Beautiful New Wellness Trends

As we move into summer, we often have a tendency to want to clear out the winter clutter and start fresh – a concept of tabula rasa: a blank slate.
With warmer weather, we begin to break free from the bulky layers, allowing our creativity and inspiration to be awakened.
This may bring forth vulnerability as we reflect on what things we continue to hold onto although they aren’t serving us. Emotions of regret, judgment, pain and guilt are often uncovered with these realizations. However, we can learn so much from the mess of mistakes, hardships, and challenges experienced in the past few months. So, as holistic health practitioners, we urge you to move into summer with an open mind and to remember that new things are always on the horizon.

It is important to reflect on our lessons by journaling, so we can incorporate them into newer, fresher visions of our selves.
Gaining perspective and maturity on these experiences allow us to produce different and more positive outcomes the next time we’re confronted with a similar situation. All it takes is a little attention and reverence.

We welcome you to a bright season of fresh and fun perspectives within the growing world of beauty, exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness!

This is how true progress is made – looking within to create new solutions for past problems.  These reflections are not limited to our own histories, however. We can also look to societal health and wellness trends for guidance. Take this summer, for example, which leaders in health and wellness have already credited as a time of repurposing and reimagining existing trends, habits, and rituals. We welcome you to a bright season of fresh and fun perspectives within the growing world of beauty, exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness!

FARM TO SPA

More and more research has revealed the harmful effects of parabens and other chemicals in our beauty products. One chemical in particular called triclosan shows a range of dangerous side effects. This antimicrobial chemical is found in products from detergents to cosmetics has been linked to allergy development in children, breast cancer, thyroid disruption, and even weight gain in adults. To avoid these harmful effects, many companies use fresh, local ingredients in their beauty products such as avocado face masks and coffee grounds for body scrubs.
Some of these trends are a result of research that has targeted which foods nourish not only our internal organs, but our skin cells as well. Embryonic foods like eggs, beans, and seeds have been found to be especially good for skin as they contain amino acids, which strengthen the cell membrane.  Spa treatments that embrace these findings and integrate these foods into their formulas will continue to flourish throughout the New Year.

A mixture of coffee grounds, coconut oil, and raw sugar, for example, is our favorite go-to for a cellulite-fighting and moisturizing exfoliant.

As a reimagined twist on these pricey treatments, more and more wellness blogs are sharing recipes for making your own body scrubs and face masks. A mixture of coffee grounds, coconut oil, and raw sugar, for example, is our favorite go-to for a cellulite-fighting and moisturizing exfoliant. You’ll smell and feel fantastic after just a few scrubs.

GYM TIME NO-MORE:

Gone are the days of dreading workouts and dragging yourself out the door for a run.  The newest health trends focus on making exercising entertaining and fun.  One of the newest trends in New York City features a new kind of work out called “Day Breaker.”
The workout, which is basically a reimagined dance party,  features heart-pumping moves that leave you feeling energized for the day ahead.  It’s like a club that swaps out the alcohol for coffee, fresh juice and meditation. The doors open early, encouraging people to move and groove before starting their day.
The already popular HIIT and Crossfit workouts will also continue to thrive, eliminating the need for separate strength and cardio days.
It’s the year of the ultimately productive workout: decreased length, maximized results, and a whole lot of fun.

MIND-BODY HEALING IS NOW COOL:

Spending less time on our physical bodies lends more time to focus on our mind-body healing.  Sacred sound therapy and spiritual festivals are quickly growing along with Shamanic healing which helps to restore your physical and spiritual balance. Shamanic healing centers, such as the Tulsi Holistic Living Spa in DC, provide a venue for you to heal your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual issues, and accelerate your spiritual growth.

Spiritual festivals such as Wanderlust, Bhakti Fest and Burning Man are growing more rapidly than ever, as are mind-body fitness classes and healthy supper clubs.

As holistic health practitioners, we understand that a healthy body does not result from an unhealthy mind and spirit. They both act dynamically together, and must coexist in harmony. Many growing retreat companies like ours, Bliss Out Wellness, emphasize this connection.  The use of crystals, acupuncture, and meditation classes further deepen this important interaction.
Strengthening your spirit does not have to be an individual act. Plenty  of community settings emphasize this healing as well.  Spiritual festivals such as Wanderlust, Bhakti Fest and Burning Man are growing more rapidly than ever, as are mind-body fitness classes and healthy supper clubs.

WATCH OUT KALE.
NEW SUPERFOODS ARE TAKING OVER:

Fennel
Fennel is an up and coming power vegetable.  It’s intended as post-meal digestive, and is packed with Vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, iron, calcium, and molybdenum, Fennel is also high in cancer-fighting compounds shown to reduce inflammation. Its phytoestrogen content may even be useful in lessening symptoms of menopause. It’s a nutrient and flavor-dense food clocking in at 3.1 grams of fiber and only 31 calories per 3.5 ounce serving.

Purslane
Have you heard about Purslane? According to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio, this herb has the highest amount of healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant. Omega-3’s are the good kinds of fats that help with skin and hair health. Purslane is also high in vitamins E and C as well as melatonin, which may prevent cancer growth as you sleep.

Seaweed, otherwise known as kelp, is packed with minerals and polysaccharides, which boost immunity. Keep eating sushi or try sprinkling a little into soups or on popcorn as a new snack!

Tempeh
Swap soy for tempeh this year to reap the benefits of this fermented meat alternative. Fermented foods contain probiotics, which help with digestion and assist in repairing the damage of chronic stress. For an extra probiotic boost, try kombucha tea and kefir. Rather than splurging on a bottle a day, start a new healthy hobby by buying a Mother culture and brewing your own.

Teff
The glory and merits of a gluten-free lifestyle continue through the New Year, and teff is a great alternative for making pancakes and baked goods. Unlike its wheat counterpart, teff is high in calcium and vitamin C.  It’s also considered a resistant starch, meaning it’s packed with fiber to keep you regular and prevent IBS and colorectal cancer.

Seaweed
Seaweed, otherwise known as kelp, is packed with minerals and polysaccharides, which boost immunity. It also contains demulcent fiber, which helps to heal the digestive track and keep us regular. Keep eating sushi or try sprinkling a little into soups or on popcorn as a new snack!

This summer is all about maintaining a conscious connection between mind, body, and nutrition.  It’s about taking those lessons revealed by shedding our winter layers and amping them up – reimagining what worked and repurposing it to make it even better.
So, here’s to our best, most beautiful summer yet!