#WELLNESS

6 Free & Affordable Wellness Date Ideas To Boost Your Bond

Keep the romance alive with these activities that are good for both your body and wallet.

By Mandy Lim Beitler        21 June 2024

To support a happy and healthy relationship, it’s important to also stay physically and mentally fit. Happily, there are ways to find well-being without spending a bomb. Here are six wellness date ideas that you and your significant other can explore while spending no more than $30 each.

1. Find zen with sound healing and gentle yoga

Young couple doing yoga

Imagine a unique date night that melts the stress away. Begin by performing slow and mindful yoga poses to improve flexibility and connection. Then immerse in the calming vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls, as they bathe you in tranquillity, easing tension and promoting deep relaxation. Together, you’ll feel refreshed, centred and ready to connect on a deeper level.

A good place for beginners to start is at our own SAFRA clubs. Perfect for unwinding after a stressful work day, SAFRA Choa Chu Kang conducts classes every Thursday evening from $27.30 per class for SAFRA members. If Saturdays work better for you, then head to SAFRA Jurong, where bi-weekly sessions start at $25 per session when you book a package of 8 sessions. Do come in comfortable exercise attire and bring your own yoga mats.

More info at safra.sg/whats-on/sound-healing-yoga


2. Soak in positive hot spring energy

Sembawang Hot Spring Park

Escape the city buzz and unwind together at Sembawang Hot Spring Park (entrance along Gambas Avenue), Singapore’s only natural hot spring. Imagine soaking in steaming mineral-rich waters, surrounded by a rustic ambience. The warmth relaxes tense muscles, so conversation can flow effortlessly as stress melts away. But soaking isn’t all – you can even boil eggs together at the designated station. Best of all, it’s free!

Or head to Shiruki Studio (#02-08 Hexacube, 160 Changi Road) for a dose of hydrotherapy. Inspired by Japanese onsens, it offers personalised hydrotherapy treatments in private bath suites. Choose between a full-body or foot bath from just $25, and let the far infrared energy and ultrasonic bubbles do the work. Customised with essential oils to suit your needs, the experience promotes relaxation, muscle recovery, and improved circulation.

For a more luxurious experience, head to Ikeda Spa, where SAFRA members enjoy a complimentary 30-minute Hinoki Onsen Bath (worth $140 per couple) with any 90-minute treatment; more info at safra.sg/promotions/ikeda-spa


3. Heal and de-stress with foot reflexology

Heal and de-stress with foot reflexology 

Tired feet after a day out? Why not turn it into a cute date night? Foot reflexology is a relaxing treatment where therapists apply pressure to specific points on your feet, believed to correspond with different organs in the body. It’s a fun way to unwind together, giggle at each other’s ticklish spots (we’ve all got them!), and maybe even relieve some built-up tension.

Plus, finding affordable reflexology in Singapore is easy – just Google to find one in your location. Footnote Reflexology at PLQ Mall, My Happy Feet in Holland Village, and Zuyue Spa in Yishun and Sembawang are just a handful of examples around the island. They offer express foot reflexology sessions for $30, which are typically 30 minutes long. Perfect for a refreshing interlude during your date.

New SAFRA members enjoy a complimentary 60-minute massage at The Spa by The Ultimate at SAFRA Punggol; more info at safra.sg/promotions/the-spa-by-the-ultimate-for-new-signup-@-safra-punggol


4. Engage with the sounds of nature

Young couple on walk in nature

Escape the city’s hum and embark on a (free) sonic adventure with your special someone. While official sound trails aren’t yet widespread in Singapore, you can makeshift your own. Listening to episodes of The Straits Times Green Trails Podcast (available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts) can prime you to pay attention to the soundscapes of specific parks you plan to visit.

Then download a nature audio app like Nature Sounds to your phones. As you explore hand-in-hand, use the app to complement the natural sounds you encounter. Listen to the melodic calls of unseen birds and insects, rustling leaves whispering secrets in the breeze, and the symphony of a gurgling stream. These moments of shared discovery will create lasting memories and deepen your connection to both the environment and each other.

Check out more date ideas for getting close to nature here.


5. Experience wellness through art

Experience wellness through art at National Gallery

Spark creativity at National Gallery Singapore with the Gallery Wellness Special 2024 from 21 June to 21 July. This year’s theme, ‘Your Canvas’, invites you and your partner on a journey of self-discovery through art – and the best part? Entry is free. ‘How to Art with Friends’ provides playful prompts to rediscover the joy of looking at art in new ways. From creating a musical playlist inspired by an artwork to taking expressive portraits of each other, the activities encourage communication and spark laughter. 

Feeling poetic? Try collaborating on a blackout poem using excerpts from artist Georgette Chen’s letters in ‘Words that Count’. For a deeper dive, consider the ticketed workshop ‘Slow Art X’. For $30, this session guides you through mindful observation and somatic exercises, fostering a deeper connection with the artwork and each other.

National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957; nationalgallery.sg/gws2024


6. Get fit and fire up your inner glow

Glow Festival 2024

Ditch the dinner and drinks for a complete wellness awakening as a couple. Happening from 5 to 21 July at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza and Rain Oculus, Glow Festival 2024 offers a vibrant experience for your mind, body and spirit. Firstly, get your sweat on together at over 50 unique sessions led by Lululemon and Pure Yoga instructors. Take your pick from yoga, pilates, barre, spin, high-intensity training, runs of all distances, and more.

Beyond the workouts, explore the festival’s fringe activities. Meditate under a rotating light installation, immerse in restorative forest bathing, shop the wellness bazaar and refuel at the dedicated food trucks. Book your preferred workout from $29 each for all-inclusive access and look forward to a date packed with movement, connection, and festival fun.

Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956; glowfestival.sg


Want more articles like this, and other lifestyle content right in your inbox? Download the new SAFRA mobile app and opt in for the eNSman Newsletter – you don’t need to be a SAFRA member to subscribe – and never miss another story!