How art and beauty boost wellness
3 minute read
What if beauty wasn’t just something we admire, but something that actively supports our health? Modern science says it does. The emerging field of neuroaesthetics reveals that our wellbeing is shaped not only by what we consume, but also by what we experience. Whether it’s visual art, music, nature, or the beauty of everyday objects and spaces, these aesthetic experiences can transform how we feel, heal, and function - supporting inner calm and overall wellbeing.
What is neuroaesthetics?
Neuroaesthetics is a fascinating and rapidly evolving field of science that explores how beauty and art influence the human brain. It examines how visual elements - such as colour, symmetry, and artistic expression - affect our mood, cognition, and overall wellbeing.
Aesthetic experiences can arise through music, poetry, visual art, performance, or nature - think of a glowing sunset, a forest trail, or a sweeping mountain vista. These moments often evoke feelings of awe, joy, and inner calm.
Groundbreaking research by experts like Susan Magsamen, co-author of Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, shows that engaging with beauty activates the brain’s reward pathways. This not only elevates mood but can also reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and support the shift into the parasympathetic nervous system - our natural ‘rest and digest’ state.
As Magsamen puts it, “Beauty should be as fundamental to wellness as nutrition and exercise.” We couldn’t agree more! Beauty makes us feel good - and that feeling is good for our health.
Aesthetic experience in wellness
We felt a strong sense of alignment when we first discovered the science of neuroaesthetics. It echoed something we had long sensed intuitively - that wellness is shaped not only by what we consume, but also by the environments, objects, and sensory experiences that surround us each day.
This understanding inspired us to carefully curate a range of aesthetically beautiful wellness products - from our journals and teaware to our natural remedies - chosen to support physical wellbeing, emotional balance, and sensory nourishment.
Neuroaesthetics was particularly influential in the design of our wellness teas. We knew that, in addition to creating high-quality organic and naturopathic blends, we wanted the experience itself to be healing. We designed our tea cylinders as objects of beauty, featuring artwork by celebrated Australian artist Lisa Lapointe, so the mood-enhancing benefits could begin the moment someone set eyes on them. These features, the rich colours of the herbs, the texture of the loose leaves, and the aroma of the botanicals all work together to create a multi-sensory wellness ritual.
How you can harness aesthetic experience to boost your wellbeing
The best part about neuroaesthetics? You don’t have to be in a gallery or on a mountaintop to benefit. Simply watching the sunrise or listening to a moving piece of music can shift your emotional state and support your wellbeing. The key is to notice beauty - and intentionally bring more of it into your daily life. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:
✨ Watch a sunrise or sunset
Even a five-minute pause to look at the sky can create feelings of peace, relaxation, and connectedness.
✨ Visit a botanical garden or nature trail
Natural beauty is one of the most accessible and restorative forms of aesthetic experience.
✨ Listen to music that moves you
Whether it’s classical, acoustic, or ambient, music can tap directly into the emotional brain.
✨ Enjoy visual art
Take a moment to look at a painting or sculpture. Or add more colour and beauty to your everyday surroundings—flowers on the table, art in the kitchen, or calming imagery in your workspace.
✨ Enjoy the ritual of a cup of tea
Engage all your senses—notice the colours, inhale the aroma, savour the flavours, and appreciate the beauty.
✨ Write or read poetry
Language, rhythm, and metaphor can stir the imagination and open up a deeper sense of connection.
✨ Be mindful of everyday objects
Choose items that bring you joy—from a handmade mug to a soft throw blanket or a beautiful journal. These small interactions matter more than we realise.
These simple moments can shift your nervous system, elevate your mood, and enhance your overall wellbeing.
Learn more about the field of neuroaesthetics:
- Arts & Mind Lab
- NeuroArts Blueprint
- PMID: 24768244 (Scientific research article)
Photo by Mona Eendra on Unsplash