon of giving something back to society. The wellness arena is joining in, by donating a proportion of their profits to charity, as Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara in Sri Lanka is doing, or by recruiting members of the local community, like Swaswara in India does. Through this trend, wellness holidays will increasingly come to benefit not only guests, but also the wider environment.