HEALTH + WELLNESS
1 LONGEVITY & BIOHACKING
‘ Biohacking’ sounds like something you’ d need a lab coat for, but in 2026 it’ s surprisingly down-to-earth. At its core, longevity is simply the art of looking after your future self now- supporting energy levels, improving metabolic health, and helping your body to recover better and age more comfortably. Think of it less as scientific optimisation and more as sustainable living for the modern body that’ ll give your cells a slightly easier Monday morning.
Cryotherapy- essentially standing in a frosty chamber so cold it’ d make a penguin shudder- is one of this trend’ s biggest stars thanks to its positive effects on inflammation, circulation and post-exercise recovery. Infrared therapy takes the opposite approach, flooding the body with deep, soothing heat that supports joint health, skin regeneration and stress reduction. Add in modern recovery tools such as red-light therapy, lymphatic stimulation and metabolic assessments, and longevity suddenly feels refreshingly practical.
Kent has fully embraced this new wave of health-forward self-care. Kent Cryo in Dartford offers whole-body cryotherapy sessions that feel oddly exhilarating, while Revive Infrared Studio in Maidstone specialises in infrared and red-light treatments designed to boost energy and support skin health. For a more holistic approach, The Recovery Lab in Canterbury combines infrared, compression therapy and wellness assessments aimed at helping you feel younger, inside and out.
2 WATER WELLNESS
There’ s something unmistakably ancient about the pull of cold water- perhaps it’ s the shock, or maybe it’ s the strange quiet that drops over your thoughts the second you’ re up to your shoulders in the sea. We’ re using water wellness here as the catch-all term for this growing movement that embraces everything from cold plunges and wild swimming to hot-cold rituals and communal saunas that make you feel both rugged and oddly elegant at the same time.
What makes it a health trend rather than a dare is the science behind it. Controlled cold exposure can help lower inflammation, sharpen mood, steady the nervous system and even improve sleep quality. It’ s also one of the most democratic forms of wellness, with no equipment, no bookings and no monthly membership needed. Just you, your breath and a towel you’ ll wish you’ d warmed beforehand.
Kent’ s 350 sweeping miles of coastline means there’ s numerous ways to test your nerve. The Bluetits Chill Swimmers gather year-round across Whitstable, Deal and Herne Bay, bringing a sense of joyful camaraderie to sea swimming even on the chilliest mornings. Sauna by the Sea in Folkestone lets you dart between sea and sauna like a smug Scandinavian. And, for something more nomadic, Sauna & Wild operates across southeast Kent with a beautiful mobile sauna that can pop up on beaches, farms or isolated coves, offering a unique, intimate- and highly Instagrammable- take on hot-cold therapy.
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