10-12 May 2024
China Import & Export Fair Complex,
Guangzhou,
China
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13-16 May 2024
Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia ,
Italy
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14 May 2024
JPMorgan Chase Headquarters,
New York City,
United States
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18-22 May 2024
The Ravenala Attitude Hotel,
Mauritius
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23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais),
Wiesbaden,
Germany
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30-30 May 2024
Four Seasons Hotel George V,
Paris,
France
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30 May - 02 Jun 2024
Rimini Exhibition Center,
Rimini,
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06-07 Jun 2024
Sataman Viilu ,
Jyväskylä,
Finland
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What is friluftsliv and how could it help people’s wellbeing during the COVID-19 era? |
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By Megan Whitby 05 Oct 2020 |
Research published in 2015 went so far as to call natural areas Credit: Shutterstock/Dzmitrock
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The pandemic’s outbreak caused many people to use time in nature as a coping mechanism and an outlet to deal with the global health crisis and subsequent lockdown.
In Scandinavia, time outdoors is passionately encouraged and even celebrated, using the philosophy of ‘friluftsliv’ which is deeply rooted in the nation’s history.
The term was originally coined by Norwegian poet, Henrik Ibsen, who used the term to describe the ‘value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing’, according to BBC Worklife.
Translated loosely as ‘open-air living’, friluftsliv is the Scandinavian concept of celebrating the outdoors and the important connection between humans and nature.
Prior to COVID-19, the increasingly urbanised and fast-paced world made it harder for people to both easily access natural spaces and make time to explore them. However, growing numbers of people are spending more time outdoors and it seems this could have the potential to improve physical and mental health too, with scientists providing a host of evidence to support that nature is beneficial for wellbeing.
For example, research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2003 indicated that trees and woodlands can have a healing effect on the mind, while a 2010 study by scientists at the University of Essex’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Environment and Society found that regular nature walks can improve mental wellness.
Another article – published in 2015 with American Academy of the Sciences – even went so far as to call natural areas "vital for mental health".
With this in mind, friluftsliv could become a driver to help people sustain their wellbeing using nature during the pandemic and potential future lockdowns. It could be used as a celebratory concept to inspire people to spend even more time outdoors and take it up with a newfound enthusiasm.
As spas have reopened, many have begun embracing the outdoors, with Glen Ivy Hot Springs offering outdoor treatments and Lefay’s Lake Garda resort launching guided wellness retreats in nature.
"Even before COVID-19, more and more academic studies were highlighting the benefits of prescribing a connection with nature and the great outdoors,” said Dr Carlo Barbieri, president of Lefay’s Spa Method Scientific Committee.
“Physical issues such as joint pain and obesity as well as mental states of anxiety and depression are all proven to benefit from connection with nature and outdoor activities.”
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1 to 12 of 8712 news stories |
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08 May 2024
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03 May 2024
The historic Breakers Hotel in Long Beach, California, is set to reopen in mid-2024 as a Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property after a significant restoration and redevelopment project. The project, initially unveiled in 2022 by ... More
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03 May 2024
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27 Apr 2024
The Bannatyne Group says it has officially bounced back from the pandemic, with both turnover and profits restored to pre-2020 levels in 2023, according to its year-end results. Owned by former BBC Dragon’s Den investor, ... More
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25 Apr 2024
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24 Apr 2024
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in 2023, surpassing the previous high of US$20.1 billion in 2022. This data stems from ... More
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24 Apr 2024
Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new research. Researchers found that even a simple daily reminder encouraged people to move ... More
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24 Apr 2024
Spa and wellness veteran Shannon Malave has been named spa director at iconic US spa destination Mohonk Mountain House. Based in New York’s verdant Hudson Valley and founded in 1869, Mohonk is a historic Victorian ... More
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