From Indonesia’s herbal tonics to Japan’s towel rubdowns, these wellness traditions and habits from across the globe can invigorate your new year.
Last year, Sweden made headlines by playfully suggesting that doctors should prescribe travel to the quiet, nature-focused nation as a way to support health and wellbeing. While the idea was tongue-in-cheek, the notion that travel and health are closely linked is far from new. Since ancient times, people have journeyed to hot springs and health spas, or travelled in search of environments and customs believed to restore both body and mind.
While the impulse to travel for wellbeing has endured, the reasons we seek it evolve with the times. Today, rising loneliness and ongoing burnout have put mental health firmly in the global spotlight. Add to that the challenges of winter, when shorter days and seasonal illnesses take their toll, and it’s clear many of us are looking for a lift.
Across cultures, long-held traditions offer ways of slowing down, reconnecting and caring for ourselves. From Spain’s lingering post-meal conversations to Italy’s evening strolls and Indonesia’s herbal tonics, these rituals reflect how wellbeing is often rooted in routine and community.
1. Fight off colds with kanpu masatsu
In Japan, kanpu masatsu was once commonly taught to schoolchildren as part of their daily exercise routine. Literally meaning “a rubdown with a dry towel”, the technique involves five to 10 minutes of massaging the skin in slow, steady circles with a dry towel, either directly onto the body or through a thin layer of clothes. The towel massage generates warmth, stimulates the circulation and is said to benefit the immune system, helping to ward off colds. US researchers have also suggested it might help relieve chronic stress, encourage relaxation and enhance lymphatic flow.
