Healing Through History
Long before the term ‘wellness’ was coined or the concept of a luxury spa as we know it existed, the idea of nurturing oneself has been an integral part of many Asian cultures. The quest to achieve sound mind, body and soul is an essential aspect of Asian life—whether derived from bathing in mineral-filled onsens in Japan or slathering the skin with Ayurvedic oils customised to your dosha in India—and traditional practices are reaching an even wider audience today.
“Asia is definitely the centre of wellness. It is the birthplace of healing modalities that focus on prevention such as Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and meditation. I see a very fast adoption of integrated wellness retreats from our clients in Asia,” says Dervla Louli Musgrave, founder of wellness travel company Compare Retreats. In the next few years, the wellness tourism industry is set to grow at an unprecedented pace—it is “currently valued at US$639 billion and is on track to be
