If your pillow’s cooling itself, your coffee’s functional & your toilet’s tracking your gut... you’re in 2025.

Hi Friends!

The weather’s cooling down, we’re heading back outside, and the city’s wellness scene is officially in full swing. There are so many incredible events this week to help you slow down, reset, and reconnect before the end-of-year rush — be sure to check them out in our Local Lowdown round up below.

We’re also SO excited to announce our next Wellness Drop Stroll in partnership with our wellness bestie Adrienne (aka @hippieswhohustle) founder of the incredible HWH Studios - this time in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 💗

Join us on Tuesday, 28th October at 7AM for a morning of movement, connection, and awareness. Adrienne will guide us through a beautiful standing flow to open up the body, and Dr. Nazia from Genesis will be giving a quick demo on how to properly check your boobs (because knowledge really is power).

We’re aiming for 100 walkers, so grab your friends — boys and girls welcome — throw on something pink, and come stroll, chat, and connect with us. RSVP is essential — tap the link below to sign up and let’s raise awareness for something that deserves our attention all year round, not just in October.

🔗 RSVP Here

With love (and all the excitement to see our wellness crew together again soon)

Akari Wellness - One Central

You know those places that just feel different the moment you walk in? That’s Akari.

Tucked away in One Central, this minimalist, light-filled haven feels like a deep exhale for your nervous system. Designed with a Feng Shui architect (because of course it is), every detail has intention — from the rose quartz crystal flown in from Brazil to the soft Japanese sliding doors that nod to the founder’s roots. Even the name Akari, which means light in Japanese, couldn’t be more fitting.

And here’s what really got me — in a city like Dubai, where everyone’s chasing the next shiny wellness toy, Akari does the complete opposite. No fluff, no overwhelm, no twenty-page treatment menu. Just two therapies — both science-backed, beautifully simple, and genuinely effective.

First up: Red Light Therapy, using NovaThor technology. Think NASA-approved, Harvard-studied, medical-grade red light — basically the Rolls-Royce of red light beds. It helps your body recharge, reduce inflammation, and restore balance from the inside out.

Then there’s the IHHT machine (Intermittent Hypoxic Hyperoxic Therapy). It alternates between low and high oxygen levels to train your cells to perform better — but don’t worry, you’re not slogging away on a treadmill gasping for air. You’re wearing an oxygen mask, lying back in a recliner chair, cocooned under a weighted blanket, listening to soft sound healing frequencies. It’s the kind of relaxation that drops you into that delicious, weightless limbo — not quite asleep, not quite awake. Afterwards, I felt mentally clear, grounded, and oddly light, as if my whole body had quietly recalibrated itself. And that night - honestly, the best sleep I’ve had in weeks (confirmed by my Oura ring).

In a city that often celebrates more, Akari is proof that less can be deeply powerful. It’s honest, intentional, and quietly luxurious. Every inch of the space has been crafted with care — from the Brain Bar serving adaptogenic lattes to the sunken seating area made for connection and conversation. You can literally feel the founder’s purpose humming through the walls — calm, grounded, and full of heart.

Perfectly placed for the burnt-out One Central crowd but honestly? It’s worth crossing the city for. And as a little incentive to do so - Akari are offering 20% off any treatments and packages for the next week only - Use Code WD20 when booking.

Trust us, this is one of those rare spots that reminds you wellness doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be intentional. ✨

Movement, stillness, and a little magic — this week’s wellness scene blends sunrise rituals, rooftop sessions, and sound-led resets designed to help you move with intention.

❤️‍🔥 Red Light Mat Pilates
Sunday 19 October, 7:00–8:30 PM
Skulpt Dubai
A powerful evening in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join Skulpt x Bon Charge for a red light mat Pilates session, followed by an intimate talk with Dr. Wafaa on breast cancer awareness and prevention.
To book message @skulptdubai

🌸 Immersiv x KAILO: The Lotus Flower Ritual
Sunday 19 October, 7:30 PM arrival | 8:00–9:30 PM
ZETA Seventy Seven, Address Beach Resort JBR
The world’s highest floating breathwork — where city lights meet the stars. Begin with a Lotus Flower Intention Ritual before surrendering into a floating breathwork journey guided by Ashley Edelman. End the evening with nourishing KAILO smoothies designed to ground and restore. A true ceremony above the clouds.
Book here or message @immersiv.ae

💞 Float in Pink
Monday 20 October, 7:00 PM
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
This is your sign to slow down — in pink. Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Beyond Wellness x Barry’s for a dreamy evening of movement and meditation. Come dressed in pink and receive a Rose Eye Mask from 111Skin.
Float in pink. Flow with purpose. Leave renewed.
Book here

💗 Reset at the Hills: Pinktober Edition
Tuesday 21 October, 8:30–10:00 AM
Hillhouse Brasserie, Dubai Hills
A mindful morning of movement, awareness, and community. Join for outdoor yoga overlooking Dubai Hills, a wholesome breakfast, and inspiring conversation in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
To book call +971 4 337 1000. 

🌅 Sanctum at Sunset
Tuesday 21 October, 6:00–8:00 PM
Sushisamba, Palm Jumeirah
An evening of movement, connection, and insight - set against the golden skyline of Palm Jumeirah. Flow through Sanctum’s signature sequence blending HIIT, Kundalini yoga, and breathwork, followed by a talk with nutritionist Natalia on The Gut–Brain Connection.
Leave lifted, glowing, and grounded with curated gifts from Maison Santé & The Healthy Kitchen.
Book here

🌙 Celestial Flow
Tuesday 21 October, 6pm
HWH Studio, Delano
Yoga & Harp Meditation for the New Moon. Align with the lunar energy through movement, breath, and live harp vibrations that harmonise body, mind, and spirit - guiding you into surrender and deep stillness. Ladies only. All levels welcome.
Book here

🌊 Wellness Morning by the Sea
Wednesday 22 October, 8:30–9:30 AM
Peaches & Cream
A rejuvenating start to your day with yoga, sound healing, and connection by the beach. After class, enjoy a nourishing breakfast and a mindful moment by the water. Ladies only.
Book here

🎶 Techno Yoga
Friday 24 October, 6:45 PM
Esque Gallery, Dubai Hills
Swap your usual Friday plans for something different - a yoga flow set to live DJ beats in the stunning Esque Gallery. Seventy-five minutes of rhythm, release, and reset.
To book message @esquegallery 

🌅 Breath & Breakfast 
Saturday 25 October, 8:00–11:00 AM
Sofitel The Palm
It’s time to recreate yourself. A morning of deep water breathwork, intention, and renewal under the Waxing Crescent Moon. Let the water hold you. Let your breath guide you. Let your soul remember who it came here to be. Limited spaces available — your new beginning awaits.
To book message @iammarialeonard

 INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

🏋️‍♀️ GymNation Takes the Weight Off — Literally
In a bold move for World Mental Health Day, GymNation removed every dumbbell, barbell, and plate from selected gyms across the UAE and KSA — urging members to “unload” more than just their muscles. With over 150,000 members, the brand turned heads (and cleared racks) to spotlight mental fitness, not just physical. In partnership with mental health organisation Sage, GymNation hosted drop-in “mental fitness” classes — pairing HIIT and dance sessions with open conversations and Q&As about wellbeing. The campaign comes at a crucial time, with studies showing that nearly 60% of UAE residents experience some form of mental health challenge.
Outtake: A great reminder from GymNation: Unloading the bar is easy — unloading your mind takes real strength.
📖 Read More

🛏️ Eight Sleep Takes on Hot-Headed Nights
The world’s “sleep fitness” leader just added a new toy to its tech ecosystem — the Pod Pillow Cover, an AI-powered, water-cooled sleeve that keeps your head at your perfect sleep temp all night. Instead of gels or foams that turn lukewarm by midnight, it circulates temperature-controlled water through silent channels, staying up to 25°F cooler for uninterrupted zzz’s. Clinical trials show it can help you fall asleep up to 20% faster - and yes, it fits right over your fave pillow.
Punchline: Flipping your pillow? How 2020s. This one stays cool all night long.
📖 Read More

🚽 Smart Home, Smart Throne
First came smart mirrors and circadian lighting - now even your toilet wants in. Kohler has launched Kohler Health, a new digital health division, debuting with Dekoda, a sleek device that attaches to your toilet bowl to decode hydration, gut health, and even detect traces of blood. It’s the latest move in turning your bathroom into a personal health lab. With colorectal cancer now one of the most common cancers — and rising sharply among younger adults — Dekoda’s discreet monitoring could help spot early warning signs before symptoms appear. The company calls it a step toward transforming “how people live, and how they care for themselves.”
Bottom Line: Turns out the future of gut health really is bottoms up. But seriously, jokes aside, this kind of early detection tech could be game changing for prevention.
📖 Read More

🩸 Your Spin Class Just Got a Blood Test
Gym-goers are officially hitting the lab. SoulCycle has partnered with preventative health platform Superpower, offering exclusive rides paired with discounted diagnostic memberships. The AI-powered app analyses 100+ biomarkers - factoring in lifestyle data like sleep, stress, and workouts - linking on-bike energy with off-bike insight. It’s part of a bigger movement. From Equinox x Function Health and Life Time’s in-house clinics to F45’s GLP-1 access, wellness brands are linking sweat sessions with health data.
Punchline: The gym-as-clinic era is coming — and soon, “checking your numbers” will mean more than your reps.
📖 Read More

🌿 Oman’s $520M Wellness Village Raises the Bar for Rest
Oman is doubling down on its serene reputation with the launch of a $520M Wellness Village in Al Jabal Al Akhdar — a destination designed to redefine what luxury and wellbeing look like in the region. The 600,000-square-metre project will feature a 120-room wellness resort, over 360 modern residences, and a network of walking trails and fitness paths overlooking the Green Mountain’s dramatic landscapes. Blending Omani heritage with contemporary design, the development promises space to slow down — with sustainability, cultural identity, and tranquillity at its core.
Bottom Line: While others chase crowds, Oman’s perfecting the art of calm.
📖 Read More


🔬 Meditation Apps Go Mainstream — and Scientists Are Paying Attention
A new review in American Psychologist from Carnegie Mellon University’s J. David Creswell explores how meditation apps are transforming mindfulness — and what’s still missing. The study highlights that even 10–20 minutes of app-based meditation, three times a week, can significantly reduce depression, anxiety, and insomnia. With over 300 million downloads, apps like Calm and Headspace are now the main way people access mindfulness, giving scientists unprecedented real-world data. But there’s a catch: 95% of users stop using the apps within a month. Researchers say the next challenge isn’t access — it’s keeping people engaged long enough to see lasting change.
Our Thoughts: Meditation apps have made mindfulness mainstream. Now they need to make it stick.
📖 Read More

TREND TO WATCH

🍽️ Wellness Reshapes Food Culture
According to Whole Foods Market’s annual trend report, wellness has officially gone mainstream. Consumers want food that’s familiar but functional -  comfort, convenience, and health built in. Animal fats like tallow are back, rooted in regenerative eating and now turning up everywhere from skincare to fast-casual menus. Fibre is booming as gut health goes fully mainstream and even Big Food gets involved. And with 87% of Americans still eating candy (or sweets, if you’re terribly British like us), “mindful sweets” are trading syrups for fruit and honey, while the instant-food category is getting a serious glow up with adaptogenic ramen and single-serve matcha.
Takeaway: We’re here for the supermarket wellness glow-up - as long as it stays on the grocery list, not just the luxury one.
📖 Read More

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

🥐The Sweet Spot Between Carbs & Keto
New research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that moderate carb restriction - not full-on keto - is the real key to better metabolic health. In a meta-analysis of 174 trials and over 11,000 adults, diets with carbs making up around 25–40% of total calories led to improvements in blood pressure, inflammation, and triglycerides, while boosting “good” HDL cholesterol and reducing waist size and body fat. Going to extremes, however, wasn’t as helpful: deep ketosis slightly raised LDL and total cholesterol. Researchers say the best results came from balance, not deprivation
Zooming Out: The science is strong - but not absolute. The takeaway isn’t “carbs are bad,” it’s that metabolic flexibility - being able to thrive on both glucose and fat for fuel - is the real goal. Quality, balance, and consistency still count more than macros alone, and the best diet is one your heart, hormones, and habits can all agree on.
📖 Read More

📩 SHARE IT, SAVE IT, SEND IT

💾 Save it — for the mornings you need a reason to leave your pillow (bonus points if it’s cooling itself).
📲 Share it — with your bestie as a reminder to check their boobs and their boundaries.
📤 Send it — to your group chat with “see you at 7AM on the 28th” — accountability, but make it pink.