Sauna Culture Improves Physical and Mental Wellbeing, With the Social Connection as Impactful as the Heat

Three related 2026 studies from UK researchers (including University of Oxford and University of Greenwich) showed that regular sauna use was linked to improved physical and mental wellbeing in UK users. Weekly sauna use—but not monthly—predicted higher physical wellbeing, while monthly use was linked to higher mental wellbeing, weekly sessions showed a bigger impact. Key finding: the social connection and ritual aspects of sauna-going may be as…

Must Reads from the Wellness World (April 2026)

  There’s a Good Reason You Can’t Concentrate–The New York Times  Ten years ago, the book Deep Work by Cal Newport, a professor of computer science, posited that individuals or organizations that decided to prioritize concentration as a prime skill would reap a disproportionate reward in a world of hyperactive communication and constant business, with a decisive impact on the bottom line. Today, Newport examines how the argument has held up. In a nutshell: the relentless onslaught of the digital…

Social Prescribing Rises Globally—From Art Classes to Walking Clubs 

Social Prescribing Rises Globally—From Art Classes to Walking Clubs  By Thierry Malleret, economist Social prescribing is a much broader and inclusive form of wellness. The more digital- and AI-driven the world becomes, the greater our need for in-person interactions. Increasingly, doctors are prescribing social activities as different as art studios, choirs or walking clubs to their patients to improve their mental and physical health.   The UK, with its National Academy for Social Prescribing, is ahead of the…

Wellness Real Estate Case Study: The Spine, Liverpool, UK

Wellness Real Estate Case Study: The Spine, Liverpool, United Kingdom  The Spine is a 14-story, state-of-the-art, healthy and sustainable office building, specially designed to serve as the new northern headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Located near Liverpool’s city center, the building is a flagship project within the first phase of the Liverpool Knowledge Quarter’s Paddington Village development—a $1.26 billion (£1b) initiative to create a 30-acre urban village and…

Four wellness sectors are responsible for much of the wellness economy growth in the largest and fastest-growing markets

  Four wellness sectors are responsible for much of the wellness economy growth in the largest and fastest-growing markets GWI’s recent Country Rankings report is packed with data on the wellness markets of 145 countries and examines which markets have been growing the fastest. One interesting finding: four wellness sectors have been responsible for most of the wellness economy growth from 2019 to 2024, across all the fastest-growing country markets.     Download…

Must-reads from the Wellness World (March 2026)

  World Happiness Report 2026 shows a complex global picture of social media and happiness  The annual report is out, and it’s again a story of Nordic domination, with Finland (#1 for the 9th year in a row), Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica and Sweden ranking as the five happiest countries. Costa Rica at #4 climbed to its highest ever position (it was 23rd in 2023) and there were also positive gains for countries such…