Daily Times

The incidence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases has been on a sharp rise around the world. Getting away from a stress-free environment and daily chaotic routine has made the wellness tourism industry one of the most vibrant businesses around the world. It is estimated that the wellness tourism industry generated $563.2 billion in revenues in 2015, with nearly 50 per cent faster growth projected than for overall global tourism. Tourism-friendly countries are cashing in on facilitating much-needed wellness retreats to attract tourist traffic.

A study by Tal ben Shahar, a Harvard professor, has revealed that 75 per cent of people felt happier when they invested their money in travel, courses, and classes; the rest said they felt happier when buying things. The icing on the cake comes in the form of residential retreats offered to provide a total mind and body experience. The retreats are arranged at worldwide destinations and range from mild exposure to health, fitness and well being routines to the most challenging and mind-altering programmes. Asia has some of the most sought after exotic locations for wellness retreats. The retreats cover a broad spectrum of facilities ranging from luxury hotel accommodation to low-cost ashrams.

Wellness yoga retreat is a great opportunity to get an organic feel to life and enjoy a simple lifestyle. The simplicity of eating from a banana leaf instead of porcelain plates to shedding designer clothes for muslin comfort wear, flip-flops to march on the road instead of strutting in designer heels, are all refreshing experiences. The daily excursion can include walks, hikes, and fitness routines. Free time is always there for catching up on shopping.

Many Asian countries have made wellness travel attractive, affordable and accessible for worldwide travellers

Wellness retreats are more than a holiday. They are designed to improve general health of the participant. A cognitive psychologist at the University of Utah, Prof David Stayer says that when we slow down, the fatigued brain can be restored with improved mental performance. He calls retreats as “a kind of cleaning of the mental windshield”

A study at the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences at the RMIT University in Australia, titled Health Impact of Residential Retreats suggested that health retreat experiences appear to have health benefits that include benefits for people with chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, various cancers, HIV/AIDS, heart conditions and mental health.

Designing a holiday, which is different from those centred around a shopping festival or cultural and culinary tour can be daunting. Most travel agents do not have information on wellness retreats and their packages. As a pioneer in Pakistan for wellness retreats, my effort is to enlighten expectations.

Wellness retreat is about recharging one’s energy with certain tools and techniques. These retreats are guided by a teacher who imparts techniques at various hours and stages of the holiday. The teacher will help in unplugging the brain, as it navigates from beta to alpha and theta states. Natural environments create the stimulus in the brain to be in an alpha state which then helps you unwind. Further relaxation sessions and yoga facilitate experiencing theta state and deep sleep. According to Strayer’s hypothesis, nature allows the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s command centre, to dial down and rest, like an overused muscle. The EEG shows less energy coming from “midline frontal theta waves” – a measure of conceptual thinking and sustained attention.

Participants can be asked to bust their daily habits and schedules, such as switching off mobile phones. Initially, people are disoriented. However, this helps one reconnect to one’s inner strength and confidence, interact with other participants and switch from distractions to focusing on oneself. It is an opportunity to experience a new lifestyle, addressing your addictions such as smoking or caffeine, and deepen your knowledge on techniques to counter stress.

Many Asian countries have made wellness travel attractive, affordable and accessible for worldwide travellers. Given the diversity of natural environment, Pakistan has immense potential. According to Atif Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for tourism, “New untapped and unexplored areas are being developed currently to facilitate tourism.”

As healthcare costs increase, a reversal of chronic disease and age-related conditions through healthy lifestyle behaviours and experiences is good economics. US-based Wellness Tourism Association defines wellness travel as an excursion “that allows the traveller to maintain, enhance or kick-start a healthy lifestyle.” Let’s seize the opportunity during the coming summer vacations.

The writer is a wellness and yoga expert