Key Facts:
- ASICS enlists Natasha Rothwell to champion movement as a more accessible and effective alternative to wellness holidays.
- New study shows wellness holiday benefits often fade quickly, with travel and costs adding stress.
- In an Everyday Escape trial, participants who took a simple daily 15-minute movement break reported a 21% greater uplift in their overall mental state compared to their wellness holiday.
- What's more, 71% said daily exercise was more effective at reducing stress than their wellness holiday, while 65% found it more mood-enhancing.
As stress levels rise, wellness travel is booming—but it often comes with long flights, hefty price tags, and treatments that don't always deliver lasting results. This World Mental Health Day, ASICS and its newest wellbeing ambassador, Natasha Rothwell, are inviting the world to take an Everyday Escape – a simple 15-minute movement break – that is proven to transport you to a happier place and deliver more lasting benefits than a week at a wellness retreat.1
Demand for wellness holidays is surging in Australia, with bookings increasing by 228%2 in 2024. Meanwhile, new research by ASICS 3, surveying people who recently took a wellness holiday, found that Australians travel an average of 2,378km and spend an average of $2,161 on their wellness retreats. Yet, these holidays often fail to deliver lasting benefits. Over two-thirds (71%) said their wellness holiday failed to meet all expectations, and more than eight out of ten (81%) reported that any wellness benefits faded as soon as they left the retreat or shortly after returning home. Aussies who went on a health retreat said it took close to three days (65 hours) on average to feel a mental uplift, and for some, the experience even added to their stress levels; 41% say cost, and 22% said long travel distances were stress-inducing.
In contrast, ASICS' research highlights the transformative power of movement on mental wellbeing, showing that just 15 minutes and 9 seconds of exercise can trigger a measurable mental uplift.4 In a new Everyday Escape trial, overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs of King's College London, participants who took a simple daily 15-minute movement break reported a 21% greater uplift in their overall mental state compared to their wellness holiday. In fact, 71% said daily movement was more effective at reducing stress, 65% found it more mood enhancing and 73% experienced longer-lasting mental wellbeing benefits than after their recent wellness holiday. Overall, the research confirmed that a more affordable way to support your mental health is through moving your body in a way that feels good, with 57% of Aussies agreeing, saying wellness retreats are too expensive.
To help more people find their happy place through movement, ASICS has enlisted Natasha Rothwell, actor, writer, and wellness advocate, as its Everyday Escape Concierge. Rothwell will share inspiration to help people weave small but meaningful moments of movement into their daily routines, making wellness accessible and affordable for all.
Natasha Rothwell, ASICS' Everyday Escape Concierge, said: "I truly believe in the power of movement, not just for our bodies, but for our minds. Sure, you can spend thousands of dollars or fly halfway across the world to feel better, or you can just step outside and move your body. Your Everyday Escape could be a walk, a stretch, a dance in your kitchen. It's free, it's simple, and it's yours. Wellness shouldn't be a luxury. It should be something we can all access, every day. When we move, we feel better. And that's the kind of escape everyone deserves."
Across the world, ASICS is encouraging people to take an #EverydayEscape and feel the benefits. People who take a 15-minute movement break are encouraged to share their Everyday Escape and help raise funds for mental wellbeing charities around the world.
Dr Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in exercise and mental health from King's College London, said: "It's incredible to see the impact 15 minutes of movement can have on mental wellbeing. The Everyday Escape trial shows that small movement breaks can boost mood and reduce stress more effectively than a wellness holiday. All the participants said they'd be continuing to take movement breaks moving forward and 81% said they're now prioritising movement for their wellbeing over attending another retreat. A week away may give a short-term boost, but exercise delivers long-term benefits."
Mark Brunton, ASICS Oceania Managing Director comments: "At ASICS, we believe that you don't need to go far to leave it all behind. That's why we are inviting Aussies to take an Everyday Escape, a simple 15-minute movement break, to take their body and mind to a happier place. At ASICS, we've always championed the power of movement, however small, to help people feel better. It's the reason we were founded and why we're called ASICS – an acronym for the Latin 'Anima Sana in Corpore Sano' or 'Sound Mind In A Sound Body'. We hope Australians will
