Thailand - Creating a Culture of Wellness (by Sage Drohan)

Thailand is centered around well-being - spas, massages, herbs, colorful aromatic food, and holistic medicine overflow throughout the country. Thailand encourages physical health through various movement-based activities, such as walking through markets, deep-tissue massages, or sweating heavily on a strenuous tropical hike. Thai food promotes digestive health, and a variety of herbs support skin health. 

Dive deeper, and one will realize that maintaining a healthy body in Thailand goes hand in hand with a healthy mind. Thailand's culture is relaxed, friendly, and often at peace. A healthy mindset can blossom easily in Thailand, where people are encouraged to slow down, sniff some herbs, and stretch as often as possible. As someone overwhelmed by the fast, grinding life of Southern California, Thailand offered the reprieve I needed to heal my spirit, stomach, and mind. 

Maintaining an Active Lifestyle

Thailand promoted physical well-being, as many tourist destinations, restaurants, and social activities required walking. Thailand lacked easily accessible walkways in many settings, which could be troublesome for individuals with genuine mobility struggles. Walkways were often uneven with cement lifting or very large curbs that required attentiveness. But for the general public, I believe this was a benefit of Thailand. By encouraging people to walk more instead of driving, people can easily meet healthy activity levels throughout the day. 

I believe the United States and many other developed nations have made it too easy for people to get from one place to another with mechanical transportation options. In fact, the United States has discouraged walking in many regions, as walking can be dangerous or cumbersome due to a lack of pedestrian infrastructure. In doing so, we have lost the opportunity to move our bodies and connect with our communities. 

Thailand encourages people to move their bodies - whether that be by walking to a local food market or visiting a temple. People seem more connected to each other this way. In general, individuals seemed more fit, and I believe the heightened activity level, along with healthier diets, contributes to this. 

Social Well-being

Thailand offers many activities that strengthen the social skills and bonds between its people. First of all, Thailand cares deeply about respect - respect for each other and the way we interact with each other. The wai is the epitome of Thai respect and sets the foundation for how people in Thailand are expected to engage with one another. The wai is a traditional Thai greeting and gesture of respect, involving pressing the palms together like in prayer and bowing the head. As a tourist, I made sure to use the wai whenever I greeted someone, and the Thai people were so happy when I did - they would greet me with a big smile and bow right back! 

Thailand encourages frequent community engagement - from its bustling street markets to the massive indoor shopping malls. As humans, we require frequent social interaction and community bonding to maintain healthy social skills. We also require social interactions to maintain positive mental health. Throughout Thailand, I developed a strong sense of self and connection to humanity. In Thailand, I received the mental nourishment my mind craved - I had so many opportunities to laugh and connect with fellow classmates and Thai people, allowing me to feel love and a sense of belonging. 

Food Wellness

A major aspect of maintaining wellness in Thailand is food. Thai people believe in the power of healing from within - if you eat a diet diverse in vegetables, herbs, and seafood, chances are your overall well-being will improve. Herbs have been shown to enhance wellness for thousands of years, and Thailand continues to utilize their benefits within its food, teas, and medicinal practices. 

Furthermore, Thailand does not process its food nearly as much as the United States. Ingredients in Thailand are not pumped with excess sugar or chemical preservatives. Their food is often cooked from a raw, pure state. By maintaining more raw ingredients, Thai cuisine is able to capture both the true essence and flavor of their fresh ingredients while maintaining their nutritional benefits - like vitamins, healthy bacteria, and minerals. I instantly noticed the difference in Thai desserts and drinks, as flavors were not overpowered by excessive amounts of sugar. Instead, the flavors of fruit or nuts were allowed to pop, such as in pure fruit smoothies. 

In Thailand, tea is king, as coffee is not quite as popular as its more herbal counterpart. There is a reason Thai tea is famous around the world, as it is both delicious and boasts many health benefits. Another popular drink in Thailand is a smoothie. As a tropical country, Thailand is lucky to have access to world-class fruits. Most coconuts are imported from Thailand, so drinking a coconut smoothie in the land of coconuts was incredible!  The food is highly diverse - loaded with beneficial herbs, local produce, and fermented meats that promote gut and skin health. 

The Thai diet consists of large portions of vegetables and pure proteins - unlike the highly processed foods in America. Bread and dairy are not common in Thailand; many recipes utilize rice flour or coconut milk. I truly noticed a difference in my digestive health in Thailand, feeling less bloated and maintaining higher energy levels throughout the day than I do back home in the U.S. 

I truly believe this is a direct result of the Thai diet's benefits. Thai food is also delicious - a simple addition to my overall wellness when visiting Thailand!

My Overall Reflections 

Thailand inspired me to:

• Slow down
• Eat more vegetables, herbs, and drink more tea
• The immense benefits of stretching and massages
• Travel more
• Open your mind to other people and their cultural practices (embrace differences)
• Explore Asian culture and entertainment more often - like music and anime, even if you don’t know the language! 

Additional Questions for Thoughts

1. How will you plan to explore other cultures more often?
2. Are there local food markets from other cultures near you?
3. How does stretching and massage benefit your mental well-being?

About the Author 

Sage Drohan (She, her, hers) is a graduating senior in Plant Science at CPP’s Huntley College of Agriculture. Sage is passionate about regenerative agriculture, holistic health, and creating beautiful event spaces for all to enjoy. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, cycling, thrift shopping, painting, and exploring new places. She is currently a farm manager of the university’s Microfarm, located just a walk away from the Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch. Sage has built deeper partnerships between the Hospitality College and the neighboring Agriculture College, exemplifying her commitment to connection-building across cultures and practices. Upon graduating, Sage will serve in the United States Peace Corps, where she will “serve boldly” as a sustainable agriculture advisor to farms in rural Jamaica! 

Note: Sage Drohan submitted this essay as an assignment for the Food and Wellness in Sustainable Tourism class, which is a co-requisite for the Thailand Study Abroad Program at the Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona.