WELLNESS MATTERS: The latest global trends and modalities

Edited by Mark Smith

Accor’s Health to Wealth podcasts explore the meaning of wellbeing

Emlyn Brown, global vice-president, well-being at Accor, and Anni Hood, founder of Well Intelligence discuss the global hotel group’s latest initiative

As a world-leading hotel group, Accor has long been at the forefront of wellness hospitality provision and to reinforce this position its new Health to Wealth concept dives deep into the defining issues for wellbeing today.

The thought-provoking podcast series was created by the Accor well-being team and curated by Anni Hood, founder of Well Intelligence, a UK-based international business advisory group that champions the cultural importance that wellbeing investment offers.

Designed to change the conversation around wellness, it offers informative interviews with some of the world’s most inspiring individuals who are creating their own paths in wellness, grass-roots activism, nutritional health and technology.

Talking to those in the know

As lead interviewer on the podcast series, Hood engages in in-depth conversations with a wide range of guests including ‘Ice Man’ and author Wim Hof, who discusses the power of breath, and Saasha Celestial-One, founder of Olio, the global food sharing app that is transforming food waste.

Anni Hood, Founder, Well Intelligence

Other topics in the series include changing values and global macro forces; fitness, resilience and countering stress; how our body sense is governed by neuroscience; the importance of personal data; and the AI revolution in healthcare.

“Intentionally, the curation and content will accelerate the recognition of wellbeing relevance as a priority in everything that matters most, and steward the associated culture shift,” says Hood. “This means how we live, how we do business, how we work, how we address inequity and equality, and how we prevent the climate crisis from escalating further.”

Next-level wellbeing

Emlyn Brown, global vice-president, well-being at Accor says the Health to Wealth initiative elevates the group’s established role in providing wellness options for its guests. “As a global leader of hospitality, Accor has led the industry in moving wellness matters beyond the traditional walls of spas and fitness centres into everything we do, from hotel operations to food and beverage, room design and so much more.

Emlyn Brown Global vice-president, well-being at Accor

“We are excited to debut Health to Wealth and take our mission of care to the next level, convening a diverse group of innovative minds to act as a positive force for change that we hope will inspire mental and physical wholeness and a greater sense of wellbeing in what is a very complex and ever-changing world.”

The Health to Wealth series is soon to be followed by an entrepreneurial start-up challenge in Paris in collaboration with VivaTech, and an insightful white paper later this year exploring recent research in the areas of psychological and physiological health, societal structure and responsibility as well as global shifts, responses and predictions.

Hood believes that the importance of these topics will continue to grow as there is a burgeoning demand for more robust mental, emotional and spiritual health support. “Long Covid – being termed ‘the pandemic after the pandemic’ – is another area that is expected to escalate,” she says. “Stress and burnout as work patterns restabilise and populations adjust to the rising cost of living and male health and wellbeing will need more nurturing, attention and compassion,” she concludes.

www.healthtowealthbyaccor.com | www.wellintelligence.com

Junius cold-press juices are a refreshing addition to spa destinations

An award-winning maker of cold-pressed juices, shots and nutritional supplements, Junius has launched its SPA360 Package with a targeted offering specifically for spas, hotels, retreats, yoga studios and luxury wellbeing centres.

Gluten and dairy-free, phyto-nutrient rich and hand-crafted in small batches, the products are ideal as an add-on to treatments or for post-workout refreshment and the brand recommends pairing spa treatments with individual juices to bring an element of enhanced value. Junius also offers additional support with health and wellness advice and a free downloadable e-book for guests. It can also partner with spas on IGTV interviews.

The brand’s co-founder Maria King, a certified functional medicine expert, says:“I am on a mission to redefine how people choose their health goals by sharing my knowledge of nutritional science and biochemistry. Collaborating with spas to match in-house treatments with our range of juices and supplements will deliver health benefits both inside and out.”

Flavours include Zap, an immune defence booster; Zip, an energy boost; Pow for gut and bone strength; Zen to minimise stress; the cell cleansing Spa; anti-ageing blend Fab; and the metabolism-boosting Rev.

www.wearejunius.com

Proverb’s Gym + Stretch Box Concept aims to boost treatment revenue

Bridging the gap between the fitness studio and the spa, Proverb’s Gym + Stretch Box Concept aims to encourage more gym goers into the treatment room.

Engineered to improve longevity, movement, injury prevention, recovery and performance, sessions can be delivered either in the gym by personal trainers or in the treatment room by a therapist. Stretching and mobility routines are designed primarily for the gym while massage, body scrubs and facials can also be made available in the treatment room.

“The Proverb Gym + Stretch Box Concept combines our experience in professional sport, treatment training and product design,” says Proverb founder Luke Sherriff.

The concept creates a continuity of treatment and care from one space to the next, helping to connect the client journey between the gym and spa while also generating revenue. The Gym + Stretch Box Concept aims to provide support for individuals’ training goals, offering a USP for spas and the possibility of increasing treatment spend.

The brand’s offering has already launched in spas and gyms including FIVE and Caesars Palace in Dubai, UAE, and Wentworth Club in Surrey, UK.

www.proverbskin.com

MindLabs launches live and on-demand mental wellness platform

The video-first mental wellness platform MindLabs has launched an app to help users overcome stress, anxiety and low moods as well as improve sleep patterns. Engaging on-demand content can be viewed at will, with an option to set reminders to join live stream sessions.

The brand’s in-house team of experts, who lead classes based on practical, accessible and understandable techniques, include global breathwork expert Richie Bostock, clinical psychologist Dr. Erica McInnis and head of mindfulness, neuroscientist Anne-Sophie Fluri.

The aim is to help users rewire their brains to sleep better, stress less, be more energised and feel happier.

“We want to empower everyone with the tools to take better care of their minds,” explains Adnan Ebrahim, co-founder and CEO of MindLabs. “Fundamentally, we want to create a world where looking after your mind is as normal as going to the gym.”

MindLabs’ wealth of on-demand content and continuing production of live classes covers all aspects of mental wellness including: easing into sleep, de-stressing with ratio breathing, releasing muscle tension, instant energy boost with power breathing and learning to let go.

www.wearemindlabs.com

The Organic Pharmacy develops supplements with celebrity fitness coach

The Organic Pharmacy has partnered with international strength and conditioning coach Ruben Tabares to develop two nutritional supplements.

Designed to prolong pre and post-workout results, the products draw on Tabares’s deep understanding of the body and how the right supplements can help to boost individuals’ strength.

‘Performance’ is designed to boost aerobic endurance, aid muscle growth and prompt the body to produce more energy. Pea protein and chlorella provide muscles with essential amino acids and building blocks to support muscle strength and growth; beetroot helps to improve blood flow to the muscles, while decreasing heart strain during strenuous exercise. Intended for use immediately prior to training, the inclusion of ginseng and holy basil help to naturally increase energy and reduce fatigue.

‘Longevity’ works to reduce muscle and body fatigue, regulate inflammation and help fight tiredness. The formula includes antioxidant-rich ingredients including dragon fruit, acai and maqui berries, as well as acerola and guarana seeds that help relax muscles. Ginger and turmeric assist the reduction of inflammation in the body.

www.theorganicpharmacy.com