Cryptotherapy, adaptogens and AI: modern spa offers promote well-being and resilience, strengthen health and harmonize body and mind - and are more diverse than ever. These ten trends are setting standards in self-care.
Just a few years ago, wellness in a hotel meant a flower bath, steam sauna and cream mask. Pleasant, yes - but so yesterday. Today, it's no longer just about letting yourself be kneaded and switching off, but about mental health instead of massage, socializing instead of time out alone - and about profound changes on the way to a healthier you. From biohacking to Pilates Pro, from biorhythm checks to mushroom subscriptions; wellness today is more holistic, smarter and more strategic.
The resorts have also upgraded - they offer longevity programs, holistic concepts, medical and gender wellness. The focus is on personalized solutions that fit like a tailor-made suit - just for body, mind and lifestyle. If you don't have a doctor in tow, you are faced with the challenge of finding your way through the jungle of treatments, retreats and spa menus. After all, you don't just want to get the most out of your stay, you also want to add a few bonus years to your longevity scale.
The question remains: what really works - and which treatments are just a nicely packaged waste of time? Here it is: the current crème de la crème of self-care trends for the vacations.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been doing it for a while now, and so has Jennifer Aniston: we're talking about cryotherapy or cryosauna, a treatment in which you expose yourself to icy temperatures in a cabin. What was once reserved for professional athletes or actors has now also arrived in hotels.
Why should you put up with temperatures as low as minus 140 degrees Celsius? Quite simply because the increased blood circulation caused by the icy shock has so many proven benefits that you simply have to try it! These include, for example, faster regeneration after training, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as improving the immune system and the appearance of the skin. In addition, the general sense of well-being can be increased - immediately after leaving the chamber, many people feel a real energy boost, triggered by the increased release of the body's own happiness hormones. The cryo cabin can be booked after a detailed consultation, for example in the "Ninfea" spa at the "Seeleiten Lake Spa Hotel" on Lake Kaltern in South Tyrol.
What do Dirk Nowitzki, Novak Ðjoković and LeBron James have in common? They are among the most successful athletes in the world, who are still achieving or have achieved top performances even in old age. And all three are fans of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT for short. How does it work? In principle, you breathe in oxygen, but one hundred percent pure oxygen, in a very special pressure chamber that simulates the pressure of a dive at a depth of up to ten meters. As a result, around 14 times more oxygen reaches the body's cells than during normal breathing. There is one such HBOT application at the medical center of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. You spend 60 to 90 minutes in the submarine-like cabin, put on a breathing mask and can otherwise relax, read or even work while lying or sitting. The effect is the same for top athletes and amateurs alike: Inflammation and infections can be reduced, wound healing increased, swelling reduced and energy levels increased. At the same time, HBOT is said to have a rejuvenating effect on (skin) cells.
Light is hope, light creates well-being; this also applies to light applications on the skin. They are currently one of the most popular methods for rejuvenating and improving skin health - and the gentlest treatment, as there is no need for knives or injections. While masks with small light diodes are applied to the face, full-body light treatments involve lying in small tubes that look like a solarium and envelop the body in warming light. The red light radiating from all sides at a special wavelength triggers anti-ageing mechanisms in every skin cell of the body and is also said to relieve muscle tension, support wound healing, alleviate pain and even help with sleep problems. Red Light Therapy is therefore a true all-rounder for body and soul. The treatments are currently available at dermatologists and longevity clinics in particular, but are already available at selected spa hotels, such as the "Krallerhof" in Leogang.
Taking a sauna has never been a solitary affair - in Norway, where sweating in a specially crafted wooden chamber has a long tradition, the sauna has always been a place of community. In 2025 it is now also changing internationally from a quiet retreat to a consciously shared experience space: more and more hotels are offering special group rituals to serve precisely this need for connection. The sauna becomes a multi-sensory stage - for example through artistic performances, DJ sets and other forms of "Saunatainment". At the "Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa" on Lake Bostal, for example, an entire Celtic sauna village has been created - with a ritual area and an authentic 360-degree yurt fire. The sauna masters stage incense ceremonies, druid infusions and Celtic fires, where guests are gently tapped with birch or oak branches. Accompanied by the scents of silver fir, moss and native bark, the connection to nature is strengthened.
Pilates is booming - worldwide. On fitness platforms such as Classpass, the gentle but highly effective full-body workout skyrocketed in popularity in 2024, with 84% more course bookings than in the previous year. One reason for the hype is the high "Instagrammability" of Pilates. The training scores with aesthetic clarity: precise movements, clear lines, visible body control. And it is particularly beginner-friendly because it is easy on the joints. Especially in the reformer version on the equipment developed by Joseph Pilates - equipped with springs, slides and ropes - the exercises can be performed with the utmost precision. Instead of just exercising on the mat, the device guides the movement, provides resistance and supports posture. The result: more control, deeper muscles, better alignment - with a focus on core stability, length and mobility. The reformer is a guard rail for beginners and a fine-tuning tool for advanced riders. Another advantage over classic fitness equipment: reformers save space. New, compact and foldable models make it possible for hotels to offer studio-quality Pilates training even in limited spaces. The holistic workout is available, for example, at the "Moar Gut" family resort in Grossarl in cooperation with the popular Bondi Studios from Salzburg - including a fantastic mountain view during training.
If you are familiar with Ayurveda, the natural medicine originating from India, you may have heard of adaptogens. These are ancient medicinal plants and medicinal mushrooms that are being given a glamorous update in Hollywood and now around the globe. Certain plant substances such as ashwagandha, ginseng, maca or reishi are said to strengthen our nervous system, promote regeneration, make us more resistant to the challenges of everyday life and balance our hormone levels. In short: adaptogens are said to be a real health booster and stress killer. Traditionally, the hyped natural remedies are used in Ayurveda and detox houses, for example in the form of superfood lattes, teas or food supplements. Spas that make use of the healing properties in their treatments are brand new, such as the "CBD & Adaptogenic Spa" at "Schloss Zermatt". For example, the "Just Chill" massage uses CBD oil to promote relaxation, while facial treatments such as "Make Me Glow" use antioxidant-rich mushroom complexes from the cult brand Herbar.
Longevity researchers agree that sufficient and restful sleep is one of the most important building blocks for a long and healthy life. The hotel industry reacted to this trend early on - with increasingly sophisticated offers for sleeping comfort and deep relaxation: luxurious mattresses, so-called "pillow menus", yoga sessions and sleep-promoting aroma massages are now standard in many places. Sleepmaxxing is the next step: it is regarded as a new level in the pursuit of regeneration - with the aim of exploiting the full potential of sleep. This is offered in specialized hotels such as the "Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg" near Cologne with its private institute run by Dr. Dirk F. Richter and Dr. Maria Wiedner. At the "Uniq Aesthetics" institute, guests receive comprehensive diagnostics from experienced sleep experts - including glucose, blood pressure and sleep monitoring.
Time for a mini chemistry lesson - for anyone who no longer knows exactly what ozone is: ozone is a special form of the element oxygen; instead of consisting of two atoms like normal oxygen (O₂), it consists of three atoms (O₃). In so-called ozone therapy, this gas is administered in controlled doses. It is said to stimulate certain reactions in the body which, among other things, can promote the formation of certain proteins and red blood cells - which in turn could improve the oxygen supply.
Ozone also has proven antibacterial and antiviral properties, which are used to treat infections and parasites, or as a preventative measure. How exactly? There are several options, most of which are offered at the "Adler Spa Resort Thermae" in Tuscany or the "Adler Spa Dolomiti": depending on the desired result, the gas is injected locally, administered to the body in the form of enemas or in a mixture with the patient's own blood. Even though many people swear by ozone therapy its use is not without risks and must always be discussed with a qualified healthcare provider.
Classic spa and wellness treatments are increasingly being replaced by Virtual Reality, augmented reality or AI to make the sensory experience more holistic. Back in 2015, the artist "sha." designed "Alphasphere Deluxe", an installation that connects spa guests with colors, sounds, vibrations and scents into deep relaxation - among other places in the "Hotel Lauterbad" in Freudenstadt. Today, this has become an international trend with many facets: in Gharieni's "Augmented Massage", for example, sounds are generated to match the therapist's movements, creating a unique multi-sensory massage experience. The "Gharieni MLW Amphibia Welnamis" is a computer-controlled acoustic and vibration therapy table; actively trained and already being used successfully in spas and clinics around the world. With Esqape's Immersive Relaxation, you can be virtually "beamed" to the beach, the jungle or heavenly spheres in a new type of lounger with VR glasses.
Escape the stress, stop the carousel of thoughts? Sound baths - sound baths that carry the body into deep relaxation with gentle vibrations and sounds - are ideal for this. Metal singing bowls have a long tradition in meditation; sound sessions with soft-sounding crystal singing bowls are now brand new. What they both have in common: sound baths create a meditation-like state in most listeners without having to do much. You lie comfortably snuggled up on mats while the "Sound Healer" uses the instruments to create various sounds and vibrations that wash over the listeners like a wave. After about 15 minutes, the unpredictability and harmony of the sounds ensure that the nervous system calms down - the result is a state of deep regeneration that is intended to reduce stress and anxiety. The Maslina Resort on the beautiful Croatian island of Hvar offers special sound healing concerts on the beach that transport guests to another dimension of peace and relaxation.
