"Wholeness may seem slow, but it's actually the quickest way to recharge," Lu added.

This same philosophy shapes the life of Yang Wenxi, known online as Zhu Le Tang, based in Chengdu, Sichuan province. She has found the power of slowing down through an ancient wellness ritual: bathing.

Yang is passionate about baths to the point that she installed a private one at home. "In an age of constant connectivity, bathing is one of the few things that forces us to strip away everything — clothes, phone, and social roles," she said.

She has since developed a system of slow, body-centered self-care inspired by ancient Chinese wellness traditions. For example, during spring, a season traditionally associated with renewal in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), she incorporates hair-combing into her daily routine to help support qi, or vital energy.