- Ahhh... We’re feeling better already...
2019 is coming to a close, and with it, we’ve seen some interesting trends that come and go in the health and wellness industry. This is a constantly evolving area where areas of interest come and go with new trends appearing as new technology and information are made accessible to the broader public. In 2019, we saw an interesting shift toward new therapies, including an increase in CBD-based products, as well as a continued rise in the number of apps and technology to improve well-being and health.
Other popular trends include the growing use of green superfood powders to supplement vegetable and fruit intake each day. Look at this site for a comprehensive selection of brands available. These can not only act as a nutritional insurance to days of inadequate diet, but save time and sometimes the cost of juicing.
Apps for Breathing and Meditation
One of the most interesting increases in popularity in 2019, and moving into 2020, is the increase in demand for breathing and meditation apps. Mobile apps give us access to therapies that you may usually need to go to a treatment center for a fraction of the price. You’re also able to use apps to make sure you get the 10 to 20 minutes out of your life for breathing techniques or yoga that you need. Studies have found that regular practice of breathing techniques for just 25 minutes a day can have tangible effects such as increasing your cognitive functions, increasing your energy, and reducing stress. Apps assist by having the feature to set daily reminders and different lengths and types of exercise to make it more likely that you’ll stick to them.
Two great choices if you’re looking for apps that will improve your wellness through meditation and breathing techniques are Headspace and Calm. Headspace is specifically ameditation app with a free version that has an introduction to mindfulness you can use as much as you’d like. You can then pay extra for packs that are designed to help specific parts of your life, such as lowering your stress or helping you to sleep. Calm is similar, but is very much focused on breathing exercises to help you relax. You can choose different breathing exercises depending on your needs, and both apps are great choices.
Wellness Retreats
Interestingly, while convenience and low barriers to entry have been seen as a trend through breathing apps, wellness retreats have seen a significant increase in 2019 and are set to continue in 2020. Wellness retreats like those put on at Bayless Healthcare in Phoenix are generally between a weekend and can be up to two weeks, and are designed to create an environment that’s ideal for resetting mentally. You’ll often hand in your connection to the wider world and not be able to access the Internet while you’re there, so you can really put your mind to rest, which may be one of the reasons for the increase in demand for retreats like this.
At a wellness retreat, you’ll have a daily routine of yoga, mindfulness, and other wellness therapies to help decrease your stress and to teach you techniques to improve your resilience when you’re finished. There are retreats available in most of the western world now, but if you really want to delve into something like mindfulness or yoga, a retreat to India or Thailand may be perfect for you.
Online and In-Home Personal Training
This is a trend that is becoming more in demand. These services are putting many gyms under pressure in 2020. The idea is convenience and saving extra money. Having an in home or online personal trainer means you escape the commitment of a 12-month membership at a club. While a lot of gym-goers only use their subscription to see their trainer, a lot of people are starting to feel it’s pointless to pay this additional fee.
Companies like London Fitness are able to conduct sessions at home or online anywhere in the world. They use various apps like My PT Hub and PT Distinction to track your progress in workout programming and nutrition. The client keys in all the information from the assignments given between sessions. This has also been very popular for working professionals who travel a lot internationally.