The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has revealed the top trends in hydrothermal spa and wellness experiences.
The trends have been identified by the GWI’s Hydrothermal Initiative – one of 23 GWI initiatives – which came into being to educate both consumers and professionals on the health benefits of hydrothermal experiences, from saunas and steam rooms to salt inhalation and Kneipp therapy.
Research demonstrates that hydrothermal bathing can improve blood circulation, promote heart health, manage high blood pressure, improve the immune system, and detox the body. Don Genders, chair of the GWI Hydrothermal Initiative and CEO of Design for Leisure, says: “For thousands of years, people have harnessed the cleansing and healing powers of water and heat. Hydrothermal experiences offer wellness benefits that are difficult to achieve any other way — and the bonus is that they can be self-administered, so come without high labour costs.”
The Initiative’s top 2019 trends are:
- Salt Therapy
The Hydrothermal Initiative predicts the use of salt in thermal cabins will soar this year as spas start pushing the health benefits of salt. The popularity of salt rooms has soared in recent years and its predicted the industry will install more thermal rooms with functional salt systems, such as halogenerators for distributing fine particles of dry salt or a nebulizer for a steam-style salt inhalation. Both enable bathers to reap the benefits cleansing salt offers, including better respiratory health and improvements in skin conditions such as acne and eczema.
- Kneipp Therapy
Kneipp walks or wading pools are a popular introduction to the health benefits of hot and cold contrast therapy. Bathers alternate walking through hot and cold to stimulate blood circulation and as there’s no therapist required, they are growing in popularity in both Europe and North America.
- Getting cold
The importance of cooling down after using saunas, steam rooms or hot pools is now better understood as the evidence around hot and cold contrast therapy mounts, and has resulted in a greater interest in snow rooms and showers, and cold plunge pools.
- Co-ed Thermal Bathing
After many years of resistance, the GWI is seeing the development of unisex wet thermal areas in spas across the US — something most Europeans have long enjoyed. This trend is gaining major traction with younger generations who seek out social and group wellness activities and recognise the unique wellness benefits of social spa-ing far outweigh those of single-sex, thermal bathing.
- Flotation Therapy
Big in the 90s, floatation therapy never quite took off. But now, many new hydrothermal project s are incorporating floatation, from fully enclosed pods to open tubs and multisensory pools that offer flotation, light and underwater sound therapy. Watsu pools for therapist-led floatation therapy are also gaining popularity and new research shows a deep drop in anxiety levels after a one-hour float.
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