White Lotus season 3 is about to come to a jaw-dropping finale packed with drama, death and grimace-worthy moments. But beyond the chaos, one thing the season has indulged in just as much was the wave of viral wellness trends embraced at its ultra-luxurious Thai resort.
Upon arriving at the White Lotus, guests are teamed up with what are designated as ‘health mentors’, an expert from the team that helps to cater to the visitor’s stay to meet their wellness goals.
From yoga sessions at every turn, to digital detoxing bags designed to curb screen time and futuristic sensory deprivation tanks, the show was practically a wellness retreat in itself.
A yin yoga stretch to calm your mind
Of course, here at WH, we love a niche wellness trend as much as the next person – but do these practices actually hold up under scrutiny?
We spoke to experts to find out just how credible these wellness rituals really are, and whether they’re worth feeding into your own routine.
Biometric testing
It’s the latest trend on everybody’s lips – whether you’re monitoring it through the likes of space-age wearables, or heading down to the trending wellness clinics that hook you up and provide all the health data you could possibly need in just minutes.
Upon arrival, guests at The White Lotus undergo biometric testing to monitor health markers and data in order to personalise their trips according to their needs. ‘Your markers are very good; these markers could belong to a woman half your age,‘ the handsome Russian health mentor Valentin tells one of his guests – although it’s revealed he seems to say this to all of the guests he cares for.
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In reality, biometric testing often provides far more in-depth data than what is noted on screen. The processes can reveal everything from possible skin cancers to blood markers, eye strength, stability, and more. Companies like Neko and HUM2N are leading the charge with their unique offerings of full-body scans and doctor consultations or health memberships to create personalised plans to address the issues raised within tests.
Biometric testing is now a part of daily life thanks to wearables like the Oura Ring, Garmin bands and Apple Watches. WH’s Fitness Director, Bridie Wilkins, even found that her Whoop band monitored and confirmed her post-COVID illness. The rise of these devices makes biometric data more accessible, offering a cost-effective alternative to expensive testing (which still has its merits). They also help users track key health stats without frequent GP visits.
However, there are conversations to be had over the anxiety people can have when faced with so much data. ‘Of course, data can be super informative, but when there is a constant tsunami of information it can drive anxiety,’ says Hannah Alderson, BANT Registered Nutritionist & Hormone Specialist, and author of Everything I Know About Hormones. ‘Constant tracking can create a sense of pressure or even guilt, especially when you don’t understand what those numbers truly mean or if they fluctuate, which they naturally will. Health is not about perfection or chasing the “perfect” number. It’s about feeling energised, balanced and connected to yourself.’
Sensory deprivation
Like something out of a George Lucas film, sensory deprivation tanks are one of the latest wellness trends to take the industry by storm. According to research, the global isolation tank market is expected to grow from 3.7 billion USD in 2025 to a staggering 10 billion by 2034.
The tanks are designed to promote a state of deep relaxation, as the body-temperature water and buoyant water (as it is packed with Epsom salt to lift the body), create a floating sensation with no outside stimulation from sounds, lights and gravity.
The research surrounding the practice is well-documented and shows that it can provide real benefits to those who partake. A 2016 study in the Performance Enhancement & Health Journal found that a single FLOAT session significantly improved 15 out of 16 mood-state variables, and reduced perceived muscle soreness when tested by 60 elite international athletes. While a 2018 study found a single one-hour session in a sensory deprivation tank could provide a significant reduction in anxiety and an improvement in mood in 50 participants with stress and anxiety-related disorders.
Digital detoxing
While we think we can all relate to the desire to get off our phones and reduce screen time, some wellness retreats actually require it as a part of their offerings. WH’s Deputy Social Manager, Issy Shury, took part in a three-day retreat in which locking phones away was encouraged. ‘The first 24 hours highlighted how addicted to my phone I am, constantly reaching for it subconsciously,’ she says. ‘But after a day or so, the craving for the buzz of notifications began to drift, and it felt so freeing not to be governed by my phone.’
Unyoked is an Australian company that provides off-the-grid tiny-cabin escapes to the countryside of Australia, New Zealand and more recently the UK, encouraging a digital detox and reconnecting with nature. When booking online you can filter the accommodation based on how much reception is available and the properties provide offline entertainment to help you truly disconnect. Rental platform Plum Guide reported a 17% rise in bookings for remote or rural properties.
Runner’s World‘s E-Commerce Editor, Ali Ball, recently took a trip to Unplugged, the UK’s first-ever digital detox retreat. ‘On arrival at the cabin, you’ll find a wooden phone lockbox. The idea is to lock your phones away as soon as you arrive, and unlock it the morning you leave,’ she says.
‘By the end of my stay, I felt more energised and refreshed than I had in months. I noticed that without the constant distraction of social media, time felt slower and more intentional. I also found unexpected joy in human connection.’
Data shows that our dependence on technology is beginning to influence the way our brains function, we recently reported on the studies that flag our cognitive decline and its link with tech, such as how technology and smartphone dependence can impact our ability to concentrate with symptoms similar to ADHD as well as Problematic Internet Use (PUI) affecting brain structure and grey matter.
Stress meditation
While the White Lotus resort’s offering of stress meditation techniques tends to act as the perfect backdrop for the drama of the show, the concept of the practice is almost guaranteed when attending a wellness retreat anywhere across the globe. From group meditations to events like sound baths and yoga, meditation has almost moved beyond being a trend and instead being a constant in the world of wellness.
A 5-minute meditation to start off the day
A 2019 study found that daily sessions can enhance attention, mood, working memory, and emotional regulation while reducing anxiety. However, a 2022 study published in Psychotherapy Research reported over 10% of their participants actually reported adverse effects such as disassociation, depression and increased anxiety, for 1% these effects lasted over a month.
‘If we’re looking at the fundamentals of what mediation is then any type of mediation will contribute to reducing cortisol levels,’ said pilates instructor and acupuncturist Rachel Lopez.
She also cites researcher Gaëlle Desbordes, who in 2012 released her study on how meditation and mindfulness can affect the amygdala in the brain. The study found that after 8 weeks of Mindful Attention Training, participants showed a longitudinal decrease in right amygdala activation.
‘Desbordes research has shown that meditation training has been shown to affect emotional processing in the brain outside of a meditative state. The data shows that meditation does result in better emotional processing in the long run. It is ultimately a practice though and it’s something that needs to be done consistently to get the best benefits.’
Spirituality
Eastern spirituality has long been intertwined with wellness practices, especially as Western audiences are introduced to cultural traditions from South and Southeast Asia. The White Lotus explores this theme throughout the season. From Piper Ratcliff bringing her family to Thailand under the pretence of researching Buddhism – while secretly hoping to convince them to let her join a monastery – to the teachings of Buddhist monk Luang Por Teera, which serve as a counterpoint to the characters’ hedonism, the show examines the intersection of spirituality and hedonism.
The satirical dramedy also critiques how Western tourists often interpret—or appropriate—ancient spiritual traditions. But can these practices be embraced with genuine respect? And can they positively influence one’s personal wellness journey?
‘Learn from those who come from these cultures who are most often teaching with a deeper awareness and greater authenticity,’ Angie Tiwari told WH. Angie works as a Yoga & Ayurveda Educator and is the Founder of UNEARTHED.
‘We [know] from a Harvard study that young adults who prayed daily had higher self-esteem, were more positive, felt more satisfied with life and experienced less depressive symptoms,’ she says. ‘Chanting has been proven to improve vagal tone, relax the vagus nerve and get us into a nervous system of balance, better rest, and stronger digestion.’
This article originally appeared on Women’s Health U.K.
