From Super Bowl Shade to Padel Politics - This Weeks Wellness Tea is Served ☕

Hi besties,

First things first… congratulations, you made it to the end of January. If this month felt, 346,583 days long, you’re not alone. We’re officially stepping into that slightly softer, more human stretch of the year now and we’re here for it.

✨ A little IRL joy to kick us off:
Our next Wellness Stroll date is officially set. We’ll be walking together on February 18th, meeting at Feels Cafe, Marsa Al Arab Marina. Easy pace, fresh air, good chats, nervous systems gently exhaling.

👉 RSVP here so we know to look out for you!

And now, on to this week’s edition. We’re kicking off February with a strong drop.

Close to home, there’s a lot happening if you fancy getting out of your head and into the city. From Lagree and breathwork to festivals, retreats with horses and very good food with friends, consider this your nudge to step out, move your body, or just connect.

Further afield, this week’s Wellness Wire dives into some big conversations. We’re unpacking why fitness in the region is finally becoming more inclusive (hello GymNation), why access still matters more than motivation, and why we’re big fans of what Healf is building in an increasingly noisy wellness world (shipping fees aside 🥴). There’s genuinely exciting science too, including a new tool that could spot heart disease risk much earlier, plus AI coaches whispering in your ear on runs (and whether that’s helpful or slightly unhinged.) We’re also covering a very bold swing at health inequality on the Super Bowl stage, a racket sports trend watch (padel lovers, this one’s for you), and a research spotlight on magnesium and brain health. 

Same rules as always. We sift, you skim. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and come walk it out with us if you fancy.

With love, (and a collective sigh that January is over)

📍Ikigai Studio, Downtown Dubai

A calm, beautiful space with a serious burn - Ikigai Studio is officially on our radar.

Tucked away in Downtown Dubai, Ikigai is a boutique, ladies-only wellness studio rooted in purposeful movement and holistic wellbeing. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai - your “reason for being” - the studio was created to help women build strength, alignment, and confidence in a way that feels intentional, empowering, and sustainable.

Before you even step onto the machine, the space sets the tone. Ikigai is gorgeous - light-filled, bright, and unapologetically feminine, with beautiful marble details throughout. The changing rooms feel more like a luxury hotel than a studio, complete with Dior products and even an LED face mask for anyone to pop on pre- or post-class (because why not multitask your wellness?).

Post-workout, there’s a cute café we instantly fell for - the pink coffee machine included - plus an outdoor seating area that’s perfect for soaking up Dubai’s winter sunshine. The smoothie? Delicious. Exactly what you want after a Lagree burn.

What makes Ikigai especially exciting right now? They’ve just launched Lagree. Yes - that Lagree.

This makes Ikigai one of the very few studios in Dubai offering both Reformer Pilates and Lagree Mega Pro under the same roof, which is kind of a big deal. Whether you’re craving slow, controlled reformer work or the high-intensity, full-body shake of Lagree, you can now do it all in one beautifully designed space.

And let’s talk about the class…
We took the Lagree Mega Pro class, and it killed us - in the best way possible. We haven’t sweat like that in a long time. Clear cues, an engaging instructor, and that unmistakable Lagree burn that sneaks up on you and lingers long after you leave. Tough, effective, and incredibly well-coached.

Our verdict: A stunning space, a seriously effective workout, and one of the most exciting Lagree launches in Dubai right now. We’ll be back - legs still shaking 💛

This week’s edit brings together movement, ritual and a few moments of pause - with options to sweat, soften or simply connect. From Lagree and breathwork to day retreats, festivals and a social favourite, consider this your curated guide to what’s happening across the city this week.

🔥 Lagree at Be Beach
Tuesday 3rd February, from 6:30 PM
Be Beach, Dubai Harbour
Join Lagree founder Sebastian Lagree for four exclusive Micro classes in an iconic beachside setting. Expect high-intensity, low-impact movement followed by an after-party with food and drinks included. A rare opportunity to experience Lagree led by its creator.
Book here

🌸 Womb Steam Circle & Sound Journey
Tuesday 3rd February, 7:30 – 8:45 PM
The Greens, Dubai (private home)
A gentle, intimate women-only circle centred around connection, ritual and rest. This experience brings together group womb steaming and sound healing, creating space to soften, release and reconnect in a nurturing environment.
Book here

🌿 Kayan Wellness Festival 2026
Friday 6th – Sunday 8th February
Fahid Island, Abu Dhabi
A three-day immersive wellness festival bringing together movement, mindfulness, sound, fitness and thought leadership. Expect yoga, breathwork, talks, workshops and experiential wellbeing in a beautiful natural setting.
Book here

🍴 Taste of Dubai
Friday 6th – Sunday 8th February
Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
Not strictly wellness - but getting together with friends and enjoying really good food and company absolutely is. Taste of Dubai returns with three days of tasting menus, chef pop-ups and vibrant social energy in one of the city’s best-loved outdoor venues.
Book here

🐎 Her Hope Reawakened Retreat
Saturday 7th February, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Fujairah (exact location shared on booking)
A one-day retreat in nature, held alongside horses and a supportive community of women. Expect equine connection, Pilates flow, grounding circles, sound and energy healing, plus a nourishing Mexican-inspired lunch made with fresh, local ingredients. Timed ahead of the Year of the Fire Horse, this experience is designed to help you release, reset, and step into 2026 feeling grounded, connected, and energised.
Book here

🌴 Restore Day Retreat
Saturday 7th February, 9:00 AM
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
A thoughtfully curated day retreat designed to help you slow down and reset. The experience blends gentle movement, grounding breathwork, restorative sound and moments of calm, with beach and pool access included.
Book here

🌊 Floating Breathwork with Breasy
Sunday 8th February, 8:00 – 10:30 PM
Aura Skypool, Palm Jumeirah
A guided floating breathwork experience using noise-cancelling headphones and a curated soundscape to deeply relax and reset the nervous system. In an iconic setting! The perfect way to unwind after a busy week. AED 400 per person
Book here

 INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

🔥 GymNation’s 2026 Report Signals a Regional Fitness Shift
Based on over 745,000 data points from more than 15,000 respondents across the UAE and KSA, GymNation’s 2026 Health & Fitness Report shows a region increasingly prioritising health and mental wellbeing. An overwhelming 94% want to improve their health, and 65% say their health has improved compared to last year, suggesting intention is turning into action. Crucially, growth is coming from new audiences. Over half of GymNation members surveyed were first-time gym-goers, pointing to affordability as a true unlock for participation. However, cost remains the biggest barrier, gymtimidation still disproportionately affects women, and demand for women-only spaces remains high.
Bottom Line: The takeaway is clear. People want to move, but access and psychological safety matter as much as motivation. Fitness in the region is shifting from exclusive to inclusive, and that’s where the real growth lies.
Read More

🔥 Healf Is Scaling Trust in a Noisy Wellness World
UK-based wellness retailer Healf has passed £100M in annual revenue as it expands beyond ecommerce into preventative care. Known for cutting through the noise, Healf combines a curated range of 4,000+ products with guidance from dietitians, PTs, and psychologists, helping over 550,000 shoppers make more informed health decisions. Its next phase, Healf Zone, links at-home blood testing and wearable data to personalised product recommendations, aiming to move wellness from one-off purchases to ongoing, preventative care. With memberships and an AI-powered app coming, global expansion is clearly in sight.
Our Thoughts: We love Healf. In a crowded, confusing wellness market, a trusted filter tied to real outcomes feels genuinely useful. Now if they could just ship to the UAE without eye-watering costs, that would be epic.
Read More

🔥 A New Imaging Tool Could Spot Heart Disease Risk Earlier Than Ever
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Technical University of Munich have developed a new, non-invasive imaging tool called fast-RSOM that can visualise the body’s tiniest blood vessels directly through the skin. Some of the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease begin in these microvessels, long before symptoms appear. Fast-RSOM can detect subtle dysfunction in how blood vessels widen and narrow, changes linked to known risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. Because the tool is portable and non-invasive, it could eventually be used in routine check-ups to identify risk earlier and track how lifestyle changes or treatments are working over time.
Zooming Out: With cardiovascular disease still the leading cause of death globally, this is genuinely promising news. Earlier visibility means earlier action, and that shift from reactive care to true prevention is where real progress happens.
Read More

🔥 AI Coaching Is Coming for Your Runs
As race participation surges, a new AI-powered running app called Kasi is offering something many runners crave: a coach in your ear, mid-workout. Built to respond in real time to pace, heart rate, and performance data, Kasi gives live guidance during runs, telling you when to slow down, push, or even stop and reset. With Gen Z leading a big rise in race entries, according to Strava, commitment to proper training is becoming just as important as signing up. Kasi positions itself as a more hands-on alternative to established platforms like Runna, combining AI logic with real coaching principles. Importantly, it also leaves room for human coaches to step in and offer live feedback, rather than replacing them altogether.
Punchline: This does sound pretty cool. Training plans are great, but most of us still mess them up in the moment. Having a smart voice reminding you why you’re doing the workout could be a potential game changer. Just don’t let it suck the joy out of your run.
Read More

🔥 Hims & Hers Is About to Take Health Inequality to the Super Bowl
Hims & Hers is set to use this year’s Super Bowl to deliver a message it knows will ruffle feathers: health is still treated like a luxury, and wealth buys time. The one-minute ad, narrated by Common, opens bluntly with “rich people live longer,” contrasting elite longevity treatments with everyday Americans priced out of proactive care, including a pointed nod to Jeff Bezos’ space trip. The brand cites data showing people in the top 1% live around seven years longer than those in the bottom 50%, framing the wealth gap as a health gap. In a blog post ahead of the game, Hims & Hers acknowledged the expected backlash head-on, saying, “If our message makes the industry uncomfortable, it’s because their profits rely on the many but benefit the few.”
Bottom Line: Bold, confrontational, and very intentional. Wellness loves optimisation, but access still dictates outcomes. Putting that conversation on the biggest stage in America feels timely and hard to ignore. Popcorn at the ready y’all.
Read More

🔮 TREND TO WATCH

🎾 Racket Sports Are Courting Culture (US Edition)
America’s racket sports scene is heating up. A new entrant, typti, backed by big names like Drew Brees and Nick Kyrgios, is positioning itself as a more skilful, quieter alternative to pickleball. Played on existing pickleball courts with a foam ball and tennis-style racket, it’s designed for longer rallies and easier scale. But this isn’t happening in a vacuum. While pickleball’s growth in the US is slowing, padel is accelerating fast, with a sharp rise in clubs and premium, culture-led venues. Big brands are paying attention too, with Nike backing pickleball stars and On leaning into padel’s top players, signalling a split: pickleball going mainstream, padel going premium.
Our take: This feels very US for now. With padel already massive here, it’ll be fascinating to see how (or if) these new formats land locally. One thing’s clear: the racket arms race is far from over.
Read More

🔬 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

🧠 Magnesium for Brain Health Gets a Data Boost
A new six-week, double-blind clinical trial suggests magnesium L-threonate (often sold as Magtein) may support cognitive performance, stress markers, and perceived sleep quality, even in healthy, relatively young adults. The study followed 100 adults aged 18–45 who were unhappy with their sleep. Those taking Magtein (2g daily) showed improvements in overall cognitive performance, reaction time, and a reduction in estimated “brain cognitive age” compared to placebo. Wearable data from Oura Rings didn’t show major sleep differences between groups, but the Magtein group saw greater reductions in heart rate and increases in HRV, both linked to better stress resilience. This builds on earlier research in older adults and suggests potential benefits before cognitive decline sets in, not just after.
Bottom line: promising, not miraculous. This doesn’t mean supplements replace sleep, movement, learning, or connection. But as part of a bigger brain-health picture, magnesium continues to earn its place in the conversation, especially for stress, cognition, and long-term mental resilience.
Read More

📩 SHARE IT, SAVE IT, SEND IT

💾 Save it – for a slower read when your brain wants something interesting, not intense.
📲 Share it – with your wellness group chat.
📤 Send it – to the friend who likes their wellness informed, thoughtful, and slightly spicy.