A book that just came out (Heart: A History, from Sandeep Jauhar, a cardiologist) sheds some fascinating light on the connection between wellbeing and cardiac issues. Put in the simplest possible terms: Stress can kill. As the author explains, the connection between our physical heart and our emotions is an intimate one. Sentiments, such as fear and grief, can cause cardiac injury by causing blood…
The GWI’s Hydrothermal Initiative has just released a new edition of its popular Guide to Hydrothermal Spa & Wellness Development Standards Expanded by 50 pages, the book provides a primer for anyone—whether designers, architects or builders—on designing thermal experiences and wet areas for commercial properties or residential homes. It covers everything from project planning to construction considerations, including recommended standards and materials—and new for 2018…
A large, new study (122,000 patients) led by the Cleveland Clinic had “extremely surprising” findings: A sedentary life is a massive risk factor for death and worse than being a smoker or having diabetes or heart disease. The researchers reported, “We’ve never seen something as pronounced and as objective as this,” and insisted that a sedentary lifestyle should be seen as a disease, with the…
A recent article in Fast Company dove into the GWI’s new research report, the Global Wellness Economy Monitor, finding that the 10 markets that make up the wellness economy are now worth $4.2 trillion. GWI Senior Researcher Ophelia Yeung explains some macro forces that are now defining the wellness market: from people’s interaction with wellness now becoming less episodic and more holistic to how the…
Doctors in Scotland Can Now Prescribe Nature – World Economic Forum, October 15, 2018 Since early October, doctors in Shetland, Scotland, have been authorized to prescribe nature to their patients. It’s thought to be the first program of its kind in the UK and seeks to reduce blood pressure and anxiety and increase happiness for those with diabetes, mental illness, stress, heart disease and more.…
MONTHLY BAROMETER The debate about whether “green growth” will succeed in decoupling GDP growth from the total use of natural resources (that has been raging for years) is now settled by academic research. Every single reputable study shows that, even after accounting for rapid technological innovation and new taxes (such as a global carbon tax), there are physical limits to how efficiently we can use…
