<div>Globally, there has been a growing trend towards wellness and preventive health and it has now caught on in India too. People are becoming aware of integrated healthcare, including med-spa procedures, preventive treatments and specific health-related services. In the future, medical centres and hospitals will be more open to incorporating spa and wellness offerings. <br /><br />Integrated healthcare is already under implementation in certain medical facilities. In the light of this, the big trends in 2013 will be as follows:<br /><br />lConsumers want to de-stress and spa menus are increasingly reflecting this ongoing trend in their offerings. Many spas are now providing self-discovery services and learning activities to help consumers recharge their mind, body and spirit. These include self-improvement courses, dance and movement classes, art and painting courses, cooking focused on health and nutrition, etc.<br /><br />lConsumers are moving away from what is perceived as just trendy to specific treatments with tangible results. This, along with a focus on wellness and lifestyle, including preventive medical screening, body therapies, fitness, yoga, tai chi, meditation, relaxation massages, nutrition and spirituality, is on the rise. Building sleep time into treatments is widely prevalent; this trend will continue well into the future. <br /><br />l The latest trend is for consumers to go to spas in groups — spending precious time bonding with friends and family while building healthier bodies and encouraging happier and more balanced lifestyles. Even the corporate sector is now providing spa services for employees to improve performance and minimise work-related illness and stress. <br /><br />lMove over ladies. Men are indulging themselves more than ever before, and males as a segment of spa consumers is growing. There is an increase not only in massages but in facials and nail services as well. <br /> <br />l We are increasingly getting cut off from nature. The latest trend aims to correct this imbalance by increasing contact with Mother Earth, literally. So you are encouraged to walk barefoot on mud — promoting direct contact with the earth’s surface stabilises natural electrical rhythms and reduces disease-causing inflammation.<br /><em><br />Tracey Poole is spa director at the Six Senses Spa, Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Greater Noida</em><br /> <br />(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 14-01-2013)<br /> </div>
