From sleep programmes to handling emotional trauma, wellness retreats are covering a whole gamut of needs 

Traditionally, wellness in India has been about harmony — between the body, mind, and spirit, and between individuals and their environment. It is not just a lifestyle; it is a philosophy that integrates physical health, mental clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual growth. And while shows like The White Lotus may have popularised the idea of wellness as a glamorous escape with yoga, meditation, and luxury spas, wellness centres and retreats are moving beyond the stereotypical asanas on a cliffside and scented candle-lit meditation to address deeper, more specific concerns.

The Indian wellness market, currently valued at ₹1,300 crores, is projected to grow at a 10% CAGR through 2025, according to FICCI reports. And wellness today requires combining various sciences and approaches. This is the foundation of the integrated wellness concept at Atmantan Wellness Centre in Mulshi, Pune — a multi-specialty wellness centre designed to address health and well-being holistically. Nikhil Kapur, co-founder and director, Atmantan says, when the centre was conceptualised, wellness primarily revolved around relaxation and pampering. “Over time, as people’s needs became more complex and advanced technologies became available, wellness centres like ours began focussing on therapeutic wellness and deep transformations. Guests now expect more than just a relaxing escape — they seek measurable results and lasting change,” he says.

Post-pandemic, there has been a significant rise in individuals seeking emotional healing in the country, informs Nikhil, addressing concerns such as chronic stress, burnout, grief, and unresolved emotional trauma. “Many guests arrive at Atmantan to tackle issues like obesity, diabetes, or physical symptoms that often have roots in untreated emotional stress. While emotional and mental wellness was once a focus primarily for international visitors travelling to India for spiritual growth and recovery, more Indians now seek these transformative experiences,” he says.

Over the last two years, the centre has observed a trend centered around conscious living through wellness communities. Senior living programmes are also gaining traction, with around 17-18% of Atmantan’s clientele now over 70. Additionally, wearable technology, such as advanced rings and smart devices, is influencing wellness by providing actionable insights into health metrics, enabling users to achieve incremental gains in their wellness journeys.

Targeted wellness

The Rebalance Program at Ananda in the Himalayas is a holistic wellness journey designed to address hormonal imbalances in both men and women, tailored to their unique needs. For women, it focusses on managing the challenges of perimenopause and menopause, while for men, it targets testosterone decline and its associated effects on energy, mood, and vitality. Over two to three weeks, participants engage in personalised therapies, anti-inflammatory dietary plans, and natural supplementation to stimulate hormone balance and reduce inflammation. The programme continues beyond the retreat with a two to three month post-programme plan, offering self-therapy techniques, diet guidelines, and regular consultations to ensure long-term progress.

Several other wellness centres in the country also offer specialised programmes to support women through menopause by combining traditional practices like Ayurveda and yoga with modern therapies. Naad Wellness in Haryana focusses on hormonal balance and symptom management through naturopathy and Ayurveda. The Beach House Goa offers an eight-day retreat with personalised diets, supplements, and spa treatments. Wellness Garden and Shathayu Retreat in Bengaluru offers a ‘Menopause Mastery’ programme that combines kundalini yoga, natural treatments, and detox therapies to alleviate symptoms like mood disorders, hot flashes, and insomnia, while promoting emotional wellness during menopause. 

Men in focus

Traditionally, wellness in India has been viewed as a gender-neutral or women-centric domain, with spas, yoga, and mental health initiatives often tailored to female audiences. However, with changing social dynamics and increasing awareness around men’s health, men are increasingly moving away from the idea that prioritising health and self-care is unmasculine. In fact, 58% of Indian men reported prioritising self-care and fitness post-pandemic, according to a report by RedSeer.

“If we look back at 2015–2016, men constituted around 25% of wellness programme participants, but this number has risen sharply to more than 40%. At Ananda, the typical male clientele includes entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and startup founders between the ages of 40 and 60,” says Mahesh Natarajan, COO, Ananda in the Himalayas.

Chronic pain management is another area of focus among men, especially for musculo-skeletal issues. The programme at Ananda combines physiotherapy, posture analysis, and integrated healing therapies to address chronic pain while improving mobility and alignment. For younger men, the holistic detox programme emphasises cholesterol management and toxin reduction, preventing long-term issues such as prostate problems. Recognising shifts in fertility dynamics, Ananda has introduced a fertility management programme, addressing reproductive health challenges like low testosterone, poor sperm quality, and other lifestyle-related issues. These challenges, previously considered women-centric, are now understood as critical for men, with reproductive health requiring longer recovery timelines.

“Emotional health is increasingly becoming a priority for male guests. Stress, burnout, and emotional blockages are addressed through emotional therapy, integrated with other wellness practices,” says Mahesh.

Sleep takes centrestage

Sleep disorders, including insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), are increasingly prevalent in India, affecting a significant portion of the population. A systematic review reported that insomnia affects approximately 25.7% of Indians, while OSA has a prevalence of 37.4%, as published in MedRxiv.

In response, wellness retreats are tailoring their programmes to address sleep-related issues, integrating traditional healing practices with contemporary therapeutic approaches. For instance, Swastik — Luxury Wellbeing Sanctuary in Pune has introduced The Art of Restorative Sleep, a programme designed to help individuals combat sleep disorders like insomnia and chronic fatigue. This programme blends traditional Indian wellness practices with modern techniques to address the root causes of poor sleep. It includes personalised sleep assessments, Ayurvedic therapies such as shirodhara and abhyanga, and mind-body practices like yoga nidra and meditation to promote deep relaxation. Guests receive customised dietary plans with sleep-enhancing foods and herbal teas, alongside modern therapies like sound therapy and aromatherapy with essential oils.

Unnikrishnan Mohandas, yoga guru at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra in Kovalam, Kerala, says it is becoming increasingly common for individuals, especially solo travellers, to seek wellness retreats as a means of stepping away from the demands of balancing careers and family life. Many express a deep desire to focus on themselves, often stating sentiments like, “I told my family this time, I just want to be alone and take care of myself.” This growing trend reflects the need for personal space and self-care.

Global trends

The Chenot Palace in Gabala (Azerbaijan) operates on what they call ‘smart longevity’. With younger people becoming increasingly aware of ‘age’ at an early stage, they understand that their actions affect both the world and their biology. As a result, they are now thinking about longevity in their early 20s, which was not the case for previous generations. Rishad Sharifov, general manager of the property, says biohacking tools and genetic testing come into play to track health and make informed decisions. This approach helps to take control of one’s well-being and benefit from advancements in longevity science.

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6% of Indians are now prioritising health and wellness more than before, according to a Wellness 2023 Survey by ASSOCHAM

On average, a seven-14 day retreat in a luxury Indian wellness centre costs anywhere between ₹1.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh, yet centres are reporting 90-95% occupancy during peak seasons

International wellness tourists are contributing 30-40% of revenues for premium centres

Medical wellness tourism has seen a 30% growth over the last two years