In the booming $6.3 trillion wellness industry, women’s health has often been overlooked. Historically, women were mostly excluded from clinical studies until 1993, and even today, just 5% of global healthcare funding goes to women’s health research. Groups like the Global Wellness Institute admit they’ve focused primarily on fitness and longevity, missing the mark on what women actually need.
Canyon Ranch, a pioneer of wellness retreats, is changing that. Founded in 1979, it will soon open a new 600-acre location near Austin, specifically focused on women’s wellness. CEO Mark Rivers highlights that two-thirds of their guests are women, who he feels are often misunderstood in typical healthcare settings.
While many wellness programs emphasize relaxation and beauty, they often ignore significant issues women face throughout their lives, such as menopause symptoms. These topics are gaining visibility, with celebrities like Oprah and Michelle Obama speaking out about menopause. In fact, by 2030, the number of menopausal women is projected to hit 1.2 billion, creating a potential $24.4 billion market for products and services tailored to them.
Wellness programs worldwide are beginning to adapt. Resorts like SHA Wellness in Spain and Kamalaya in Thailand are now offering retreats focused on fertility and pelvic health. This increasing awareness is not just about women; conversations surrounding these issues have empowered men to voice their health concerns as well.
Anna Bjurstam from Six Senses Hotels emphasizes that the wellness industry needs to evolve. Instead of merely focusing on aesthetics and weight loss, women want holistic well-being that includes education and empowerment. Canyon Ranch is taking this to heart with its new Austin location, investing $122 million to develop a spa dedicated to women’s health, which will feature treatments addressing menopause and other health issues.
Canyon Ranch differs from its earlier iterations, focusing on health as a lifestyle rather than just a temporary retreat. As a leader in longevity, they’ve welcomed over a million guests and have a team of medical experts that includes former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona.
Canyon Ranch Austin will cover a range of women’s health concerns, including nutrition and midlife beauty, but it won’t stop there; men are also encouraged to engage with the facility for screenings and tailored fitness programs. Although it won’t provide reproductive health services, the resort will offer prenatal massages and hormone therapy.
Additionally, beauty will not take a backseat. The resort plans to address issues like hair thinning and skin health as part of a more holistic approach to wellness. The goal is to give guests practical tools to carry home, encouraging them to adopt a lifestyle rooted in well-being.
Interestingly, Canyon Ranch is offering homes for sale near the resort, appealing to those who want to make wellness a permanent lifestyle. With properties priced from $3.4 million, these residences will have state-of-the-art wellness features, such as saunas and recovery lockers.
This shift in wellness resorts suggests a trend where people might choose to live in these healthy environments rather than just visiting. As wellness evolves, it’s clear that women’s health is finally gaining the attention it deserves.
For more information on women’s health research funding, visit the Global Wellness Institute.
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