10 Ways to Create a Wellness Yard
Updated: Jul. 11, 2023
You no longer have to leave home to experience the luxury of a spa. Discover how to transform your backyard into an oasis for healthy living.
What Is a Wellness Yard?
Backyards are now the go-to spot for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Hundreds of studies confirm that spending time outside connecting to nature can improve health and happiness.
During the pandemic, people realized the importance of making their home a sanctuary. “The pandemic reinvigorated people’s interest in the outdoors, made them more aware of their own health, and helped them realize the wellness benefits of being outside,” says Allison Messner, CEO of Yardzen, an online landscape design company.
Homeowners continue to seek ways to enjoy their backyard, leading to the wellness yard trend. “People want to capitalize on the health benefits of outdoor wellness elements and don’t necessarily want to be required to go to a park, gym or spa, or plan a vacation to get them,” Messner says. When you have daily access to wellness features without leaving home, they easily become an important part of your routine.
Transform your yard into a self-improvement zone by adding wellness elements like a sauna, plunge pool, meditation garden, fitness or yoga platform and more. Keep reading to learn how to add backyard decor to create the wellness yard of your dreams.
Yoga or Fitness Platform
For those who want to exercise without going to a gym or yoga studio, adding a fitness or yoga platform in the yard can be an attractive option. Besides the convenience, engaging in green exercise — any activity where you interact with nature while moving your body and breaking a sweat — offers tremendous health benefits, including reducing stress and boosting mood.
According to Aine Rock, a yoga instructor and integrative life coach, taking your yoga practice outdoors increases the benefits of exercise.
“By creating a small outdoor space, you can get some fresh air and shift your energy,” she says. “Place some plants or flowers nearby so your eyes can rest on nature.”
These platforms can be made from wood, bamboo, concrete or even eco-friendly composite materials of recycled plastic. Be sure the deck is larger than a standard yoga mat (24-in. wide by 68- to 72-in. long) to leave space to move around.
Meditation Garden
Creating a backyard meditation garden is one of the best ways to find peace and tranquility at home. Healing gardens have been shown to make people feel more relaxed and refreshed.
These gardens feature components to activate the senses like vivid colors, soothing sounds, interesting shapes and textures, comfortable places to sit or lie down, and lovely aromas.
The most common elements include plants, trees, and shrubs; colorful aromatic flowers; shade from a canopy, umbrella or pergola; seating, like a meditation bench or hammock; stones, pebbles and sand; pavers; and statues or sculptures of animals, Buddha images or small pagodas.
There are many types of gardens to draw inspiration from: Japanese Zen, Chinese, Southwestern United States, Traditional English and Middle Eastern are just a few. Look for examples and visit your local garden center to pick out materials, or contact a landscaper for guidance.
Labyrinth
Mindful walking is a soothing practice that helps us focus on the present by tuning in to our body’s sensations. Cultures around the world have been using labyrinths to ease stress for more than 4,000 years.
These circular or spiral structures have a single path that leads in and out of the center. Unlike a maze, there are no tricks to a labyrinth and no dead ends.
There are hundreds of labyrinth designs and many ways to build them, according to Lisa Gidlow Moriarty, a labyrinth designer at Paths of Peace. “An outdoor labyrinth can be as simple as mowing a design into the lawn or placing stones on the ground,” she says. “It can be as complex as creating a design on concrete or with pavers.”
The size of the yard and budget will determine what’s possible. “The most important consideration is to measure the area,” Moriarty says. “A labyrinth can be as small as 10 to 12 feet, and ideally is in a location that allows some privacy.”
Water Feature
Water provides a sense of peace and serenity. Sharon Sherman, founder and principal of Thyme & Place Design and a professional interior designer and reiki master, says “the sound of softly flowing water helps focus and relax the mind, reducing stress and anxiety.” It also counters traffic noise and other distracting noises.
Some ideas for incorporating water into your garden include ponds, water bowls, fountains, garden waterfalls, birdbaths, and water walls. Sherman suggests electric fountains. There are even solar-powered ones available so you don’t need to install electricity out back.
Sit Spot
Ever crave some quiet, alone time to unwind? Silence clears the mind and brings us back to the present moment to reduce stress. It also heightens our senses as we connect with the healing power of nature.
Setting up a sit spot in your yard might work perfectly for you. A sit spot is a favorite place in nature to visit regularly to cultivate an awareness of your surroundings as you observe plants, birds, trees, animals and other natural elements. Once in your sit spot, you can relax by meditating, deep breathing, listening to nature sounds or creating nature art.
Adding a sit spot to your backyard oasis is easy, and there are plenty of options depending on your budget and taste. Look for an attractive bench, comfy chair, hammock, meditation cushion or daybed.
Hot Tub
Hot tubs are the quintessential wellness yard feature, offering a serene retreat and the opportunity to entertain guests. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hot tubs boost physical and mental health by relieving stress, easing muscle aches, improving heart health, lowering blood pressure and improving sleep.
And they’re as popular as ever. Yardzen’s report on 2023 backyard trends notes a 34% increase in requests for hot tubs.
Bryan Clayton, CEO and co-founder of GreenPal, equates having an outdoor hot tub to creating your own personal spa at home. “The benefits are extensive, and it’s a little luxury that can make a big difference to your wellness routine,” he says. Learn how to build a wood-fired hot tub.
Massage Table
Last year 28% of women and 26% of men got a massage to boost their health and wellness, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. Imagine if you could enjoy this effective relaxation tool whenever you want without leaving your property.
Getting a massage table for your yard is a wonderful way to boost your wellness factor.
“Setting up a massage area in your own backyard can create a peaceful massage experience,” said CG Funk, a certified massage therapist and chief therapeutic experience officer at Massage Heights. “Being outdoors in nature boosts physical and mental health in many ways, and receiving a massage while enjoying the outdoors increases these relaxing benefits.”
Massage tables are readily available online at various prices. Massage Traveler in Seattle, Washington recommends setting it up on a level surface on a patio or deck, in a garden or next to the pool.
Make sure the space is at least 10-ft. by 10-ft. so there’s enough room for the massage therapist to move around the table. A private, shady spot works best to minimize distractions and avoid the direct sun.
For days with inclement weather, consider a massage chair.
Plunge Pool
Plunge pools are popular with celebrities and wellness influencers who tout their benefits. Ranging from eight to 12 feet wide, these pools take up less space and are more affordable and easier to maintain than typical swimming pools.
Cold plunge pools are often used for therapeutic purposes when people soak in water between 45 and 55 degrees. According to the Wim Hof Method, research shows cold exposure boosts metabolism and the immune system; minimizes inflammation, sore muscles and swelling; improves sleep; and reduces stress and anxiety.
According to Messner, “we saw a 15% increase year-over-year in requests for plunge pools.” They can easily be installed in backyards, even those with minimal space.
Sauna
For thousands of years, saunas have been used for therapeutic purposes like relaxation, relieving sore muscles, fighting illness and improving cardiovascular health.
Clayton notes outdoor saunas, also called garden saunas, are in high demand these days. “I’ve seen an increasing trend of homeowners incorporating saunas into their outdoor spaces,” Clayton says. “There’s something quite soothing about the heat and the quiet space a sauna provides.”
Saunas come in various sizes and designs. Finnish saunas feature a wood-burning stove to create heat. Dry saunas have an electric or propane-heater and wooden walls. Infrared saunas, as the name suggests, heat the space with infrared light. Consider building the sauna next to a plunge pool or hot tub so you can alternate between therapies.
Sound Bath
Certain sounds are known to be especially calming. A sound bath is a type of meditation that “bathes” participants in sound waves from singing bowls, chimes and gongs. People pay top dollar to visit spas and retreat centers offering sound baths, but you can create a similar experience in your backyard.
Sherman has noticed how sound baths are gaining popularity. “There is something soothing about the melodic tones,” she says. “You don’t need a large space for this. Feel the sun and the breeze, and hear the sounds around you. All of this allows us to take a moment and just be.”
Create your own sound bath zone by setting up wind chimes, a gong, tuning forks and singing bowls under a covered area in your backyard. Yardzen’s 2023 report notes a 13% increase in requests for wind chimes by homeowners.
Originally Published: July 11, 2023
