8 wellness trends to try in 2019

By testing your DNA and metabolism against biomarkers, clinics can pinpoint food intolerances that might not cause full-blown allergic reactions, but could manifest, for example, as inflammation. Nutrigenomics tests can also predict susceptibility to certain conditions. Online ancestry testing service 23andMe now even offers nutrition analysis, while Nestlé is pilot-testing AI-supported DNA analysis in Japan.

People are incorporating healing crystals into their lives in myriad ways. ARK Crystal’s jewellery purportedly elevates the vibrations and energy of the objects and environment around you, while Elixir2Go is a water bottle with built-in crystals with different functions. Spa Oneness in Hong Kong uses crystals in its Moment of Oneness facial, while cosmetics giant ColourPop has released crystal-infused makeup-setting sprays.

The alternative to dry saunas, infrared saunas use far infrared light to penetrate the body more deeply and make you break a sweat at a lower temperature, allowing the user to stay in the sauna longer without discomfort while detoxifying the body, burning calories and reducing muscle pains. Venues such as “urban sweat lodge” Shape House in the United States have even incorporated TVs into private sauna rooms.

Once relegated to alternative music festivals and yoga retreats, gong baths and singing-bowl meditations are popping up at more and more mainstream venues. Progressive boutique hotel chains such as Edition Hotels and The Standard have already incorporated sound-healers into their spa programmes, and luxury brands such as Proenza Schouler, Shiseido and Selfridges all worked sessions into VIP events in 2018.

Doctor brands aren’t as glamorous as those fronted by film stars touting the latest miracle discovery – but they work. Researcher Augustinus Bader has applied burn-treatment technology to a heal-all cream under his eponymous new line, while naturopath Nigma Talib’s various theories based on gut health have been transformed into a skincare brand called Dr Nigma.

Plant protein is going to take over the world in 2019, as faux-meat purveyors up the ante – and their ubiquity. The arrival of plant-based beef alternative and global phenomenon Impossible Foods in Hong Kong saw vegan “meat” expand beyond the Western fast-food market into Asian territory and is set to land in Singapore soon. Other animal-product replacements to look out for include Omnipork, Just Egg and Ahimi.

Why go for one type of exercise when you can do two at once? Studios are introducing hybrid concepts that offer the best of both worlds. Melbourne-based F* It pairs boxing with clubbing; London-based Popfit has PlyoJam classes that combine dancing with plyometric training; and Singapore’s Yoga Movement offers HIIT Yoga (a blend of asana yoga stretches with high-intensity interval training).

It’s your worst nightmare: wearable tech colluding with your gym trainer. At Orangetheory gyms globally, iPads will be installed by mid-2019 on all gear to track stats. For those who prefer at-home motivation, a new invention, Mirror, is a reflective screen that can be installed on a wall which livestreams workouts into your home, while a camera and Bluetooth heart-rate monitor allow a remote trainer to critique your performance.

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SEE ALSO: Pamper yourself at these relaxing spas in Singapore 

This article was originally published in the January 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine