According to the Oxford Dictionary, the Danish word “hygge” (pronounced “hooga”) is defined as a quality of “coziness.” It requires being present in a situation and recognizing a moment that feels cozy and special. “Given the speed of life and our increasingly 24/7 wired state, along with a seemingly more chaotic global sociopolitical scene, the real need for moments of personal space where the absence of anything annoying or emotionally overwhelming is possible is extremely important; where taking pleasure from the presence of gentle, soothing things is possible,” says Raad Ghantous, principal and Interaction Design & Experiential Aesthetics (I.D.E.A.) director at Raad Ghantous & Associates. “This urgent need to ‘get away,’ is becoming an increasing reality for many. A needed ‘me’ time to switch off in an increasingly connected world to relax, recharge, reflect, detox, and even beautify.”
To learn how some spas are incorporating hygee into their offerings, visit here.