10/08/2025

ON SUNDAY August 10, 2025 theSunday Special IV

A T a glance, wellness retreats may seem like an indulgence for the privileged, a luxury es cape wrapped in yoga classes, plant-based meals and picture-perfect sunsets. Yet, their growing SRSXODULW\ VXJJHVWV WKH\ PD\ R̆ HU PRUH than just Instagram-worthy backdrops. From emotional breakthroughs to long term behaviour changes, the question lingers: can a few days of digital detox and breathwork truly transform one’s life? The short answer is: It depends. The longer answer involves unpacking what happens when we step away from our routines, what science says about retreat settings and why Malaysians, especially urban dwellers, are increasingly drawn to the idea of “resetting” their lives. Rise of the retreat movement In a post-pandemic world where burnout is a ubiquitous concern, wellness tourism has experienced a surge. The Global Wellness Institute valued the wellness tourism market at US$436 billion in 2023, projecting a leap to US$1.4 trillion by 2027. This rapid growth isn’t just due to SHQW XS WUDYHO GHPDQG ,QVWHDG LW UHÀHFWV a deeper hunger for meaning, mental clarity and healing. In Malaysia, mental health awareness is rising in tandem. A 2023 survey by Ipsos Malaysia found that 48% of Malaysians said their mental health had worsened in the past year, with stress, anxiety and work-life imbalance cited as key contribu tors. With limited public mental health services and rising therapy costs, some are turning to retreats as an accessible middle ground between vacation and healing. What really happens on a retreat? Not all retreats are created equal. Some focus on meditation and silence, while others emphasise movement, nutrition, plant medicine or creative expression. However, they generally share a few key ingredients: Intentional time away, expert guidance, connection with others and a structured programme. It’s this combination that can create what psychologists call a “liminal space”, a threshold where ordinary routines are suspended and change becomes possible.

Wellness retreats and the silence that costs extra

Dr Itai Ivtzan, a positive psychologist and mindfulness researcher at Naropa University in the US, explained that re treat settings remove individuals from their usual environment, allowing for deep self-reflection. When people are taken out of their habitual contexts, their psychological defences are lower. This opens a window where transformation is more likely to occur.

Several studies back this up. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Alter native and Complementary Medicine examined 120 participants at a one-week wellness retreat in Australia. It found VWDWLVWLFDOO\ VLJQL¿FDQW LPSURYHPHQWV LQ both psychological and physical health markers, including reductions in stress, depression and anxiety. Even more in WHUHVWLQJO\ PDQ\ RI WKHVH H̆ HFWV ZHUH sustained at a six-week follow-up. C DQ D UHWUHDW ¿[ \RXU OLIH" Despite these positive outcomes, the idea that a weekend in Ubud or the Cameron Highlands can “ ¿[ ” deeply rooted issues is simplistic. Experts caution against expecting a single retreat to solve lifelong patterns.

BY DAYANA SOBRI

Some are turning to retreats as an accessible middle ground between vacation and healing.

Wellness retreats vary widely but often share key elements – expert guidance, connection, structure and intentional time away.”