How many times have you been on a holiday and felt you needed a wellness weekend just to recharge from it?
Well, you’re not alone as most of us like to jam-pack our itineraries with numerous tours, sightseeing activities, attractions and of course, eating and drinking festivities.
We naturally want to get as much bang for our buck. So, we squeeze out every single minute of our vacation to experience the place/s we visit.
However, there is a new trend emerging where holidaymakers are tossing in those ‘exhausting holidays’ for something more mentally and physically recharging.
Enter: the wellness holiday or ‘wellcation’ as some like to put it.
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What is a wellness holiday?
Now if you’re wondering what on earth is a wellness getaway, it’s simply a trip that’s all about enhancing your mind, body and spirit and should make you feel better/ more fulfilled.
And, yes it goes beyond relaxing and lounging on a beach for a week. It actually focuses on challenging your fitness, health and lifestyle behaviours.
It will, in fact, have you travelling, unplugging from your everyday life and learning more positive habits that will benefit you beyond your vacay-time.
Some types of wellness breaks include spa, detox, weight loss, medical, yoga, fitness and sports and adventure. This is usually experienced by visiting a retreat or adding it as an activity to your business or leisure trip.
As we grow more conscious of our mental and physical health, the demand for wellness retreats and holiday wellness is booming.
It’s the reason why wellness tourism is currently the fastest growing sector in the travel industry, expected to reach $919 billion in spending by 2022.
What are the benefits?
So, what better time to swap that traditionally busy holiday for something more fulfilling and enriching.
Here are seven benefits to be gained by going on a wellness holiday:
1. Build new friendships
When travelling we get to meet new people and form new friendships. And, when visiting a wellness retreat it’s no different. You’re able to connect with like-minded people who are there to achieve the same wellness goals as you.
What’s even better is the support network these people form encouraging one another to keep going and to challenge themselves to succeed.
Many leave these getaways with life long friends, so don’t be put off going solo as there as many wellness holidays for singles out there like Kamalaya in Thailand, Longevity Cegonha Country Club in Portugal and Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa in Jamaica.
2. Explore a beautiful location
What’s great about going on wellness retreat holidays is they’re usually situated in stunning regions full of beautiful beaches, coastlines, mountains and national parks.
And, the reason for this is because these natural surroundings are key to helping you unplug, relax and find your best self.
So, for instance, you could experience Bali’s picturesque coastline on a womens surf camp, soak up hectares of hinterland at a Byron Bay spa retreat or hike through diversely lush natural parks on one of the many fitness retreats Asia has to offer.
3. Plenty of me time
Being a mother, a guilty pleasure of mine is getting some alone time, and on a wellness holiday, it’s one of the main benefits. Sounds like heaven right? This type of holiday helps you escape your daily routines and opens up your mindset on what you want out of life.
For some, it might be to improve your fitness, relationships, sleep, eating, mental health, detox or to simply feel more rejuvenated.
A few of our wellness favourites for indulging in some solo time include going a Costa Rica surfing vacation, jumping on a Nicaragua surf yoga retreat or attending a Noosa health retreat.
4. Learn meditation
As we live in a world that constantly demands our attention – finding the time to shut off is trickier than you think. We might have good intentions to meditate each day, but we usually get distracted and don’t do it.
The great thing about going on a wellness getaway and especially a wellness retreat is that they factor in time to meditate.
Here you’ll be taught and guided on how to meditate properly in order to gain its mental benefits. You’ll come away feeling more recharged, focused and clear with your thoughts.
A few top picks to strengthen your mediation skills include these retreats located in Ko Pha Ngan, Barcelona, Rishikesh and New York.
5. Nutrition and eating well
On a typical holiday indulging your taste buds and widening your waistline is a given. However, on a wellness holiday, it’s the opposite.
It focuses on eating healthy meals that are packed with fresh flavours and nutrients to help fuel your body in the best way.
In particular, you’ll get this when visiting a health/ wellness retreat where they carefully prepare your meals free of processed ingredients and bad fats and sugars.
Also, some retreats like Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Sewall House, Georges Boutique B&B and Culinary Retreat and Worendo offer cooking classes to help you learn a few healthy recipes to take home.
What’s great about this type of holiday is it focuses on clean eating – helping you to reset your body and relationship with the way food is cooked and eaten.
6. Work on your fitness
The last thing we often want to do is exercise, especially if we have kids or have busy lives. However, we know we must do it to maintain a healthy mind and body and this is why fitness holidays and active retreats are so beneficial. They motivate you to get moving and allow you the time to challenge your physical fitness.
You’ll get the chance to try a bunch of fitness activities such as yoga, surfing, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, jogging, cycling and free diving to see what you enjoy and are good at.
The best part is you’ll leave a bit stronger and open to continuing such activities while at home.
7. Get inspired and motivated
Feeling stuck in rut? Well, a wellness escape might just be what you need. As it focuses on enhancing your wellbeing and lifestyle habits, many leave feeling more energized, creative and motivated in their lives and careers.
So, don’t be surprised if you find that spark of inspiration you’ve been waiting for while on vacation.
You might also find yourself putting that mindfulness, restorative and clean eating skills to good use back at home, helping to keep the inspiration going.
Where to go?
So, you know a wellness holiday has many benefits to be gained, but you might be asking where do I go? As there are many options out there from your all-inclusive retreats to DIY wellness experiences, it can be overwhelming to choose.
To help you out here are some ideas on wellness retreats to experience and tips on how to incorporate some holiday wellness on your next leisure or business trip.
Recommended wellness retreats
FOR YOGA: If you want an authentic yoga experience then you can’t go past this Yoga Tour India Adventure exploring Southern India’s sights and spiritual practices.
It’ll have you engaging your mind, body and spirit and is suitable for all levels from the beginner to seasoned yogi.
FOR SPA INDULGENCE: Who can pass up a spa break? As a mother, I know this retreat experience is right at the top of my list. Therefore, here is a list of some of Australians most soothing solo spa breaks to try ranging from the super-luxe to affordable stays.
One of my favourites featured is the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. It’s more than a spa getaway, as it will also have you also exploring the coastline and secluded island.
FOR ADVENTURE AND SPORTS: There’s nothing like challenging yourself, and adventure yoga retreats will have you strengthening your fitness while also finding more balance.
Here are a few amazing active retreats specialising not only in yoga but also surfing, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding, free diving and hiking.
FOR A SUNNY EXPERIENCE: Getting some rays is not only good for your tan but it’s also good for your wellbeing. And, as I live in sunny Queensland I thought I would include my top wellness weekend getaways Queensland is home to, that will have you feeling more Zen in no time.
These places include various experiences like cooking classes, spa sessions, yoga, snorkelling, hiking rainforests, hand feeding wild dolphins and more.
Tips for a DIY wellness holiday
Now not all of us can afford or have the time to go to a wellness retreat, so a great way to incorporate some wellness to your travels (business or leisure) is by doing it yourself (DIY).
Below are seven quick and easy tips to help you ramp up your DIY wellness game.
#1. LOCATION LOCATION: First of all you need to choose the location for your wellness experience. This could be a place you are already travelling to for work or holiday. It can also even be a staycation in your hometown, saving you money.
#2. SWEAT IT OUT: Why not join a fitness class or book a personal instructor to get you moving. You could try your hand at yoga, take a surf or SUP lesson, play a round of golf, jump on a bike tour, shake your tail feather in a dance class – the options are endless.
#3. SPA SESSION: To feel like a true wellness experience you must head to a spa. So, find your local day spa and book in for a massage and additional treatments. It’s the easiest way to feel more relaxed.
#4. HIKE IT: One of the easiest ways to incorporate wellness into your life is by going on a hike or a walk. Why not find a nearby attraction to explore like a national park, botanical garden, beach or a popular city sightseeing route.
#5. DIGITAL DETOX: One of the main reasons we feel burnout is due to technology and being constantly connected. It is this reason we recommend you make a conscious effort to block out time to be offline and avoid any screen time. Instead, grab a book, put your feet up and read that novel you’ve been putting off.
#6. MEDITATE TIME: Another activity to schedule into your day is to meditate. We often overlook doing it, but in fact, it’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to feel better and more recharged. Best of all, it takes as little as 10-15 minutes per day.
#7. GET COOKING: One way to keep anxiety and depression at bay is by simply getting into the kitchen and cooking a healthy meal. It’s an underrated wellness activity with many proven benefits, so why not book into a local cooking class or finding a healthy recipe to cook. You’ll feel better mentally and physically.
Have you been on a wellness holiday recently? Share your experience and tips.
This post originally featured on my wellness blog, zentravellife.com. Visit for more wellness, travel and lifestyle stories and tips today.
