Last Word Anna-Cari Gund
A happy & healthy union Managing director of Raison d’Etre and president of CIDESCO International, Anna-Cari Gund believes the marriage of medicine and wellness disciplines can have important benefits for wellbeing
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he most effective form of healing is one that takes account of the whole person – body, mind and spirit – and this holistic approach is best achieved if conventional and alternative therapies work together towards the goal of optimal wellbeing. A marriage of wellness and medicinal approaches can not only help cure and manage chronic disease, but also prevent it. As in any successful marriage, there needs to be a willingness to accept and acknowledge the strengths of each partner. For too long these aspects of healthcare have worked independently; with conventional western medicine focusing on crisis intervention through science-based pharmaceuticals and life-saving surgery, and wellness therapies concentrating on the mind as well as the body to initiate a healing response. Medicine is based on the concept of treatment, and ground-breaking research continues to find more ways to manage and cure disease. This is, of course, crucial to our existence and longevity, but it is also equally important to focus on promoting good health and the prevention of illness by incorporating wellness into our everyday lives. Despite the weight of a multi-billion pharmaceutical industry, it’s important to highlight clinical evidence regarding how our state of mind influences the body; our emotional wellbeing is just as crucial to our overall health as our physical state. The two are very much connected and need to be treated as a whole. By rebalancing the focus between the treatment of illness and the maintenance of good health we can work towards our goal of greater wellbeing.
Steps in the right direction The demand for wellness is now a major driver of our industry, and enhancing wellbeing through spa design and offerings has to be our top priority. One important element of this is education; helping people realise the impact lifestyle change can have on their health. By focusing on fundamental issues, such as nutrition, exercise and relaxation, in the spa environment, we can help safeguard against the underlying prevalence of many chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. This is the aim of Raison d’Etre’s LivNordic spa brand, which embraces a natural way of living based on Nordic health traditions.
Meet the expert Anna-Cari Gund is managing director of Raison d’Etre, a global spa consulting company based in Stockholm that provides brand creation and operational support. She is also president of CIDESCO International, the world standard for beauty and spa therapy. With over 30 years of experience in the spa and beauty therapy industry, she has also served as a lecturer, as well as a speaker at worldwide congresses and exhibitions. www.raisondetrespas.com | www.cidesco.com
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“It’s important to highlight clinical evidence regarding how our state of mind influences the body; our emotional wellbeing is just as crucial to our overall health as our physical state.” Being proactive with our own health on a basic level can have far-reaching effects and could even negate the need for the intervention of conventional long-term, drug-based treatment programmes or surgery. Showing people how to incorporate wellness into their everyday lives via wellbeing programmes is an integral part of preventative healthcare. Small changes can make a big difference to your wellbeing. Simple things like getting outside and connecting with nature can really lift the spirits. Fresh air is exhilarating and good for you. Building regular exercise into your daily routine, even if it’s just taking the stairs instead of the lift, will improve fitness levels and also boost mood. It is important to disconnect from digital devices and nurture relationships by actually meeting up with friends and family; also, regularly taking time out to practise deep breathing activates the relaxation response; and ultimately feeling gratitude for what we have, are all important steps in enhancing general wellbeing. Let’s hope medicine and wellness can find a way to live happily ever after. Join me in a toast to a marriage that could change the way we look at preventative healthcare.
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