10 Wellness Trends to Watch in 2020

The wellness industry has well and truly bloomed over the last decade, and it shows no signs of slowing down. So what are the next frontier trends in wellness for 2020? This list is by no means exhaustive, but here is a taste of what I think we’ll be hearing more about over the year ahead…

Avocado oil: can be seen as the new coconut oil. Part of its appeal is that it has a high smoke point. When you cook with oil that’s been heated past its smoke point the beneficial nutrients and phytochemicals found in many unrefined oils are destroyed. While avocado oil is commonly used as a salad dressing, people will likely start using it more in 2020 for roasting and frying. And the added bonus? It doesn’t make everything you cook taste like coconut! It also has a preferable fatty acid profile to coconut oil, meaning it has less saturated fats and more monounsaturated fats. Avocado oil is nutrient-dense, packed with quality fats, it is rich in vitamins and minerals and contains powerful antioxidants, particularly for the eyes.

HILIT Workouts: It looks like we will see high-intensity, low-impact interval training (HILIT) surpass HIIT in popularity due to the low-impact nature of the workout. HILIT embraces the benefits of HIIT (efficient calorie burning, increased metabolic rates, improved oxygen consumption, and reduced heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar) in a low-impact environment that reduces stress on the joints.

Rise in Low & Non-Alcoholic Drinks: We know that alcohol consumption can have detrimental consequences for our health. After the Christmas period of partying and indulgence, many people like to start the year with intentions to drink less. This can be hard when alcoholic summer drink options abound, but thankfully if you’re wanting to socialise booze-free, you’re no longer limited to soda or juice. Refreshingly, there is a rise in classy and interesting non-alcoholic drink options on the market, and this category is set to boom further in 2020. Keep an eye out for alcohol -free spirits, wines, beers and RTDs. The restaurant scenes are stepping up their offerings too, with delicious & considered mocktails becoming more of a menu staple.

Kundalini Yoga: Of course, yoga has been around for centuries but we’ve seen different types of yoga or fusion yoga rise in popularity over the past decade. In 2020, expect to see ancient traditional Kundalini Yoga take center stage. With the popularity of New Age practices rising, Kundalini yoga is steadily becoming a go-to workout for those who want an exercise that benefits both the mind and body. A blend of Bhakti Yoga, Shakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, advocates say it can feel like you’ve had a full therapy session once you finish up on the mat. The term “Kundalini” actually means “coiled one” in Sanskrit and refers to the life force energy at the base of your spine. By practicing Kundalini yoga, it is believed that you are releasing that energy and unlocking your full potential out into the world. Between the chanting, breathwork, mudras, and physical postures, this practice is meant to be a transformative experience, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Even More Plant-Based Meat Alternatives: An Increasing number of people are turning to plant-based diets, whether it be by strictly following vegetarian or vegan diets or just wanting to introduce more meat-free meals into their diets. And when it comes to alternatives… What can look like meat, taste just like meat, but isn’t meat? Plants. Whether it’s a meatless burger, faux eggs, or vegan fish, 2020 will be the year of even more expansion in the plant-based meat alternative market. You can expect to see a variety of new products and brands hit the shelves. We’re hoping New Zealand catches onto the plant-based fish trend. In order to address overfishing, US-based company Good Catch has introduced “tuna” made from a variety of legumes! It really looks like tuna, and from the things I’ve heard, tastes just like it too! The selection of meat-free sausages and burger patties on the market has expanded significantly in 2019, but expect to see this expansion continue to include deli meats and bacon as companies try to keep up with consumer demand for guilt-free, sustainable and healthy plant-based meat alternatives with meat-mimicking products.

Fresh Healthy Convenience Foods: While the section of healthy convenience foods at your local supermarket has likely been expanding in size in 2019, keep an eye out for more fresh healthy convenience food options in 2020. Expect more healthy snacks to start popping up in the produce and dairy departments at your local supermarket. Think refrigerated protein bars, probiotic-rich snack foods and drinks, dairy-alternative packaged smoothies and more. 

Air-purifying Devices in the Home: You’ll be hearing a lot more about home air-purifying devices in 2020, as new air-purification technology allows us to evaluate the quality of the air we breathe and then take the necessary actions to improve it. As more information emerges about the dangers of air-pollution both outside and inside our homes, experts are predicting that the global air purifier market will grow substantially from 2020 onwards. While there are already many effective air purifying devices on the market, offerings are set to become smarter, more compact, increasingly portable, and more affordable moving forward. You can breathe easy, knowing that this movement is going to see our home environments cleaner than ever.

Digital Detoxing: Currently, as a society, we are obsessed with our phones – so much so it’s often having a negative impact on our lives and our health. Research suggests that the “feel good” chemical dopamine is released each time we notice a “comment” or a “like” on social media, or when we receive similar notifications on our phones. Like a drug, our minds can then become addicted to this feeling and the activity that creates it. In turn, an addiction to our phone & social media apps can occur. In 2020, it seems we are going to see a further rise of people realising that experiences and being present in the moments we share are more important than being hooked to the connections and feedback we get online. Keep an eye out for apps, blogs, and support groups to help curb this addiction. 

Ecotherapy: People are becoming more and more aware and in tune with the healing power of nature. People are now referring to this as “Ecotherapy” – practicing outdoor activities that positively impact our health and wellbeing. This “activity” may be as simple as lying in a park surrounded by trees. Or it may be actively connecting to nature by way of bushwalking, gardening, horse-riding or anything that gets you outside. Ecotherapy is becoming increasingly important as society is increasingly plugged into technology. Ecotherapy as a term will be thrown around much more frequently, and hopefully, 2020 will see the rise of it being prescribed to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress. Research shows that being in nature stimulates the “rest and digest” part of the nervous system, known as the parasympathetic nervous system.

Blue Mindfulness Following on from the Ecotherapy concept, is the idea of “Blue Mindfulness”. Inspired by a book titled “Blue Mind” by Wallace J Nichols, this wellness trend suggests that water-based activities can have a significantly positive impact on health and wellbeing. Blue Mindfulness is all about embracing the healing and soothing powers of water, be it by way of swimming, walking the beach, surfing, sailing, or fishing. Blue Mindfulness refers to harnessing the power of water to soothe and calm us, in a number of ways. It combines the increasingly popular practice of mindfulness with the pursuit of living a more eco-conscious existence by way of loving our oceans. With this love, comes the hope that one will then be mindful of protecting our oceans by being committed to protecting and looking after the water spaces that heal them.

If you decide to take the plunge and try some of these wellness trends in 2020, we wish you a healthy and happy year discovering what works best for you and your body!