When given the choice, I’d opt for a morning of yoga or journaling over a night of drinking any day. So when I heard about the new trend of wellness communities, I was intrigued (and, if I’m being honest, a little creeped out). Entire communities dedicated to holistic health and well-being? It seems a little too good to be true.
To my surprise, these communities are the real deal, and the “wellness” real estate trend is booming. Cue the 134 billion dollar mic drop.
Take Serenbe, for example. One of the more famous wellness communities, it is literally planned to perfection. The 300-home neighborhood includes a yoga studio, 15 miles of hiking trails, a progressive playhouse, and 3 restaurants. You won’t find a single eyesore—the trashcans and utility wires are cleverly hidden a level below the street. The roads are lined with blueberry bushes, and children, dubbed “free-range kids,” run independently around town.
Serenbe founder, Steve Nygren, tells FastCompany of his inspiration for the community. “If you look at all the research coming now about depression . . . there are two things that really improve your attitude–connection to one another and a connection to nature. [Society] has been building places that remove us from both for the last several decades.”
While there are many other communities like Serenbe—who share the same values on health and environment—each offers its own unique characteristics. Some, such as Shearwater, focus on outdoor lifestyles, others push an agricultural-based experience. One community may look like a hotel resort, and another a cluster of log cabins.
Jeffrey Abramson, a wellness community real estate developer, firmly believes this trend will continue to grow across demographics. “Millennials value their health like it’s a birthright. And the real estate was the last to catch up,” he tells FastCompany. “It will be a niche until it’s everywhere.”
For the full story, go to FastCompany.