A new global study that shows the impact of running and recovery during the pandemic as a means for self-care has been released by Westin Hotels and Resorts. The reports says that almost half of respondents (45%) said that focusing on their well-being has given them a new lease on life, and that running in particular has had a resurgence during the crisis.
Since the onset of the pandemic, 47% of those surveyed who have run during the pandemic said they went running or jogging more than they did previously, and more than half of these respondents (51%) said that running or jogging helped with their mental well-being during the pandemic.
What has also emerged from the pandemic is new interest in recovery and self-care, according to the report. Increasingly, people are discovering and prioritizing recovery and self-care – from stretching, meditating, eating healthy and sleep – as an essential step in their integrative wellness regimen. The study found that:
• More than a third (36%) of total respondents said that the pandemic has made them realize the importance of mental health and well-being
• Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) plan to continue to focus on self-care post-pandemic
• 22% of runners have seen a positive impact on their running capability since incorporating recovery into their routine, and nearly one fourth of total respondents (24%) said they want to continue to focus on rest and recovery after exercising once the pandemic has passed
• Nearly one fifth of runners (18%) said they would make more time for recovery after running if they had the right tools
• More than two-thirds (72%) of total respondents believe a good night’s sleep is important for physical and mental well-being
Furthermore, as life and travel resume post-pandemic, 15% of respondents are planning to maintain their fitness/wellness regimen when on the road again.
To that end, Westin says it has joined forces with fitness expert Hyperice to outfit select hotels across the US in San Francisco, Napa, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago and more – with state-of-the-art Hypervolt recovery stations in its fitness studios beginning July 1.
The specialized percussion devices will help guests warm up or recover after a workout, long flight, or meeting, and to massage away stress and tension, says Westin.
“The pandemic was a wake-up call around the importance of taking care of the mind, body and soul,” said Jason Nuell, Sr. VP, Premium Brands, Marriott International. “More than half of global adults (52%) said they are putting more emphasis on self-care now compared to before the pandemic, and more than a third of runners (39%) believe run recovery is as important for mental health as it is for physical health.”
In its focus on running, Westin also boasts more than 225 global Run Concierges who provide travellers of all running levels with the opportunity to have a running partner for individual runs and also host group runs. Since running in a new city can be difficult, RunWESTIN Maps have been created to help travellers run like a local, with curated scenic routes based on preferred distance.