Why 15 Minutes Walk Beats a Week in Bali: ASICS Unpacks the Myth of Wellness Holidays
We are flocking to wellness retreats in record numbers—bookings jumped an astonishing 228% in 2024. From yoga in Byron Bay to “digital detoxes” in Bali, the promise is simple: pay up, check in, and emerge calmer, fitter, and more balanced.
But what if the very thing meant to restore you is stressing you out?
That’s the uncomfortable truth revealed in a new research study commissioned by sports performance brand ASICS ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10th). Overseen by Dr Brendon Stubbs of King’s College London, the study found that so-called wellness holidays may not be the panacea that we are all hoping for.
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The Trouble with Wellness Retreats
The numbers are sobering. Australians are travelling an average of 2,378 kilometres and spending $2,161 on retreats, only to find the benefits fleeting.
A staggering 81% of people said their “holiday glow” disappeared as soon as they left the retreat, while 71% admitted the experience didn’t live up to expectations at all.
Worse, retreats often added to stress levels rather than reduced them. Long-haul travel was a problem for nearly a quarter of participants, and over 40% found the sheer cost stressful.
For many, it took nearly three days (65 hours) just to feel any noticeable mental uplift—by which time they were halfway through their pricey getaway.
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A Simpler Alternative to Wellness Retreats
If that sounds disheartening, here’s the good news: ASICS’ Everyday Escape trial suggests you don’t need to travel far—or at all—for a mental reset. The research revealed that just 15 minutes and 9 seconds of movement is enough to produce a measurable improvement in mental wellbeing.
In fact, trial participants who took a simple daily 15-minute movement break reported a 21% greater uplift in their overall mental state than they did from their wellness holiday.
More than 70% said daily exercise reduced their stress more effectively than a retreat, while 65% found it more mood-enhancing.
Dr Stubbs summed it up bluntly: “A week away may give a short-term boost, but exercise delivers long-term benefits.”
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Everyday Escapes
That’s where ASICS’ new campaign comes in. Partnering with actor, writer, and wellness advocate Natasha Rothwell, the brand is inviting Australians to take what they’re calling an Everyday Escape—a 15-minute movement break woven into daily life.
Rothwell explains: “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.”
Movement for the Masses
The initiative isn’t just about swapping resorts for running shoes—it’s about accessibility. Wellness has long been criticised as a privilege for the wealthy, and ASICS wants to democratise it.
With Australians increasingly stressed and stretched financially, the brand is betting that a grassroots approach to mental health through movement will resonate far more than an overseas retreat.
Mark Brunton, ASICS Oceania Managing Director, ties it back to the company’s founding philosophy:
“At ASICS, we’ve always championed the power of movement to help people feel better. It’s the reason we were founded and why we’re called ASICS—short for the Latin Anima Sana in Corpore Sano, or ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body.’”
How to Take Your Escape
This World Mental Health Day, Australians are being encouraged to step away from their screens, put down their credit cards, and simply move.
Whether it’s a lunchtime stroll, some backyard yoga, or blasting music for a dance break, the campaign is urging people to share their #EverydayEscape online and raise funds for global mental wellbeing charities.
Because sometimes the best holiday isn’t a plane ride away. It’s a quarter of an hour in your own neighbourhood.
For more details, visit asics.com/everydayescape.
Click here to visit our affiliate asics store on Amazon. We many earn a small commission on any purchases.
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