9 Reasons to go on a Wellness Retreat

Everyday Health cites research indicating that vacations and changes of scenery are mood-boosters. One study followed 1,500 women who went on biyearly vacations. The women who vacationed had fewer cases of depression and stress than the control group. If ordinary vacations can have a mood-lifting effect, a wellness retreat, devoted to boosting mental and physical health can have a much more powerful impact on one’s mental state.

Wellness retreats are often set in natural havens, among forests, mountains, greenery, or water, Explore shares. Research has demonstrated time and time again, the benefits of spending time outdoors and in fresh air. Spending time in nature has the potential to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, fatigue, and heart rate. Participants in wellness-related vacations can reap the myriad benefits that Mother Nature has to offer.

Wellness retreats set deep in nature boast an additional mood-boosting benefit beyond the vistas and cool air that surround them. Some are in areas with little to no cell phone services, or contain phone-free areas. Phone and social media addiction is sometimes linked to mental and physical health issues. The opportunity to fully disconnect, a luxury most can’t attain in routine life, allows participants to be fully present in wellness activities and with the nature surrounding them.

According to Health and Fitness Travel, some wellness retreats are specifically focused on boosting physical health. These getaways promise nutritious food offerings and enjoyable activities that promote physical fitness, like yoga, hiking, or sports. The vacation becomes a break from routine and old habits, and the health and fitness opportunities provide the chance to build new, healthier habits. Explore reports that some wellness and health retreats even staff professionals like cardiologists and dietitians, with the goal of putting participants on the path to healthy lifestyle changes.

According to Everyday Health, travel keeps your brain sharp. Studies have even uncovered the fact that traveling lowers the risk of dementia. It can also promote creativity, another study found. According to the study, researchers theorized that the opportunity to unwind and refresh on these trips were responsible for the creativity boost that vacationers experienced upon return. Even though wellness retreats require time off from work, the time off may pay for itself, as the retreat allows workers’ creative juices to flow and makes them more effective at their jobs.

According to Explore, wellness resorts offer not just nature, health, and mindfulness, but also relaxing spas. Who couldn’t use some time off from work to pamper themselves? On vacation, with nowhere to go, and all the meals and programming taken care of by the resort, why not devote a little time to taking care of oneself.

Wellness getaways offer not just “me time,” but also “us time,” Explore suggests. The wellness experiences at these getaways foster friendships and togetherness, with participants knowing that they came with the common goal of improving their health and mood. Retreats, in contrast to large, “faceless” hotels with hundreds of guests, are built around personalization and socialization. They are a great place for building new relationships that last beyond the retreat.

People who go on wellness retreats may have a number of goals in mind. Some are hoping to boost their physical health, build new habits, and change their lives. Others are in it for relaxation, mindfulness, or nature opportunities. No matter why participants are hoping to get away, there is an experience waiting for them. 

A wellness getaway is the perfect way to revive body, mind, and soul. It’s a holistic investment in one’s self that can boost creativity, and mental and physical health. A wellness getaway is loaded with incredible experiences that remain with a person long after they return home.