Kneipp Therapy and Floatation Among 2019 Hydrothermal Trends
Published by World Spa & Wellness
Kneipp therapy is experiencing a 2019 reboot, as evidenced in new spa openings across North America and Europe.
Billed as one of 2019’s top hydrothermal trends by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the 19th century practice of Kneipp therapy is once again growing in popularity as a self-administered treatment to stimulate blood circulation.
As spa-goers look to traditional and natural wellness therapies to improve their health, hydrothermal treatments are gaining traction.
In addition to Kneipp therapy, the GWI list highlights salt therapy, coed thermal bathing, floatation therapy and home-based hydrothermal elements.
Spas will begin to move on from “designer” salt rooms with pink-hued Himalayan salt brick walls as a focal point, instead choosing functional salt systems that offer real health benefits, such as halogenerators or nebulisers for salt inhalation.
Coed thermal bathing areas are becoming more popular in the US, inspired by traditional European spa culture. The GWI cites the emergence of social spa culture among younger generations as the reason behind the trend.
Another hydrothermal practice enjoying renewed popularity is floatation therapy, with open tubs providing a solution to the claustrophobia problem of traditional closed tanks.
Multi-sensory pools that combine floatation with underwater sounds and lights are also proving popular with millennial spa-goers seeking out ways to combat anxiety and the daily stresses of life.
Finally, the GWI notes the democratisation of wellness real estate, with an increasing number of private residences becoming home to compact spa installations including modern design saunas and relaxation areas.
GWI research shows the value of real estate developments in the world incorporating wellness elements is projected to grow from $134 billion in 2017 to $197b in 2022.