Wellness Travel: The New Way to Travel

It seems every year there’s a new super-food to know about and a new workout craze to try. In 2015, we had wearable tech, farm-to-table, bean-to-bar and green juicing. In 2016, we face a host of new health and fitness trends that promise to make us look amazing as well as feel better, one of these being the new way of travelling: wellness travel.

Whether you are taking a road trip or flying overseas, ‘healthy-minded, wellness travel experiences’ are now officially a thing and they cater to people who don't want to break their healthy routines and those who are looking for unique experiences that are in-line with their lifestyle choices. Here are some of the trending wellness travel experiences.

Yoga Vacations: Yoga has been around for a while, and more people are trying this holistic approach to fitness. To achieve strength, flexibility a mind-body balance, yogis all over the world have successfully added their own creative spins to traditional yoga, such as acro-yoga, aerial-yoga, hot yoga, and so on.

Research shows that yoga has gained more popularity in forms of yoga vacations, yoga retreats and even more creative versions like salty-yoga (performed on a bed of Himalayan salt to promote better skin, better sleep and healthier lungs) and vogue-yoga (performed wearing sequined leotards with party music blasting in the background!)

Well-Fests: Bad news for ravers and party-animals, because festivals are shifting focus from wasted to wellness. Well-fests celebrate health and well-being while embracing the social aspect that makes music festivals so popular. The UK’s Innocent Unplugged is a great example – festival-goers are offered pedal bikes and there is a giant human-run hamster wheel to power-up the event!

Detox-Cruises: These floating retreats offer impressive spa facilities, yoga sessions, beauty therapies and even volunteerism experiences. Sounds like heaven? The only catch is that there is a strict technology ban.

Après-adrenaline Relaxation: After an extreme adventure like bungee jumping, white water rafting, paragliding or even zip-lining, this program encourages rewarding yourself with some blissed out relaxation such as a massage or a meditation session that comes with the package. This latest travel trend is all about a contrast therapy to reset your body and mind.

Anthropological Spirituality: The modern traveler’s thirst for ancient, spiritual experiences has given rise to heritage tourism with a focus on wellness. For example Mexico’s Temazcal ritual (a transformational mind-body experience, where a trained shaman uses heat, steam, aromatic herbs, and ancient chants to help people relax and achieve mind-body balance) can be experienced at many luxury resorts in Mexico. Similarly, a Turkish Hamam can be experienced while in Istanbul.

In-room Gyms at Hotels: Many hotel gyms have recently started offering personal training, and even fitness workshops by celebrity trainers. But what if you aren’t motivated enough to step out of your room?

We are not talking about swanky presidential suites but even budget-friendly motels and boutique hotels are offering the luxury of a good workout inside your own room. By creating workout spaces, offering work out videos and equipment, they are making it easier for people to maintain their routine even while traveling.

Fitness-Forward Airports: While not every airport offers convenient fitness services and facilities, a number of them such as Singapore’s Changi airport, Chicago O’Hare International and London Heathrow offer inter-terminal fitness trails, swimming pools, quiet rooms for yoga and meditation, as well as healthier food options, spas and gyms to keep you relaxed while you wait for your flight.

Athleisure Wear: Athleisure is a term used to describe comfortable, stylish sportswear that’s moved from the gym to the street and even the office. It’s taking the fashion world by storm – so much so that it’s threatening to put the good ol’ pair of jeans out of fashion! So when packing for a vacation, you can now leave those bulky, heavy denims at home. Besides, if you want to enjoy your in-room workout, yoga session or bungee jumping you’ll need something super practical and versatile!

If you liked this article, scan the QR code below for more fun health facts:

This post is sponsored by Sanfine International Hospital

Photos: Acquired by Sanfine International Hospital