Wellness does not have to mean expensive treatments, luxury retreats or exclusive hotel experiences. There are plenty of simple ways to look after your physical and mental wellbeing while spending little or nothing.
From joining community activities to rediscovering traditional hobbies, here are some affordable options, reports BBC.
Join local wellness groups
Rather than paying for costly studio memberships, people are creating their own low-cost wellness communities. Local social media groups and platforms can be useful places to find them.
Yoga teacher Anastasiia Mirraslavska runs Sunday Reset in London, bringing people together in different parks each month for yoga and meditation. The group also holds online meditation sessions, some of which are free while others cost around £10.
“I wanted to create a space where people could experience [yoga and meditation] in a simple and accessible way,” she told the BBC.
Give gardening a try
You do not need a large garden or expensive equipment to enjoy the benefits of gardening. Research by the Royal Horticultural Society has found that people who garden daily report greater wellbeing and lower stress.
Those without gardens can consider renting an allotment through their local council. Community gardens provide another option, with many welcoming volunteers and offering access to equipment.
The Good to Grow map and the RHS website can help people find community gardening projects nearby.
Damien Newman, training, education and consultancy manager at gardening charity Thrive, said such projects offer more than an opportunity to grow plants.
He said they provided “the opportunity to be engaged in gardening and connect to a welcoming social group”.
“It’s good across our holistic health spectrum, good physically, cognitively, socially, psychologically and emotionally,” he said.
Rediscover a traditional hobby
Older pastimes such as birdwatching and crochet are attracting renewed interest as people seek inexpensive ways to spend their time.
Birdwatching can be as simple as visiting a local park, while groups and online communities offer opportunities to meet others with the same interest.
Research indicates that spending just 30 minutes birdwatching can increase happiness, improve wellbeing and strengthen people’s connection with nature.
Crochet is another inexpensive option. Beginners need little more than a hook and some yarn, which can cost just a few pounds. Studies have also associated the hobby with better wellbeing, including helping people deal with stress, grief, chronic illness and other difficult experiences.
Exercise without a gym membership
Staying active does not require a gym. Running, outdoor yoga and bodyweight exercises can all be done for little or no cost.
Calisthenics, or bodyweight training, relies on movements such as squats, push-ups and pull-ups to develop strength, flexibility and co-ordination.
It can be practised at home or outdoors without specialist equipment.
Running is another accessible option. About 7.1 million adults now run, with participation increasing by more than 500,000 over the past year.
People can join local running clubs or exercise independently.
Try a sound bath at home
Sound baths have become increasingly popular, but attending an in-person session can be expensive or difficult depending on where you live.
The practice involves sounds from instruments including crystal or Tibetan bowls, gongs and chimes, with the aim of encouraging relaxation and meditation.
A cheaper alternative is to listen to recorded sound baths on YouTube or Spotify at home. Some meditation apps also offer similar sounds, although access may require a subscription.
Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, said online recordings vary in quality but recommended seeking out material produced by experienced practitioners or established organisations.
“If you wear over-ear headphones, lie down, close your eyes and make sure you are in a place where you’re not going to be disturbed, the therapeutic benefits of listening are potentially very good,” she said.
“Ultimately, the most important thing is that people find an approach they’ll genuinely use.”
