Episode 79: Wellness Travel

21Mar 2022 by EJtheTravelDiva

Today, we’re taking a few deep breaths and talking about wellness travel.

According to the Wellness Tourism Association, wellness travel is “travel that allows the traveler to maintain, enhance, or kickstart a healthy lifestyle, and support or increase one’s sense of wellbeing.”

It is so important to live inward, find ourselves, and experience true wellbeing, and if you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you know how many guests have said that travel is the best way to discover who you are, down to your core.

Here we go:

[03:31] Different reasons for wellness vacations.

Besides the great health benefits of taking a wellness vacation, there are many reasons for deciding to take one.

Some people want to improve their quality of life, connect with themselves and others, and even just to take a break from technology.

[04:01] Different types of wellness.

There are many categories of wellness that we need to maintain in order to be well-rounded, healthy people.

There’s emotional, environmental, physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual wellness, and they’re all influenced by each other, so we need to take care of every one of them as much as we can.

[04:16] Wellness programs.

There are an increasing number of resorts that offer wellness programs for their guests, and the most common options include yoga sessions on the beach.

Yoga is one of the most popular wellness programs that travellers look for when planning their vacation.

During my stay at Planet Hollywood, I attended morning yoga sessions on the beach, and I can tell you it’s an experience that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

[06:48] Wellness travel is what you make it.

Now, I incorporated morning yoga into my travel and it made a huge difference.

If you plan your entire vacation around wellness, you will reach the end of your vacation as a different person.

You don’t even have to go all out for your wellness. You could simply change your destination.

At the time of recording this, I am in California. Doing my meditation outside in the sun, listening to Chelsea Jackson Roberts, experiencing the cool breeze as I become one with myself is just life-changing.

[08:38] The categories of wellness tourism.

Wellness tourism is travelling for the purpose of promoting health and wellbeing.

This includes areas such as traditional and preventative medicine, fitness, mind, body, and healthy eating and weight loss.

You could also take part in volunteerism. Giving back, besides being a great help to others, helps us experience an increased sense of wellbeing as well.

[10:07] Your travel intention.

In Episode 67, I spoke about being intentional with your travels.

In order to get the most out of your vacation, you need to plan it around your intentions.

If your intention is improved wellness, then you can plan your vacation around things that improve your wellness.

[11:25] Mental health matters most.

You could take all the wellness vacations you want, but if you’re not prioritising your mental wellbeing, everything else is just going to collapse.

[11:56] Break up your routine.

If you’re like me, you have everything sorted into a schedule, your routine is rigid, and you get worn out from this routine really quickly.

I always have to have a change of scenery every few months to help maintain my mental and spiritual wellbeing.

[13:12] Primary wellness vacations.

These are for the people who travel for wellness, and only wellness.

They would typically focus exclusively on one part or all of their wellness needs.

[13:36] Secondary wellness vacations.

People who do these vacations typically go on a vacation and plan to incorporate some form of wellness as a secondary focus, like what I did in Costa Rica with my morning yoga sessions.

You can add a few things to your existing vacation plan to help maintain your wellness while you have a fun and exciting vacation.

On your vacation, you can include spa treatments, culinary events, and fitness activities.

[17:41] Vacation doesn’t always have to be about having a good time.

When people think about vacations, it’s usually an all-inclusive resort with bottomless drinks at the pool or the beach.

It doesn’t have to be that.

Vacations can be a week of nourishing and listening to your mind, body, and soul.

[19:37] It’s more than just spa treatments.

Yes, a spa treatment sounds great, and it is great, but a wellness vacation is more than just going to the spa everyday.

It’s about getting in your exercise everyday, doing yoga on the beach everyday, even seeing a shaman everyday, disconnecting from technology for the duration of your vacation, or taking a solo trip to connect with yourself on a deeper level.

[21:38] It’s all about self-care now.

Since the pandemic, people have become much more aware of their self-care.

Resorts have even started offering a wider range of self-care programs.

The Hard Rock Hotels have been expanding their Sound Body™ wellness programs to help people rejuvenate their body and soul through music.

The Zoëtry Wellness and Spa Resorts are characterised by holistic and wellness practices and experiences.

If you feel like you need to take a wellness vacation, consult with a travel agent. Let them help you put together a vacation package that will rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul.

Since the pandemic, everything has been about self-care, and everyone is feeling the pressure of what we’ve been experiencing. When you look back at this time in your life, make sure that you didn’t leave your self-care intentions behind.

Start small. Take at least one wellness vacation a year. Focus on yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to be your best, most balanced, rejuvenated self.

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One thought on “Episode 79: Wellness Travel”

Pamela Prymer

I am definitely in need of a wellness vacation. This has inspired me to look for Wellness opportunities when we travel to Jamaica in August. I always find activities for us to do, but this time I am just going to enjoy getting my wellness and mental health break.

04/24/2022 at 9:37 am