The new era of wellness pratices – let’s make it fun

I recently came across an Instagram advert promoting puppy yoga! Now, I love dogs and yoga but for a brief second, I was confused as to what puppy yoga really is. Are dogs doing yoga now? I had no clue, otherwise, I would have enrolled my pup, too. But it turns out that’s not the case. It’s just people doing yoga while their furry companions run around! Isn’t that the dose of happiness we all want in our lives? Since people have started counting mental health under the domain of fitness and wellness, many new wellness practices have started picking up pace.

While traditionally, people spoke of meditation, yoga, and walks for good mental health, things are slowly changing. New techniques such as journalling, mindfulness, and gratitude have also come to the fore. While today’s generation is deeply concerned about its mental health, they need more engaging and fun ways to achieve it than just journalling thoughts in a diary.

The traditional methods of maintaining good mental health and well-being, such as the ones mentioned above have been proven beneficial time and again. However, for them to actually work, one requires a certain level of patience and skill. One eventually needs to master the art to see long-term results. And, let’s be honest, who has patience these days? People want to feel good mentally but they want it quick! Almost like a dopamine rush that makes one jump with joy. But that’s not the science we will jump into in this feature!

Our markets are very sharp. People are sitting in cubicles reading consumer habits and patterns to crack the perfect formula for success for their business. Needless to say, the wellness industry is gaining momentum, growing and expanding every minute. Even as I type and you read, the businesses are playing on their front foot.

Tapping into the increasing awareness around mental health and the consumer preference for something easier yet impactful has given rise to a lot of unique and fun activities globally. Although most of them have been around for centuries, businesses have found the right ways to promote them for the enthusiasts of this century. If you’d also love to try some of these, here are a few options that are really popular at the moment.

Puppy yoga

As I said earlier, it’s not your dogs enrolling for a yoga class but you! The bonus is that you get to do yoga with many cute, little puppies around you. This wellness activity is rampantly getting popularised in urban areas. Puppy yoga brings about a beautiful union of yoga’s timeless benefits with the stress-relieving advantages of interacting with dogs. When physical and mental wellness come together like this, it is surely worth a shot.

The benefits of puppy yoga are manifold. Yoga helps with flexibility, mindfulness, strength, and balance. At the same time, being around puppies can de-stress a person, increasing happiness and overall well-being. The playful energies that puppies bring to the floor reduce stress and anxiety as they boost happy hormones. The social interactions, laughter, and light-heartedness of these sessions elevate the attendee’s state of mind, leaving them refreshed and rejuvenated. This makes puppy yoga a wholesome wellness practice which is great for the body, mind, and heart.

Art therapy

Haven’t you seen so many of your friends going to a cutesy café and sitting with a group of people, painting a fun little world on an easel? That’s what art therapy is all about. As you put your heart and mind into creating a gorgeous piece, you engage several senses, building a cohesive coordination between your mind and body. Activities such as painting, drawing, or even doodling, are excellent modes of emotional release. Not only do they help you channel your emotions and energies, but also enhance your emotional clarity and self-awareness.

As you get together with a group of enthusiasts, irrespective of whether or not you are a pro at art, the benefits of the session can be immense. Socialising with like-minded people can help you enhance your self-esteem and social skills. Plunging in art therapy is also beneficial in promoting mindfulness and relaxation. It also improves problem-solving skills, expression, and confidence. As you blow off some steam and let your thoughts flow onto a canvas, this therapy is especially great for introspection, emotional regulation, and unsolved trauma. So, even if you don’t want to do it with a group, pick your favourite colours and paper, and immerse yourself in a beautiful, colourful world.

Pottery

Pottery has been around for years. Traditionally, it was a craft famous for creating beautiful ceramics and pots. It is now growing famous as a wellness practice that offers immense benefits for the mind and heart. It is an intricate art form that requires high levels of patience, precision, and persistence. As it is very hard to achieve the perfect piece in one or two attempts, pottery demands dedication. As you sit by a wheel, roll up your sleeves, and dip your hands in wet clay, you know you will get an experience beyond creating craft.

It has been proven that pottery helps in increasing mindfulness and patience. As you indulge in this tactile practice, it forces you to be present in the moment. It encourages you to pay attention to every passing second without a thought about what will happen next. Pottery teaches you that once your present is in shape and place, the future will be nice! The art form also requires a lot of repetitive motions. This acts as a meditative practice and has a calming effect on the brain. Also, improving hand and eye coordination. Therefore, it is an excellent way of improving your motor skills. With so many benefits and lovely results that pottery offers, it’s no surprise that people across the globe are taking up this craft as a hobby and are also joining long-term courses.

Sound healing

Having its roots in traditional forms of healing, sound therapy has found a whole new popularity amongst wellness-seekers of today. In India, sound healing has been linked to Vedic traditions. Here chanting mantras such as ‘Om’ was believed to align the body and mind with profound vibrations. In Buddhism, singing bowls have been known to create harmonic frequencies that induce a meditative state in listeners. Even in Greece, ancient people used sound therapy to treat ailments and mental illnesses. Point in the picture: the power of sound has been recognised and used for wellness for ages.

Now, many wellness centres and retreats have introduced sound therapy sessions. During these sessions, the participants usually lie down or sit in comfortable postures and the facilitators use instruments like gongs, singing bowls, flutes, or tuning forks to create a relaxing and harmonious environment. The vibrations from these tools travel through the body, releasing built-in stress and worries. It influences brain activity and puts a person in a calmer, deep-meditative state.

Sound therapy offers numerous benefits for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Sound vibrations can reduce stress and anxiety by promoting the release of endorphins. It also helps in enhancing focus and mindfulness. You must have noticed that a lot of people use calming music while working or before sleeping; that’s because such tunes reduce stress and improve focus. So, you don’t really have to go to a wellness centre for these benefits. Find a nice track on YouTube and feel like you’re floating above the clouds with divine music in the background.

Ice baths

Do you remember the ice bucket challenge that gained popularity a few years ago on social media? The same challenge where everyone was dunking loads of ice on themselves and recording their reactions. Well, turns out it’s not just a fun challenge but a very beneficial one. Just like sound therapy, ice bath has traditional roots, dating back centuries. Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Nordic people often included ice baths in their daily routines for vitality and healing.

In the modern age, athletes and wellness practitioners have popularised this practice as it promotes muscle recovery, blood circulation, and resilience. As ice baths are popularising, you will see that they are a part of many wellness centres, retreats, and even workshops. These baths have several benefits for both your mental and physical health. It helps reduce muscle soreness, inflammation, and improves recovery. Exposure to icy cold temperatures also improves resilience, lowers stress, and gives the body a sudden boost of happiness and energy. Trust the experts that as you take a dip into ice cold water, you will only come out feeling refreshed and stronger.

These are only some of the many coming-of-age wellness practices that people love in today’s era. Many other routine activities such as gardening, baking, knitting, dancing, etc. are also slowly being recognised for their therapeutic and calming results. So, as you go ahead and take a fun step towards improving your happiness quotient, which of these will you choose?