Spa trends: Why brain training is the latest innovation in longevity and fitness

What is brain training?

Brain training, also known as cognitive training, is described by The British Psychological Society as:

"Cognitive training (‘brain training’) involves training specific aspects of your memory and other thinking skills. This is usually through an exercise or a game on a computer, but regular pastimes such as crosswords and Sudoku would also count as cognitive training."

They go on to explain that it's for anyone who wants to keep their brain active and sharp, works best when it's done as a regular habit (much like going to the gym), and that you can focus on particular areas of improvement such as memory, problem solving, and concentration.

How does brain training work?

Contrary to what the world of science used to think, our brains continue to have the ability to learn and grow as we get older through a process known as plasticity. However, the catch is that much like any other muscle, if you want your brain to develop then you have to work it.

Harvard Health writes: "Eventually, your cognitive skills will wane and thinking and memory will be more challenging, so you need to build up your reserve. Embracing a new activity that also forces you to think and learn and requires ongoing practice can be one of the best ways to keep the brain healthy."

While physical exercise itself is recognised as a good way to help keep your brain active and healthy, science has opened up to the idea that it's not just the physical movement that supports our brains but the thought processes involved at the same time.

They write: "Take swimming, for example. It has obvious cardiovascular and muscle-building benefits, but also involves constant thinking, processing, and learning. You have to be mindful of your breathing rhythm and how to properly execute strokes and kicks."

However, they also say that brain training activities don't have to be exercise related. For example, painting, learning an instrument, and learning a language also get those little grey cells going.

The key to any brain training task thought is that they must be:

• Challenging
• Complex
• And you must practise to reinforce the learning

How are spas embracing brain training?

None of that sounds especially spa-y, but spas are centres of holistic wellbeing, and recognise that's about mind, body, and soul. Wellness is as much about mental, emotional, and cognitive health as it is about physical health, and the growing array of treatments and experiences available reflects that.

For example, there are touchless treatments that include tech-led mindfulness, while SENSORY Wellbeing at Pan Pacific London has introduced a unique Body Assessment and TecnoBody® D-Wall for optimised fitness, including an in-depth analysis of heart, lung, muscular and neuromuscular function.

It's this diversity of wellbeing that's making its way into modern spa environments, making brain training a wellness trend to watch. Spa Business writes:

"With operators such as Clinique La Prairie getting in on the action, exciting advancements in this field are already cropping up, including initiatives like Sparkd Fitness’ pioneering brain-body fitness solutions. The brand’s multi-component training modality includes cardiovascular and strength training, coordination and motor-skill training, as well as cognitive motor training or dual-task training. An example might include doing squats while working on maths or memory games on a technology screen."