There are a bunch of new ways to take your self care routine where its never been before.

Wellness and self care have been experiencing a serious renaissance over the past couple of years. Everything from meditation to metaverse workouts have found their way into mainstream workplace culture initiatives. This revolution just keeps getting more interesting as brands and technologies recognize more of what people need to truly prioritize wellness and feel good about their mind, body and spirit.

The following seven products in particular seem to be challenging traditional ideas of wellness in ways that just might change routines for good. Who would have thought that virtual reality would be the new gym? Could we have guessed that the benefits of a Swedish sauna would come in the form of a blanket? Your self care routine is about to get a makeover.

Spend some quality alone time in the sauna without having to travel to Scandinavia. While it looks more like a sleeping bag than a spa, this makes sauna use possible for anyone with space to lie down. It stores easily under a bed and can be used on any flat heat-resistant surface. With 8 heat settings, sauna lovers can turn up the heat to sweat out as much of their stress and toxins as they’d like within the maximum 1-hour timer setting. 

For a new way to experience kickboxing at home, trash the old punching bag and try out the Liteboxer. This machine was designed to withstand even the toughest of jabs and makes repetitive punching workouts feel more like a carnival game. It is aptly named because it lights up to show where to punch next and tracks progress, coordination and hit power for a customized progressive workout experience. It’s also worth noting that there’s a free VR app version of Liteboxer that can be useful while traveling, but doesn’t have the same powerful experience of actually hitting that punch panel.

This light was designed to make it more natural to fall in and out of a dream state at night with automatic dimming and brightening. The technology is simple to use—just flip it over to turn it on, twist it to turn brightness up or down and wiggle it to create the most dim light for midnight runs to the baby or to get a glass of water. The accompanying app is where wake times are set and other lamps are connected. Connect several together and control them with one lamp for a mood lighting experience.

VR, it turns out, is not just for tech-heads. There is no doubt that VR is one of the latest health and wellness trends to, literally, watch. Meta Quest 2 has VR fitness games that take exercise and wellness, literally, to places you’ve never been. For example, FitXR is not messing around; It claimed the title of “Most Intense Workout” in our round-up of the best VR workout apps and games and is guaranteed to make you sweat. Also, the winner of our “Best VR Workout App Overall” title, Supernatural makes self care an adventure. Experience workouts in cool locations around the world, from the salt flats of Bolivia to the Great Wall of China. Whether it’s yoga, HIIT or meditation, the Meta Quest 2 is a game changer.

Gua sha has been a treatment in folk and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, maybe even millennia. It’s said that a smooth stone, usually jade, draws out toxins when pulled across the skin. The jade facial roller became an overnight phenomenon in 2020 and that wellness trend has now evolved into the gua sha facial. Wildling created a gua sha inspired facial ritual fit for an empress with a meteoric bian stone tool and botanical oils and tonics designed to smooth, sculpt, firm and brighten.

Tempo Studio is not actually a mirror but it still won the title of “Best Overall Workout Mirror” in our review of fitness mirrors. Confused? Don’t be. It’s a 42-inch touch screen set vertically on an easel stand to act like a smart mirror—with a built-in cabinet below to store weights. Tempo has unique 3D sensing technology to give game-changing real-time feedback on form. This is the home gym that will keep you honest so that you can get the most out of every workout. The technology also counts your actual reps so there isn't any cheating. Users need to stand at least six feet away from the mirror and the stand takes up space as well, so keep that in mind when deciding to purchase. The Tempo Move option, however, connects to any TV for rooms that need to be more flexible. Weight lifting is its main focus, but boxing, yoga and HIIT workouts are also available. The price may be hefty, but they offer a 30-day free trial to experience the value first-hand.

This may be the wellness trend that replaces your current throw blanket. Cult favorite brand Gravity Blanket has created a super soft robe with a removable three-pound weight stashed in the collar to gently promote tension release in the shoulders and neck. Whether binge-watching a show or cranking through a tough deadline, anyone who spends a lot of time sitting down could probably benefit from one of these.