Wellness is defined as the quality of life and the state of well being using multiple dimensions: physical, mental, social, sexual, emotional, cultural, spiritual, educational, occupational, financial, and ethical. Wellness Tourism is travel for promoting health and well-being; and has become the fasting growing facet in the travel industry. Previously wellness travel was only thought as naturalistic or holistic resorts, restrictive foods, and soul-searching rituals. Wellness travel can be dated back to the Romans; they would travel to the epic center for the Roman baths. Current day wellness tourism includes all-inclusive resorts & retreats: activities such as organized walking, hiking, cycling, kayaking, yoga & meditation, spa treatments, healthy culinary, or just being with oneself.
But wellness can be obtained in everyday travel without the big fanfare. Here are 10 steps to incorporate wellness in travels.
1. Make healthy food choices – just because you are traveling or on vacation does not mean you abandon your food routine. Enjoy and try new foods but remember portion control. Try to maintain a schedule for your meals to avoid over indulging. You can download my ebook “Healthy Eating while Dining Out and Traveling” at healthytraveltips.com
2. Take advantage of hotel or resort yoga/fitness classes – most hotels have gyms or fitness areas. And resorts will offer fitness classes to their guests. And this is the time to try a new fitness activity like yoga, Thai Chi, water aerobics, or other experiences not offered at your home facility.
3. Guided walking, running, or biking tours – sign up for a guided tour of your destination while exercising. Most of the tours are 2-4 hours in length. You get to see the local sites and be active at the same time. My favorite site for booking tours is Viator.com; it will give you a variety of options for many tourist destinations. For example, I took a Chocolate Walking Tour in Brussels. I didn’t feel bad about “nibbling” or consuming the delicious chocolate while walking three miles.
4. Spend time in nature – enjoy a peaceful walk on the beach, slow stroll in a park, a picnic, hiking, biking, or just breathing the air.
5. Learn something new – take a class while traveling [cooking, art, perfume making, wine, skating]
6. Stress reducing activities – relaxing spa treatments, music, yoga, nature, reading
7. Sleep well – sleep the night before a trip, request quiet accommodations- “quiet floors” or away from the elevators & ice machine
8. Give back to community you are visiting – volunteer some time, bring supplies to school
9. Relaxation time – build “down” time in your vacation activities, don’t plan full day tours every day, plan naps for your family, take an extra day before or after on business trips
10. Stay calm, don’t sweat the small stuff, remain flexible and adaptable, enjoy the journey
Travel Well!!!
Yvette McQueen MD, A Global Traveling Physician
