5 Unique Wellness Trends

We rarely have a day when we’re not spread too thin. Amid the juggling of our everyday lives, we each have a need to carve out moments for a little peace and relaxation. Fortunately, the Wellness Space has us covered . . . with new trends on the horizon.

Today, I’m breaking down and weighing in on 5 Unique Wellness Trends. And we’re going to have a bit of fun with them!

1. Cold Plunge Therapy

The Cold Plunge trend is rapidly becoming quite mainstream. You’ve probably seen it, and you may even be doing it. Cold Plunging involves immersing yourself into ice water and remaining there for a set time period. From what I’ve read, you start with a fairly quick session, like 30 seconds, and then gradually increase your sessions by 15 to 30-second intervals. Once you’ve built-up a tolerance, some people stay in a cold plunge for 10 to 11 minutes.

One of the articles I read warned against cold-plunging in a body of water with a current, like a river, to avoid being swept away or caught under the ice. Good Lord. Now, I have fresh new material for my nightmares.

Benefits of Cold Plunging

From a mood-boosting standpoint, Cold Plunge Therapy or Cold Water Immersion, is thought to elevate dopamine and endorphin levels. It has been shown to help anxiety by essentially resetting the nervous system and triggering a relaxation response upon emerging from the water.

Physiologically, Cold Plunge Therapy does the following to aid in recovery after strenuous workouts:

• Reduces Inflammation
• Increases blood flow to improve the healing of muscles
• Reduces pain in sore muscles and joints

Okay, I have a lot of thoughts. If you have tried, or regularly use Cold Plunge Therapy, I want to hear from you! The science geek in me totally gets the neurological and physiological benefits. However, this human lives in a veritable snow-scape from November until well into May (ugh). I truly can’t imagine doing this.

Maybe if I still lived in Texas, where we routinely dumped ice in our pool in August to try to cool that sucker down. But living up here? Hard Pass.

2. Sound Bath Therapy

Sound Bath Therapy is available through many yoga and massage centers. Some offer group sessions and others offer individual sound bath therapy sessions. The idea behind a sound bath is that immersing ourselves in deep sound vibrations can be calming and even healing. Many sound baths use Crystal Healing Bowls or Tibetan Singing Bowls that are thought to synchronize brain wave frequencies to induce a deep state of relaxation.

Benefits of Sound Baths

Sound Baths have been shown to be beneficial in the following ways:

• The vibrations can calm the nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety.
• A deep state of relaxation is often the result of a sound bath, allowing for deep sleep.
• The vibrations from sound baths are used in treating PTSD and helping individuals recover from trauma. The therapy helps some detach from traumatic thoughts, recenter, and move forward with a sense of clarity.

Cleveland Clinic Link to Article

This looks nice! I want to be one of the people in that picture . . . but with a blanket . . . and dim lighting. I’ve looked it up, and we have several local options for sound bath therapy. I’m trying this after the Holidays, and I’ll report back!

3. Adult Swaddling Therapy

Swaddling babies calms them and gives them a sense of security. The same concept applies to adult swaddling. However, adults are swaddled in the fetal position from head to toe with a cotton mesh fabric tied up to create a human bundle. Then, the swaddler gently rolls the “swaddlee” around the therapy room.

Many who have experienced swaddling therapy report feeling comforted and relaxed. Other reported benefits include:

• Pain relief – in particular for postpartum pain and stiffness. (That’s quite fascinating and seems sort of full-circle).
• Improvement of posture and balance.
• Reduction in stress.

Healthline Link to Article

Hmmm – this one is interesting. I feel like the concept is similar to a weighted blanket. I’m trying to have an open mind, but looking at the photos makes me feel trapped and panicky. (Also, the photo is giving me horror movie vibes.) Generally, I don’t think of myself as claustrophobic, but this crosses a line for me. I fully support new methods for reducing stress and anxiety, but for me, adult swaddling is a firm “no.”

4. Rucking

Traditionally, Rucking is walking or hiking with a weighted backpack. I used to occasionally see people walking with big packs around my old neighborhood, and I assumed they were training for a backpacking trip. Maybe they were. But maybe they were just training for life with a form of exercise that increases cardio effort, strength, and provides more of a full-body workout than regular walking.

Recently, the rucking trend has gained popularity, especially for women in midlife who want to increase bone density and muscle mass. It’s become more streamlined than throwing weights into a backpack, with weighted vests providing a balanced load.

This summer, I saw so many women on hiking trails with weighted vests. I’m all in on this one! I’ve asked for a weighted vest for Christmas, and I plan to use it for walking on my treadmill and will definitely use it for hiking this summer! I don’t see myself using it while snowshoeing this winter – I feel like that would be a bit much. I also am not comfortable with wearing it when I walk on our icy roads, so it won’t get much outdoor time until we thaw out this spring (umm . . . late spring . . . sigh).

I can also see myself using this for portions of my strength workouts. As I’ve said before, I’m a big believer in women lifting heavy weights to build muscle mass, which increases our metabolism and bone density and supports functional health. I think adding a weighted vest for squats or push-ups would be awesome!

Potential Risks of Rucking

• Overuse Injuries – to avoid these, start small. Lighter weight and shorter distances are recommended, with gradual increases in both.
• Increased Fatigue – Be aware that the added weight will tire you out faster than regular walking. Avoid putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation where you have hiked or walked too far, and are too tired to get back safely. So, again, use the “start small” concept.
• Increased Pressure on Joints – I have bad knees, and going downhill on a steep incline is hard on them. I will not be wearing a weighted vest on my hikes with a lot of climbing and descending. I’ll save it for my flatter trails to spare my joints.

Womens’ Health Link to Article

5. Hay Bathing

Nope, that is not a typo . . . Hay Bathing is a wellness trend. Okay, “trend” may be a stretch, but it is a thing some people do.

Hay Bathing was reportedly started hundreds of years ago by farmers in the mountainous Dolomite region of Italy. They discovered that lying in the hay made them feel especially rested and relaxed.

This spa treatment involves lying naked on a lounger and being covered in wet hay that has been warmed through its natural fermentation process. Then, you are wrapped in foil to allow the natural oils to penetrate your skin.

Wellness Hotels and Resorts Link to Information

newyorkmag.com

Oh, hell no!!

Just looking at the photo makes me itch . . . and sneeze . . . and break out into hives. I will not be signing up to be the sweaty, itchy center of a hay burrito. Period.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these. Let me know in the Comments if you’ve tried any and how you’ve liked them! Enjoy your day, and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday!