When it comes to taking holidays in a post-pandemic world, busy trips full of sightseeing have taken a back seat. Enter the wellness retreat, taking over travel one yoga class at a time.
It’s no secret that the pandemic has taken a toll on both our mental and physical wellbeing. Weeks and even months under lockdown had us dreaming of far-flung destinations. It also had us focusing on the importance of our health. When we began to emerge, restrictions still in place, but relaxing day by day, travel felt like a novelty. Friends began to venture out on staycations, and then just like birds fly the nest, one by one, airport selfies began to fill our social media feeds. Only this time, the destination? Retreats. Meditation, mindfulness, and other healing practices are becoming part of our day-to-day lives. Propelled by the pandemic, and the awareness and breaking down of the taboo surrounding mental health has opened people’s minds. Lockdown also allowed them the time to put in the practice.
Although benefits like reducing stress and easing anxiety can be felt instantaneously with these practices, long-term effects can be life-changing. Scientifically-proven and the focus of countless medical studies, meditation and mindfulness alongside similar practices can ease and even stop health issues. For example, long-term mediation can improve mental health and, in turn, lower the risk of depression. It can help reduce inflammation, which has been linked to major chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. It also helps to control cravings, boost brain function, fight premature ageing, deal with pain, and the list goes on.
For those that put in the time and inevitably feel the effects, it’s no wonder that they want to further their learnings in their downtime, often with like-minded people. Before the pandemic, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) saw an annual growth rate of 6.5% between 2015 and 2017 of the $639 billion wellness travel market. This was double the growth rate for global tourism overall. By 2022, the wellness institute predicts that the wellness tourism market will reach $919 billion. Once considered a niche, wellness retreats are opening across the globe. Hotels are adapting to the demand with some rebranding themselves, or offering retreats on their properties. Having been on retreats before, Scott Price, the retail and education manager for Tom Ford, Killian and Frederic Malle in the region jetted off to the Amatara Wellness Resort in Thailand when the borders opened. “I stayed at a wellness retreat but created my own programme. I did yoga sessions most days, mediation and had daily massages,” Price says. Due to the pandemic and restrictions on treatments, some retreats aren’t offering complete programmes such as cleansing and more invasive procedures. This isn’t stopping travellers from making the most of their time, however. “It was all about healthy eating, working out and wellbeing. It was a holiday about reconnecting with me, taking time and trying to figure out where I want to go in the next chapter of my life,” explains Price.
For many, retreats offer a stepping stone to traditional travelling. “A retreat presents a protected or even secluded environment, where interactions with the outside world are minimised, while interactions within the group are controlled,” says Dr Vassiliki Simoglou, a PhD in counselling psychology at Thrive Wellbeing Centre in Dubai. The very basis of a retreat offers a structured schedule that takes the pressure off travellers to figure out the rules and restrictions in place with the pandemic. This makes it perfect for those embarking on a solo adventure. “Like everyone else, I was drained after sitting at home and dealing with all of the challenges that came with the pandemic. The chance to escape to a beautiful remote island to focus on myself and my wellbeing on my own sounded so appealing,” says Rohma Theunissen, a content creator based in Dubai. Heading to Ithaca, Greece, for a retreat hosted by her local yoga teacher, this was her first time travelling alone.
Solo travel is on the rise. Retreats offer the ability to alternate between isolation and social connection. “Humans are fundamentally social beings. They thrive in groups and end up seeking human interaction, even when they desire to be alone,” explains Dr Simoglou. For the times when solo travellers are alone, Dr Simoglou adds, “It is an opportunity for a person to unwind, rewind and reconnect with themselves fully. It can fulfil a need for separation from others and distance from one’s routine, or a need for reflection, introspection and personal discovery.” For Theunissen, she says, “I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would love to do this for myself every year. It’s an incredible way to reset my body and soul.” With retreats now catering to every hobby, practice and even medical conditions, it might be time to get booking a stay if you haven’t already.
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