If you spend a good amount of time browsing through social media, you’ll have noticed a huge uptick in the number of wellness-focused posts in the last few years. Wellness and self care have replaced other big trends like beauty and makeup, and have infused themselves into every other trend too. Now it’s not just cooking, it’s cooking for gut and heart health. We’re no longer just working out to look good, but to feel good too.
Wellness is big business: according to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness economy is projected to reach $7 trillion in 2025. And with any booming industry, new trends mean new tips and treatments to indulge in! Let’s take a look at some of the new trends in wellness, and what’s worth your time and money to invest in.
Sound Healing
Sound healing is the use of sound waves to promote physical and emotional healing. Typical methods include using singing bowls or tuning forks to create vibrations that resonate throughout the body. It is believed that these vibrations can help to release energy blockages and promote relaxation and balance.
A form of guided meditation, sound healing can have a positive impact on a variety of health issues, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and sleep disorders. Additionally, it has been shown to enhance the immune system. As this trend pops off, it’s becoming more common to see sessions in spas and yoga studios, as well as private professionals who are happy to come to your home and perform a session for you.
If you don’t have the time or money for in-person sessions however there are, as always, apps to the rescue! Healing sounds, Tone pool, and The sound bath are all highly rated apps with excellent reviews for those looking to quiet their minds after long stressful days.
Forest Bathing
Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is a practice that originated in Japan and involves spending time in a forest or other natural environment. The goal is to immerse oneself in nature and to connect with the natural world. Research has shown that forest bathing can have a variety of physical and mental health benefits. It can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, boost the immune system, and improve mood. Additionally, spending time in nature has been shown to improve cognitive function and creativity.
This is probably one of the most accessible, popular wellness trends out there. It’s become so popular that Forestry England even has a guide for beginners on how to get started!
Facial massage
You’ve probably seen a lot of people rubbing cold jade combs or rollers on their face online and wondered what on earth they were doing. Gua Sha is a facial massage technique of Chinese origin that is meant to increase blood circulation, reduce marks from spots and acne, and generally enhance qi flows. Related is facial massage, which involves the use of massage techniques on the face, neck, and shoulders. The goal is to increase blood flow to the skin, stimulate lymphatic drainage, and promote relaxation.
Apart from being a little uncomfortable, both techniques stimulate lymphatic drainage, which can reduce puffiness and inflammation in the face. They also elieve tension in the muscles of the face, neck, and shoulders, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Finally, they can can help to increase the absorption of skincare products, allowing them to penetrate deeper into the skin for better results.
The great thing about these treatments is that you can do them yourself at home and for relatively cheap!
Destigmatising wellness
In general, wellness is shifting away from a ‘one-size fits all’ model to a sort of shopping cart style of wellbeing that can be tailored to an individual’s needs. On-demand self-care has been facilitated by apps, but also by an easing up in the industry that no longer demands that you be super in-shape, a trained aesthetician, or a five star chef to participate fully. A lot of these new trends are also more accessible - focusing less on expensive yoga sessions and more on natural experiences facilitated by apps.
Wellness is whatever you make it. So whether you choose to participate in the new wellness trends or not, make it your own decision!