In 2023, people see an emotional side to fitness, contemplating how a workout will make them feel and live a better life more so than how it will make them look, according to wholistic well-being company RoundGlass.
People are more interested in workouts that support their emotional well-being and mental health while helping relieve the effects of day-to-day stress, according to a review of wellness research by Prakriti Poddar, global head, mental health and well-being at RoundGlass, and Dr. David Vago, lead researcher at RoundGlass.
From their research, the two came up with the top five wellness trends for 2023, including the emotional side of fitness.
The other four wellness trends are:
1. Immersive and Healing Sound. Healing through sound is expected to gain more traction in 2023. Soundscapes, including binaural beats, 3-D spatial audio and isochronic tones can help in stimulating and entraining the brain to reduce anxiety, facilitate relaxation, improve concentration and promote healing. In fact, therapeutic playlists are now being composed for clinical and hospitality settings.
2. Rise of rest. 2023 is going to be about slowing down. People will choose soothing sound baths and restorative yoga over HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes and hustle culture. There is also an ever-greater emphasis on sleep as the ultimate form of self-care. People will seek out sleep technology, such as apps with sleep stories and sleep meditations to help them get eight hours of restful slumber.
3. Mind-body therapies. Some mind-body therapies have lingered on the fringe of wellness spaces but are now gaining credibility with new evidence supporting their impact on health and wellness. For example, a study found that users of float tanks reported significant reductions in stress, muscle tension, pain and depression, accompanied by a significant improvement in mood after a one-hour session. Recent studies have also shown that cryotherapy and cold-immersion therapy are effective for reducing cardiovascular strain, decreased blood flow and reduced tissue metabolism. Cold immersion therapy is being used for the treatment of migraines and mood disorders, for reducing dementia and for enhancing immune system responses.
4. Meditation for physical well-being. Growing scientific data shows that this medication helps people manage pain and physical ailments. A July 2022 study published in the journal PAIN showed that mindfulness meditation reduced the perception of pain by up to 33 percent.
“The world is shifting to a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to well-being,” Poddar said in a media release. “This includes emotional and social well-being instead of strictly following ‘the life of the solitary mind.’ We’re seeing an increase in spirituality and other therapeutic interventions that individuals are opting for when it comes to well-being.”