Reset

Wellness is highly personal. Intertwined with our cultural identity and ancestral wisdom, it's a return to the essence of oneself, a journey back to the original self…

Words: BEVERLEY LENNON

It's a warm summer day in Greece. I wake up to the soothing sound of the waves gently kissing the shore and the golden sun rays filtering through the windows of my hotel room in Elounda, Crete. Today I have the luxury of taking my time. Instead of rushing off to my usual workout and busy schedule, I leisurely indulge in breakfast on the balcony. With my toes pointed towards the endless expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, I bask in the comforting caress of the sun against my skin.

On my plate, I find the freshest ingredients, undoubtedly sourced from nearby farms. After all, Crete is renowned as the ‘Garden of Greece’. The tomatoes burst with flavour, the olives are plump and briny and the feta cheese crumbles effortlessly – I can't help but marvel at the simple yet exquisite pleasure of savouring a meal crafted from the bounty of this beautiful island. It's been a while since I've felt this content, at ease in my own skin – cleansed and rejuvenated.

My days here unfold with leisurely visits to the spa and blissful interludes spent in the ocean, reconnecting with the essence of my island upbringing in Mauritius. Despite my routine strolls along the canals in my life back in the Netherlands, it's here, with my feet submerged in the water, that I feel most alive. The salty tang of the sea breeze and the gentle warmth of the Mediterranean sun work in tandem, serving as a poignant reminder that wellness is an intimately personal journey.

The Earth’s Blue Zones allow us to explore the intersection of wellness and longevity. In these regions of the world, people live remarkably long, healthy lives. Greece takes a prominent position on this list, with its Mediterranean diet abundant in fresh vegetables, olive oil and fish, coupled with traditions that promote a relaxed pace of life and strong social bonds. Other notable locales include Sardinia, Costa Rica and Okinawa, each characterised by simplicity, community and a deep connection to nature.

The concept of wellness is not a modern invention; rather it’s a timeless principle deeply entrenched in diverse cultural and philosophical traditions spanning centuries.

Taking the icy plunge

Polar plunging, though more painful than pleasant for many, is a daring feat that will test your resilience and endurance. In Finland, where saunas are followed by icy dips in frozen lakes, avanto is a deeply ingrained cultural rite. Through this ritual, you embrace discomfort as a pathway to inner strength and a deeper appreciation for the environment. This embodies the Finnish pursuit of happiness, or sisu.

The concept is simple: with steam broiling out of your nostrils, you wield an ice auger, carving into the frozen lake to reveal the dark, frigid waters below. It's time to take the plunge. For a heartbeat, time appears to freeze in place. While there are no strict rules to polar plunging, it's crucial not to hastily exit the water.

Ensuring your body acclimates to the bone-chilling cold is paramount.

In the past, polar plunging was deemed essential for winter survival – thought to enhance the immune system and foster general well-being throughout the lengthy, freezing months. Even today, this tradition persists across the Arctic, partly owing to its myriad health benefits.

Experience it at: Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, Sweden

Time for a (forest) bath

On the other side of the world, wellness takes on a gentler, more introspective guise. In Japan, spending time – and you must take your time – in the forest, hugging trees and practising the art of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is revered as a healing ritual. Unlike outdoor activities geared towards vigorous exercise, the primary objective of shinrin-yoku isn't to break a sweat. Instead, it's quite the opposite. It's about slowing down and fully immersing oneself in the natural world. This ancient tradition emphasises the therapeutic benefits of breathing in the forest air and mindfully connecting with the surroundings as you observe, listen, smell and touch the elements around you.

Coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the 1980s, the term shinrin-yoku emerged as a response to the rapid onslaught of globalisation on local Japanese communities. It was introduced as a remedy for tech-induced burnout, aiming to inspire individuals to reconnect with and safeguard the nation's precious forests.

Experience it at: HOSHINOYA Karuizawa, Japan

The essence of Ayurveda

The concept of wellness has profound origins in the fertile soil of ancient India. In the folds of the Himalayas, an age-old healing tradition is rooted in the very essence of existence. As depicted in the sacred texts of the Vedas (old scriptures of Hinduism), Ayurveda –translating to ‘the science of life’ – is hailed as a divine gift bestowed upon humanity by the sages and seers of yore. Millennia ago, ancient scholars communicated with the forces of nature, unravelling the secrets of life's balance and harmony.

India's reverence for Ayurveda extends far beyond physical health. Its wisdom extends to mental clarity, emotional balance and spiritual harmony, making it not just a practice, but a way of life deeply ingrained in the soul of the nation. Over the centuries, Ayurveda's influence has become omnipresent. It can be traced in the aromatic spices that infuse traditional dishes and into the rhythmic flow of yoga practised at dawn. Its essence permeates the soothing chants of mantras during meditation, the vibrant colours of natural dyes adorning textiles and the cultivation of medicinal herbs in household gardens. At markets, vendors offer fragrant herbs for wellness rituals passed down through generations. Even daily routines are guided by Ayurvedic principles – waking with the sun, indulging in the ritual of massaging rich coconut oil into your hair and nourishing the body with wholesome, life-affirming foods.

Experience it at: Ananda in the Himalayas, India

The rituals of the hammam

The act of bathing is one of life's simplest yet most luxurious pleasures. It's a ritual that goes beyond mere cleanliness, melting away the cares of the day and easing sore muscles, creating space for quiet contemplation. In many cultures, it serves as a cornerstone of daily life, providing a sanctuary for physical cleansing, social interaction and spiritual renewal, all at once.

Across ancient civilisations like the Greeks and Romans, public bathing was a revered tradition. However, it was the Ottomans who first refined and elevated the hammam to an art form deeply intertwined with wellness and community. The hammam holds similar importance in countries such as Morocco and within Turkish and Arab societies. It became a place where people from all walks of life could come together, shedding their societal roles and connecting on a human level.

The ritual of a hammam unfolds meticulously, step-by-step. First, you are enveloped in a cloud of fragrant steam, its warmth seeping into your pores, releasing tension and toxins with each cleansing breath. Then comes exfoliation, gently sloughing away dead skin cells as you recline on a warm marble slab. To rinse off any lingering scrub residue, you’re treated to a warm shower or buckets of water poured over you. Many hammam rituals also include a sumptuous massage, enhancing relaxation and rejuvenation while harmonising your body’s natural energy flow.

Sacred wonders of temazcal

In many cultures, particularly in Western societies, wellness routines tend to be brief and focused on immediate results: a 30-minute yoga session or meditation is expected to induce relaxation swiftly. Conversely, in other cultural contexts rituals are viewed as deliberate, gradual processes that demand significant time commitments.

Unlike quick-fix remedies, the temazcal ceremony demands patience and steadfast dedication. Originating from pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures and lasting for a couple of hours, this practice was deeply ingrained in indigenous life. It was used for various purposes including healing, purification, rites of passage and spiritual connection.

Today, you can still enter a small, dome-shaped sweat lodge where volcanic rocks are heated and water is poured over them to produce steam. In keeping with the traditions, you engage in a series of rituals, prayers and meditations, typically under the guidance of a shaman. In traditional Mesoamerican belief systems, the temazcal represented a microcosm of the universe, symbolising the womb of Mother Earth. Stepping into the temazcal is akin to returning into the womb, often replicating a process of rebirth, renewal and transformation.

Experience it at: Belmond Maroma, Mexico