The adage ‘an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,’ is well-known, but it seems in our modern society – focused on the present and possessions – we may have forgotten about these wise words. The culture of immediacy, a focus on external looks, economic pressures, a lack of information, and the relative novelty of the wellbeing market may explain this.
At spas, we should embrace the concern for underlying causes, and genuinely listen to people and create truly personalised care. Techniques of empathy and psychology, together with holistic treatments that incorporate exercise, nutrition, sleep, meditation and silence, can be combined with lifestyle suggestions and follow-up visits.
To live longer is not an end in itself if someone is not leading a life of health and wellness. Prevention to secure wellness is a daily process that starts early, and spas can help by offering solutions beyond curative treatments – which could lead the way for guests to interact with the spa in a more in-depth way.
There are challenges that will have to be overcome: a serious inclusion of wellness at work; educating and teaching the younger generations what wellbeing is all about; and creating a quality environment – which includes access to quality food, air and water, as well as healthy living spaces at home and at work.
These dimensions are linked, and our wellness industry seems to be ideally positioned to play a major role in these challenges.