We’re already well aware of the benefits of regular meditation, and the trend for incorporating therapeutic and spiritual practices into our everyday lives is only set to continue. Increasing in popularity are ancient practices such as chanting and sound baths, used for thousands of years across many different cultures for their therapeutic effects, and forest bathing (also known as nature therapy), originating from Japan. Increasing numbers of Westerners are travelling far and wide for their wellness fixes, visiting ashrams in India and shamans in South America. Plant-based medicines such as medical marijuana is becoming increasingly more accepted and research continues into the potential benefits of psychedelics like ayahuasca, san pedro and Ibogaine. However, it’s important to note that these plant medicines are still illegal in the UK.
Next-Generation Fasting
You’ve tried the 5:2, sometimes you manage 16:8, now it’s time for next generation fasting. While intermittent fasting and time restricted eating do have proven health benefits, experts argue that you need to fast for longer than a few hours to experience more profound benefits such as upregulated autophagy and stem cell generation. Enter ProLon, a next generation fast that has the same benefits of water only fasting, while allowing you to eat specially designed, nutrient-dense, plant-based mini meals.
CBD
You can’t have failed to notice CBD pop up just about everywhere in 2019, and it is set to continue throughout 2020. CBD health and wellness treatments are on the rise and CBD oil is now hugely popular and found in everything from skincare and shampoo to cookies and chocolate. Pain relief, treatment of skin conditions and anxiety relief are just some of the ways CBD is currently being utilised in the wellness industry and with more research being done and increasing numbers of locations legalising marijuana, our knowledge of how to utilise the oil will develop.
Virtual Consultants and Trainers
In my own clinical practice, I now consult more clients remotely, via my virtual consulting platform, than I see at my practice in Harley Street. This is a huge shift from just five years ago when all of my consultancy was in-clinic. Remote consultancy allows clients across from all corners of the world to access the expertise they need, while not having to travel long distances to do so. Even many of my London-based clients choose to have online consultations, preferring to save the time it would take them to travel into clinic.
Wellness Retreats
The global wellness industry is now worth $4.2 trillion USD with wellness tourism worth $639.4 in 2017 and growing by 6.5% annually. Holiday resorts are waking up to the demand, increasingly teaming up with health, wellness and fitness professionals to offer masters in residence programmes, attracting holidaymakers who wish to use their annual leave to do more than just sip cocktails on a beach.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
As meditation grows in popularity, the breathing practice mastered in the practice has become a wellness activity in and of itself. Diaphragmatic breathing is abdominal breathing (sometimes called ‘belly breathing’) and the exercise not only has meditative and relaxation benefits, but the practice also helps to strengthen your diaphragm, the muscle that is key to your breathing. Benefits of diaphragmatic breathing are thought to include stress reduction, lowering heart rate and blood pressure and improving core muscle stability.
The Great Environment Debate
Netflix and co may be on a mission to turn us all onto a plant-only diet with documentaries like What The Health but can it really save the planet? Eating a lot of meat isn’t advisable but nor, arguably, is the world turning vegan the answer to all of our environment’s challenges, due to the intensive farming techniques used to meet the increased demand for soya and maize. The answer? Another year of a hotly debated topic and further drives toward more sustainable diet and lifestyle processes.
