From Tamagotchi Vibes to Tone Deaf Gyms: This Week in Wellness News

Hi friends,

Can you believe we’re already halfway through September?! Time is flying - but we’ve got something exciting to ground you right back in.

This week we’ve been listening to Arthur Brooks, the social scientist on happiness, and in this podcast he shared the top five research backed ways to feel happier. The top two?

✨ Number one: invest in your relationships - the single most powerful thing you can do for your wellbeing.
✨ Number two: join a club or a values based community - because belonging really is everything.

That’s exactly why we’re so excited to launch our Wellness Drop community events, starting with our very first Wellness Beach Stroll.

We’ve teamed up with one of our absolute fave studios - HWH (have you seen their dreamy Burj Al Arab and Delano spaces? 😍) — and their brilliant founder Adrienne Everett to bring you a morning of grounding, connection, and gentle movement. And because no morning is complete without it, our fave beachside café Feels is gifting everyone a free coffee.

We’d love to see you there. RSVP is essential so please click HERE to come stroll with us! 

CRANK, Alserkal Avenue, Town Square & Abu Dhabi

If you're after a workout that actually gets you excited to show up - CRANK is your spot.

With studios in Alserkal, Town Square and Abu Dhabi, Crank has built a cult following for a reason. From the second you walk in, the vibe is next-level: dark room, loud beats, serious energy. It’s giving nightclub... but make it wellness.

We've tried both the Ride (spin) and Shape (strength) classes — and love them equally. Ride is a cardio high with epic playlists and full-body burn moments on the bike...and a leaderboard. Shape is a weights-based class focused on strength, sculpting, and serious sweat. Expect controlled tempo, smart programming, and that satisfying muscle shake.

Next on our list? Stride - a hybrid of their two signature classes that sounds intense but fun. If you're into variety and that post-class glow, this one's for you.

Expect motivating instructors, slick lighting, and a room full of people all pushing together. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just need to shake off the week, CRANK delivers every time.

Warning: you may become low-key addicted.

The last week of September is stacked with ways to move, reset, and reconnect - from post-school run wellness mornings to sunrise strolls, yacht flows, and Porsche-powered Pilates. Here’s where to find your balance this week.

🌅 Reset at the Hills
Tuesday 23 September, 8:30 – 10:30 AM
Hillhouse Brasserie, Dubai Hills Golf Club
A perfectly timed post-school run or pre-work reset. Begin with outdoor yoga overlooking the greens with Shimis, followed by a seasonal breakfast, and a purpose-led workshop with Erin Harrington. Precision Wellness will also be on-site with quick DNA swab tests and personalised health insights.
Book here

🚶‍♀️ The Wellness Stroll
Wednesday 24 September, 7:00 – 8:30 AM
Kite Beach
The Wellness Drop’s very first community event! Join us for midweek reset with movement, connection, and coffee. Start with an energising stretch, a walk along the beach with likeminded wellness besties, and finish with a complimentary coffee at Feels.  Free event — but RSVP essential.
Book here

🎶 Techno Yoga
Friday 26 September, 6:45 PM
Esque Gallery, Italia Conti, Dubai Hills
Deep breaths, deeper bass. Flow through a dynamic 75-minute Vinyasa to a live DJ, set against the art-filled backdrop of Esque Gallery. A chance to move, ground, and glow at sunset.
To book DM @esquegallery

🚤 Wellness at Sea – The Uplift
Saturday 27 September, 8:00 – 11:00 AM
Glow Deck, Signature Yacht
Three hours of feel-good: uplifting Pilates, restorative stretches, sound healing, and plenty of time to sip matcha, snack, connect, or simply soak in the sea views. Towels, refreshments, and light bites included — just bring swimwear, sunscreen, and good energy.
Book here

🏎 Balans Studios ✖️ DRVN by Porsche
Saturday 27 September, 9:00 AM
DRVN by Porsche
Where wellness meets horsepower. A signature Balans Pilates class overlooking Dubai Marina, followed by a nourishing breakfast in DRVN Café, surrounded by iconic Porsche classics. Movement, elegance, and community in a premium setting.
To book, visit the Balans schedule.

🧘‍♀️ KAIA Sunset Yoga on a Yacht
Saturday 27 September, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Dubai Marina
A 2-hour sunset yacht cruise with a Bali-inspired yoga flow, optional matcha workshop, refreshments, and exclusive KAIA gifts.
To book DM @kaiaevents.ae

Your weekly whip-smart scroll through what’s hot (and not) in the world of wellness.

 INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

👩‍🏫 Wellness Goes Back to School
Big move in Dubai education: Aster DM Healthcare and GEMS Education have teamed up to put wellness at the centre of school life. As the official Health & Wellness Partner for 45 GEMS schools, Aster will roll out programs for over 140,000 students, 25,000 staff, and 110,000 families. Teachers are the main focus - seen as the wellness ripple effect shaping young minds. From staff support to student initiatives, the goal is to embed healthier habits early and create school communities where wellbeing is just as important as academics.
Our Thoughts: Teachers carry so much - so seeing wellness support prioritised for them first gets a big round of applause from us. They deserve it, and we love to see Dubai leading the way here.
📖 Read More

🐹 Casio Wants In on Wellness - With a Fluffy AI Pet
Known for its G-Shock watches, Casio is now branching into… cuddles? Enter Moflin — an AI-powered robot pet named after the Japanese word “mofu mofu” (aka that soft, fluffy texture you just want to squish). Already selling out in Japan, it’s now heading to the US and UK. With chatbots becoming therapists, life coaches, and (yep) romantic partners, Casio’s betting that people might prefer their AI with fur. Think Tamagotchi 2.0 — only this time it purrs back when you pet it.
Wellness Bestie Take: Finally, a pet you can’t accidentally kill. (Tamagotchi redemption arc, unlocked.) Truly, our Inner child is screaming. It’s odd, sure, but if it makes connection more tangible for people? That’s a good start in our books.
📖 Read More

🏢 JPMorgan’s $3B HQ Comes With a Pricey “Perk”
JP Morgan’s shiny new $3 billion HQ promises to ease the sting of mandatory office return (5 days a week) with all the bells and whistles: 19 cafés, Rockefeller art, even an Irish pub. Oh, and a “cutting-edge” fitness center… except, surprise! It’s not free. Employees were told they’ll have to pay a membership fee. Reddit’s already roasting: “It’s truly a perk to be gifted the opportunity to spend money,” one staffer wrote. Another quipped they’d rather just head to Equinox.
Outtake: Whilst the details of the membership fees are yet TBA, we kinda agree with the outrage. If you’re spending billions on a building, charging staff to use the gym feels a touch.. tone deaf?
📖 Read More

💍 Ultrahuman x Clue = A Fuller Health Picture
Ultrahuman’s Ring AIR just teamed up with Clue, the women led cycle tracking app, to merge biomarker data with six months of cycle history. Think skin temp, HRV, and resting heart rate mapped against menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases — so fluctuations look less like “weird anomalies” and more like part of your body’s natural rhythm.
The kicker? No more double logging. Clue anchors the cycle data, Ultrahuman brings the continuous biometrics, and together they paint a bigger, clearer picture of women’s health. Bonus: each ring now comes with a free year of Clue Plus.
Outtake: Wearables are all racing to cover every aspect of health — and if that means fewer apps eating up our screen time, we’re here for it.
📖 Read More

🤖 Technogym Brings the Future of Fitness to Dubai
Technogym just hosted its Innovation Outlook Middle East Edition at the Museum of the Future, showing off how it’s weaving AI, design, and digital ecosystems into the next wave of wellness. Think personalized assessments that auto-build your training plan (Technogym Checkup), AI-powered strength equipment that adapts to your body (Biostrength), and even a sleek new take on Pilates with the Technogym Reform. With AI fine-tuning your reps and interiors inspired by natural design (hello, Sandstone line), it’s wellness that feels both high-tech AND human.
Punchline: Personalised, connected, and design led - this is where fitness is heading. The future of training isn’t about harder, faster, stronger… it’s about smarter, sleeker, and tailored to you.
📖 Read More

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

🧠 Can Keto Help with Depression?
A small Ohio State pilot study found that college students with major depressive disorder saw big improvements in mood, cognition, and well-being after 10–12 weeks on a well-formulated keto diet. Symptoms dropped by over 70%, memory and processing speed improved, and most participants reported feeling lighter both physically and mentally.
But (and it’s a big but) this was a tiny, short term study with no control group, and the population was limited to college students. Bio-individuality always matters: what works for one person may not work for another, and keto isn’t a sustainable or supportive path for everyone.
Our Thoughts: What this research does highlight? The importance of the gut-brain connection and the emerging field of “metabolic psychiatry,” which looks at how diet impacts mood and mental health. Promising early findings — but not a one-size-fits-all solution.
📖 Read The Study

TREND TO WATCH

💉 The Latest Longevity Craze: Microdosing GLP-1s?
The GLP 1 conversation isn’t slowing down - and now some longevity experts are pointing to microdosing as a game changing tool, especially for women. When sourced properly and used with the right strategy (read: under proper guidance), low dose GLP-1 agonists such as Retatrutide may help smooth stress effects, optimise metabolism, and promote lasting vitality. 🎧 We loved this recent podcast on it (listen from 48 minutes for the women’s health deep dive): Ben Greenfield Life with Dr. Melissa Grill Petersen.
⚠️ Our Thought: the current peptide landscape is messy. With unclear regulations and a sketchy black market, safety, sourcing and proper guidance matter more than ever. That’s why we’re big fans of UAE Peptides (see our Little Black Book of Wellness interview with the founder Dean Henry). You can book a consult directly with Dean HERE (plus use code HARRIET10 on purchases.) If you prefer an in person vibe, we highly recommend Dr Jenna at ZOIME clinic.(Code TWD25 for 500AED off - minimum spend of 1500 AED applies)
📖 Read More

📩 SHARE IT, SAVE IT, SEND IT

💾 Save it — when you want to be the first to know the wellness trends everyone’s about to be talking about.
📲 Share it — with the friend who’s still logging their cycle in 3 apps (Ultrahuman x Clue says hi 👋).
📤 Send it — to your group chat as proof that Dubai really is leading the way on wellness (yes, even in schools).