Wellness trends come and go but some have been around for much longer than you may have thought. We’ve rounded up just 5 of the many ‘trends’ that have actually grown and transformed over hundreds of years from their original ancient forms into the popular practices that we recognise today.

FENG SHUI

A term commonly thrown around by interior designers, Feng Shui, is actually an ancient science and art that originated China circa 4000 BC. Through the placement of objects, Feng Shui works to balance the life-force energy, known as “chi”, allowing it to flow through your dwelling, having a powerful effect on your wellness through the way you feel and think. Actions including removing your shoes, decluttering your home, and letting in natural light and fresh air are all simple ways to introduce a little Feng Shui into your home.

YOGA

Information and literature about Yoga practices, including the Vedas texts, have be found dating back to 2700BC. The period between 500 BC – 800 A.D. is considered as the most fertile and prominent period in the history and development of Yoga. Nowadays, millions of people across the globe have benefitted from the popular wellness practice, and it is growing more vibrant every day with new variations such as hot yoga, loaded (weights) yoga, HIIT yoga, anti-gravity/aerial yoga and the ever hilarious doga.

CHROMOTHERAPY

Although it may sound rather new age, chromotherpy, more commonly known as colour therapy, is actually an ancient form of alternative medicine. Having a direct effect on a persons physical and psychological condition, colour therapy has be used to heal for thousands of years. Papyrus dating back to 1550 BC has been found showing how the Egyptians would use colours as “cures”. Nowadays colour therapists use different colours that correspond with the body’s inner vibrations to harmonise and rebalance the body giving you an overall sense of wellness.

HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy, commonly known as an alternative to pharmaceutical medicine, was founded by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. Hahnemann discovered that substances that caused certain symptoms could also do the reverse and help to remove those symptoms. Nowadays, homeopathy is a trusted form of treatment with over 15% of the British population and is used to treat a wide range of both physical and psychological conditions.

HYDROTHERAPY

Hydrotherapy, also known as aquatic therapy, is a form of treatment and exercise performed in water to help speed-up the healing process and relieve pain. This form of therapy was first officially used almost 200 years ago in 1829 by Vincent Priessnitz after he observed a wounded deer bathing in a pond near his home which after several days of bathing was healed. Hydrotherapy is now a common form of physical therapy and has become so well-know that many spas offer hydrotherapy pools as a part of their facilities.