HOW HAS THE VISION FOR WORLD WELLNESS WEEKEND EVOLVED SINCE ITS INCEPTION?
The vision of World Wellness Weekend has always been to support the third objective of the United Nations: ‘Good Health and Wellbeing for All.’ Since 2017, spas, beauty salons, hotels and resorts were focusing on offering wellness activities for their guests or to attract local residents. Last year, we saw a significant shift in participation when we introduced badges and certificates of Wellness Champions and Wellness Heroes.
Venues and groups now shine as Wellness Champions when they organise three free and inclusive activities for the public, and they rise as Wellness Hero when they organise one free activity for their team and when they reach out to underserved communities. For instance, Taj Hotels is working with hospitals and Dr Rekha Chaudhari with ZEP Foundation.
HOW DO WELLNESS NEEDS AND INTERPRETATIONS DIFFER ACROSS CULTURES?
India has a formidable opportunity to showcase the well-documented benefits of Ayurveda and Yoga to attract locals and international visitors alike to improve the first four pillars of wellness presented by World Wellness Weekend: sleep, nutrition, vitality and serenity.
There is also a deep connection between sense of purpose and solidarity, the fifth pillar of wellness with the Indian principle of dharma.
World Wellness Weekend is a catalyst in 190 countries encouraging professionals (whether freelancers or in businesses and groups) and wellness enthusiasts to be part of the solution to build stronger, healthier, happier and more resilient communities.
Everyone can be part of the standing ovation to show how essential wellness is and how much better it is when wellness is shared.
HOW CAN WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BEST LEVERAGE THIS TO GROW THEIR PRACTICE?
We encourage wellness professionals and small business owners to unite forces and organise activities on Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 to attract the public across all ages with inclusive activities, and to catch the attention of the media. In an age of drama in the news, World Wellness Weekend emerges as positive news to alleviate morosity and boost solidarity.
This is why a growing number of mayors support World Wellness Weekend and organise their Wellness Festival on the third week-end of September.
We have created an event guide with practical info to maximise exposure, attract locals and visitors and encourage them to return with irresistible offers.
YOU OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT ‘WELLNESS FOR ALL, NOT JUST FOR CLIENTS.’ WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY, AND WHY IS IT CRUCIAL IN TODAY’S WORLD?
As an award-winning spa and wellness consultant since 2001, I strongly encourage owners and managers not just to organise free activities for clients who can pay for wellness, but also to make it accessible to colleagues and underserved communities.
We are seeing a growing divide between the haves and the have-nots, between those who can afford to invest in wellness programmes for their longevity, and those who will encounter more health issues and have a shorter life-span based on the zip code where they are born.
As Katherine Johnston, fellow researcher of the Global Wellness Institute with Ophelia Young said in 2024 at Saint Andrews: “It is time for wellness leaders to become leaders in wellness for all.”
I DREAM
that
WELLNESS
can be
SHARED
with
KIDS
at
SCHOOL, COLLEGE
and
UNIVERSITIES,
as well as
FOR
seniors in
RETIREMENT HOMES
HOW DO YOU DEFINE ‘WELLNESS’ IN AN AGE WHERE THE TERM IS USED SO BROADLY?
Wellness is the series of choices, decisions and steps, no matter how small, that you take regularly, in a consistent way to improve the way you live, sleep, eat, move, pause and interact with people and nature.
World Wellness Weekend encourages everyone to become people of positive influence to inspire and empower their family, friends and colleagues. You don’t even need to be perfect. You just need to show up and be there for your wellness buddies.
WHAT EMERGING TRENDS IN GLOBAL WELLNESS EXCITE YOU THE MOST?
We still see a strong offer in wellness getaways, exotic retreats and wellness hide-aways. I feel more excited for the oasis of wellness that emerge at the heart of cities. I sincerely hope that more people will opt for staycations, to rediscover the professionals around them in fitness, sports, wellness as they visit www.wellmap.org to see participating venues on a geolocator with 10,000 participants in 2,900 cities and 190 countries.
WHAT’S YOUR LONG-TERM VISION FOR WORLD WELLNESS WEEKEND?
I dream that all major groups will add World Wellness Weekend on their calendar of activities on the third weekend of September to promote their signature activities and irresistible bounce-back offers.
I dream that groups will involve their HR / People and Culture department to also organise wellness activities for their staff and all reach out programs with their CSR strategy, so that together we touch the lives of millions of people.
I dream that wellness can be shared with kids at school, college and universities, as well as for seniors in retirement homes.
I dream that townhalls implement not just a strategy to boost wellness tourism, but a deliberate strategy enhancing ‘Wellness in the City’ with the support of professionals in fitness, sport, beauty and even hair salons so that people feel and look their best.
As John Lennon once said, “A dream you dream alone is just a dream. A dream we dream together becomes reality.”