Wellness Around the World: Iceland

My travels to Iceland sure did not disappoint.  I loved exploring and learning about Iceland’s culture and how the locals view wellness.  Like anywhere, I found people had different ideas about wellness depending on their age and where they lived.  Among my many conversations, chatting up a 20-something city boy, a mid-50’s woman working at a hostel, and a 30-something travel guide was the most interesting and informative parts of my research.  I found each interviewee had their own unique picture of wellness but at the same time there was an underlying commonality.

Want to know what they were? Keep reading as I will explain in detail what my research unfolded

There is definitely a difference in how people perceive wellness between city dwellers and countryside residents. It could very well be due to the population density.  About half of the population, 118,000, resides in and around Reykjavik, the capital, making it resemble any large city you’ve been to.  The other half of the population is dispersed throughout the countryside and are left to their own accord when it comes to diet, movement, and mental wellbeing.

City dwellers love to go to the gym and get their sweat on.  CrossFit, like in the US, is very popular, where yoga and mindfulness is slowly gaining traction.  You’ll see people out running along the bay, biking to work, and going to their 9-5 jobs.  When they do stop for some TLC they head to the local fancy Geothermal Lagoon, like Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, over the typical US Day Spa.  They prefer to soak in the healing qualities of the water enriched with silica, algae, and minerals which emerges from deep within the Earth.  City Lagoon Spas offer additional amenities like face masks, body scrubs, saunas, and even a dip into a cold pool (I’ll talk about that more shortly).

Like any city, food choices are abundant.  Reykjavik has everything from pizza, to Chinese, and Ramen noodle options, and sit-down restaurants to fast food drive thrus.  With all these options, those growing up in the city have similar ideas about diet as we do in the US; chicken and pasta= healthy, fast food= unhealthy. 

As for mental health, city dwellers find that heading south for the winter helps them keep a positive mood.  The cold and lack of sunlight during the winter months is tough on anyone’s mood, so those that can, leave.

Now let’s take a look at how wellness differs to those living outside Reykjavik. 

There are no gyms or CrossFit Boxes in the country, but there is a plethora of farms, horse stables, and Guesthouses (Bed and Breakfasts) to give residents a daily workout.  If working the land, cleaning stables, or taking care of guests is not enough of a workout, one can just step out their door and enjoy a walk, run, or hike thru the mountains.  Country residents may not have access to gyms, but they enjoy geothermal lagoons like those in the city, the main difference being they are usually out in nature and not a fancy Lagoon Spa.  One would have to hike to the location and undress outside to enter the warmth of these natural lagoons; however, most enjoy this more naturalist way to relax.  Being in nature and getting fresh air is the way to relax in the countryside.

Food in the countryside, like getting a workout, is mostly a do it yourself routine. Lamb from the land, fish from the sea, and fresh bread from the oven is the typical diet for those out in the country.  Most do not have the luxury of swinging by a food store, let alone a restaurant, for their meals.  In contrast to the city, people in the country eat a cleaner, fresher, and a more typical Icelandic diet.

Connection to nature is how people in the country stay grounded and present.  They scream at the ocean to get their frustrations out, they find pride in preserving the land, and personal growth comes from the constant daily grind of making it on their own.  Though residing in the country is hard work, I found that people were more at peace and laid back here than within the city limits.

Even though there are major differentiating viewpoints towards wellness depending on how you grew up and where you live I did find two common beliefs between city residents and country residents. 

The first one I touched on a bit above regarding the geothermal lagoons. From a young age, Icelanders strengthen their immune system, boost their energy, and clear their head by using what we call contrast therapy, going from hot to cold environments, in the US.  This type of therapy has been clinically proven to improve circulation, decrease swelling and inflammation, accelerate healing, increase energy and alertness, and elevate mood and Icelanders have been using it since ancient times. 

Sky Lagoon, downtown Reykjavik, offers a 7-step Ritual for their guests incorporating contrast therapy and people flock to it daily.  It is so popular that they offer a multi-pass so guests can make this ritual a part of their regular routine.

As for people out in the country, they utilize their access to the natural lagoons that form around volcanic systems, and during winter they give themselves this contrast therapy by just getting in and out the natural lagoons.  One lady I talked too even said parents would toss their young children into the snow to get them acclimated to the cold!

The second common belief I observed was Icelanders lived to be happy.  If their life was going in a direction that made them feel trapped, unhappy, or unhealthy they are encouraged to make a change instead of just push down their feelings and continuing forward.  One person I talked too had a background in accounting and philosophy, he was my Ice Caving guide.  He told me went to school and started his career, but it didn’t feel right.  He quit his lucrative job and followed his heart.  He was happier with less money and being a guide for tourists.  A lady I talked with moved to Iceland in her 20s because her gut told her it would be best for her.  She has a condition that affects her legs making them quite painful, and she swears just living in Iceland (the fresh air, clean water, and diet) has reduced the pain from this condition 10-fold.   

Learning about Iceland’s culture and view on wellness was insightful and fun.  To see how others live compared to us in the States is humbling and inspiring.  Humbling because it shows that us important Americans may be doing more harm than good living the way we do; inspiring because it opened my eyes to new ideas of wellness and that it is not as hard as one would think to make some of these changes.  I feel Americans could learn a lot by visiting Iceland and implementing some of what Icelanders believe wellness to be.