In the new year, wellness is more approachable than ever before. High-quality food, green beauty and personal care products, and sustainable practices have become a way of life – both at home and along the pristine beaches of Acqualina Resort & Spa.
“More and more people are demanding that for their lives,” says Acqualina’s Director of Spa Catherine Davalle. “It’s a true desire to feel better, live longer, and enjoy life to its fullest. Little by little, people are really realizing the need.”
As our collective intent for wellness grows, new trends are born. Here are the ones Davalle says you can expect to take off (or keep going) in 2018, along with helpful tips for implementing them in your own life:
Wellness Apps
While health-conscious individuals are making a turn away from excessive social media use and screen time, wellness-related technology is largely on the rise. From fitness and sleep trackers to simple reminders to increase your water intake, there are any number of wellness applications that will cater to your lifestyle.
This year, women in particular are enjoying a new category of tech designed to improve their health and wellbeing – with fertility apps, apps that allow you to hear your baby’s heartbeat during pregnancy, and those offering personalized recommendations for lifestyle adjustments.
Self-Care: Download a few applications that you feel will help you in your wellness journey, and for a more immersive experience, schedule a signature massage with music therapy at Acqualina Spa by ESPA. A new offering for 2018, the massage combines the art of touch with a music app used in wellness facilities and hospitals around the world to induce relaxation, correct sleep problems, and battle depression.
“The massage aims at changing the state of consciousness by changing the music and massage movements throughout,” says Davalle, who is introducing an array of new treatments and wellness tools to Acqualina this year. “It’s a program that helps reduce brain activity and slow down breathing patterns to create a deep sense of relaxation.”
Green Beauty
Despite existing for years, organic makeup and personal care products have often failed to take the spotlight alongside their less-conscious counterparts. That changes in 2018 with a strong push for natural skincare products designed for the modern world – like those that combat pollution, blue light from laptops, and exposure to harsh ingredients – and beauty products that are both green and highly effective.
One tool that continues to garner attention is the jade roller, which can be used to increase blood circulation, diminish the appearance of fine lines, and assist with lymphatic drainage. In Chinese medicine, jade is said to protect against negative energy, fighting anxiety, fatigue, and physical pain. “The rollers have different healing properties from the stone,” says Davalle, “and they also help with firmness and tonicity of the skin.”
Self-Care: Made from pure extracts and natural active ingredients, the ESPA skincare line is perfect for establishing a healthy, at-home regime with long-lasting results. You can also indulge in the collection at Acqualina Spa by ESPA and experience cooling jade rollers in facials like the Ultimate Performance Facial. (When you book this treatment in March, you will actually receive your own jade roller to take home from the spa.)
Breathwork
Following the widespread rise of meditation is breathwork, an exercise in controlled breathing. But unlike meditation, breathwork can be used anywhere and anytime to improve your wellbeing. Through careful manipulation and specific breathing patterns, you can learn to clear your mind, reduce stress, and raise your energy levels.
Self-Care: Whether unwinding poolside or going for a run along Sunny Isles Beach, train your pulmonary and respiratory system by taking full, deep breaths and finding your breathing rhythm.
Healthy Food
Clean eating has been in style for years, but 2018 brings more focus on brain-boosting supplements, gut health (think beneficial bacteria and fungi), and healthy fats that fuel mitochondria – with collagen powder taking center stage as the protein supplement to add to smoothies, coffee, and morning meals.
Today, healthy eating is all about personalized nutrition and finding what works for you, and that doesn’t stop when you travel or spend a day at the beach. A getaway doesn’t have to be about overindulging – it can be healthy too.
Self-Care: While visiting Acqualina Spa by ESPA in 2018, indulge in Chef Sebastian Barrera’s new health-focused spa menu (soon to be unveiled). Davalle says of the menu, “Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. It can be surprising and interesting.”
Me Time
From meditation and journaling to drop-in spa services, me time has become an increasingly attractive escape from fast-paced environments. Taking time to relax and unwind allows you to clear your mind and reflect on your wellness journey.
“I’m a firm believer that wellness is something that needs to come from within,” says Davalle. “For most, it’s a trial and error journey where you evolve and see what works for you. It’s a time of discovery.”
Self-Care: For a truly rejuvenating experience, spend the entire day at Acqualina Spa by ESPA. Before or after your massage or facial, you can have lunch by the pool and partake in the innovative heat experiences and relaxation lounge.
Davalle also recommends the new Royal Suite experiences, held in the spa’s most luxurious treatment area with a private lounge designed by Fendi. “Whether a mother and daughter, two girlfriends, or a couple, this is like me time but with your loved one,” she says. “Even if you can’t go on a week vacation, come and spend the day here and really re-energize yourself.”
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To book your treatment at Acqualina Spa by ESPA, reserve online or call us at 305.918.6844.