Padel, hot flashes & billion dollar rings — this week’s wellness tea is served

Hi Besties,

We officially kicked off our very first Wellness Stroll this week - and despite the humidity, over 25 amazing women showed up to stretch, stroll, and chat with us. It was such a joy to meet so many of you IRL, move our bodies together, and share some much needed connection.

We’re already counting down to the next one… and if you missed this round, don’t worry — more strolls (and more sweaty smiles) are on the way. 🌸

Until then, we’ve got plenty to keep you inspired in this week’s drop — from padel breaking big in the U.S, menopause finally getting its mainstream moment, Oura’s billion-dollar move, and some seriously cool science (think smart gels for arthritis + 3D scales that actually know if you’re losing muscle). Oh, and a reminder that fitness in childhood is about way more than just PE class.

Let’s dive in 👇

The Saanté Head Spa at Havie & Moon

Looking to level up your next blow dry? We’ve found the ultimate add-on, and it’s so much more than a treatment - it’s a full ritual for your hair, scalp and mind.

The Saanté Head Spa at Havie & Moon is a two-hour Ayurvedic champi ritual designed to restore balance, release tension and bring your hair back to life. It begins with a relaxing scalp and shoulder massage, using Ayurvedic oils infused with clary sage, coconut, sesame and lavender. These help to nourish the roots, boost circulation, and support healthy hair growth while easing stress.

Your head is then gently steamed, opening up the scalp and allowing the oils to work their magic, before finishing with a nourishing wash and a perfectly polished blow dry. The result? A clean, refreshed scalp, glossy hair, and a calm, balanced mind.

Havie & Moon is already one of our favourite salons in Dubai (you might remember it from our Little Black Book of Wellness feature with founder Christie), and this new head spa ritual has secured its spot at the very top of our list.

For Wellness Drop subscribers, there’s an exclusive 10% off when you mention code TWD10 at booking. Enjoy!

As September folds into October, the city is buzzing with energy. From yoga by the sea to mindful hikes in the desert, breast cancer awareness walks to matcha-fuelled Pilates mornings - this week is about moving together, pausing with purpose, and reconnecting to what matters most.

🌊 Yoga & Breakfast by the Sea
Tuesday 30 September, 9:00 AM
African Queen
Recharge with a 1-hour indoor yoga session facing the ocean, followed by a nourishing breakfast at African Queen. A soul-soothing way to start the day.
Book here

💪 Special Sanctum
Friday 3 October, 8:00 – 8:55 AM
The Garden at StreetXO
Surrounded by greenery and city buzz, Sanctum brings its signature sequence to StreetXO. Expect an unmatched workout that empowers body and mind.
Book here

🌊 Floating Immersive Breathwork
Friday 3 October, 8:30 – 10:00 PM
SAL, Burj Al Arab
A sensorial reset with Breasy — floating in the infinity pool as breathwork slows your body, calms your mind, and melts away the week.
Book here

🏜 Mindful Desert Hike
Saturday 4 October, 5:45 – 10:45 PM
Bab Al Shams Hotel
A curated hike led by Sanctum through the desert, blending movement and reflection at guided stations along the way. Culminates in a breathtaking finale designed to leave you energised, aligned, and inspired.
Book here

🌸 Stronger Together Walk
Sunday 5 October, 9:00 AM
Common Grounds, Kite Beach
To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bryony Basse hosts a global walk across three cities — coming together to raise awareness and support all women affected by breast cancer. Pilates by Bryony subscribers can claim a free drink by showing the app.
💗 Donate to the Pink Ribbon Foundation here

🥤 Pilates First, Matcha After
Sunday 5 October, 7:45 – 10:00 AM
Paus Club
Start with a revitalising mat Pilates session led by Mish, followed by matcha, conversation, and connection. In partnership with Beauty Solutions and gifting by OSKIA Skincare.
To book DM @mishybabe

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

 INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

🎾 Padel Goes Stateside
It’s hard to believe if you live in Dubai (where padel courts pop up at the same rate as pilates studios), but the U.S. is only just catching on. Despite being the fastest-growing sport worldwide (30M players across 130 countries), padel’s still in its infancy stateside. But that’s about to change: Epic Padel, a Virginia based operator, just raised $10M to build tech enabled clubs and transform underused spaces - think parking lots and warehouses - into buzzing padel hubs. Backed by ex-pro athletes and big investors, they’re opening 4–6 new locations across Virginia, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and Utah.
Outtake: From Dubai to Dallas, padel isn’t just a sport - it’s becoming a lifestyle, a social scene, and maybe the next American wellness obsession.
📖 Read More

🥾 Trail Running Is Having a Glow Up
Runners are ditching the treadmill for the trails — Strava uploads have doubled in three years, and UTMB race entries are up 2.4x since 2022. And it’s not just ultrarunners anymore: two-thirds of participants stick to marathon distance or shorter, with the average trail run only 6 miles. Women and Gen Z are leading the charge, and the vibe has gone from lone wolf to group adventure — think race weekends that feel more like mini-festivals.
Our Thoughts: Community + nature + sweat = the ultimate wellness trifecta. Dubai doesn’t exactly scream “trail capital” (unless you count Hatta), but with this much momentum, we wouldn’t be surprised if desert trails become the new run club hot spot.
📖 Read More

💍 Oura’s Mega-Move
The ring wars just got serious. Oura is reportedly closing a jaw dropping $875M Series E at an $11B valuation (yes, with a B). The Finnish smart ring brand has been on fire - 5.5M rings sold to date, with 2.5M in the last year alone. It’s everywhere: 4K+ retailers across 12 countries and one of Amazon’s fastest growing brands. (Not bad for a piece of jewelry that tracks your sleep!) But Oura’s not just hardware anymore. Think AI health coach, Dexcom CGM syncs, Maven Clinic integration, and a “Personal Health OS” that CEO Tom Hale envisions as your all-in-one health cloud. About 20% of its revenue is already subscription-based, and 11% of users are in healthcare - meaning clinician adoption could be the real unlock.
What this Means: Wearables aren’t just accessories - they’re quietly building the new operating system for our health. And with $875M fresh in the bank, Oura’s not just winning the ring wars… it’s rewriting the rules.
📖 Read More

Smart Gel Could End Arthritis Pain
Arthritis affects 600M+ people worldwide, and current treatments often mean repeated doses with nasty side effects. Cambridge scientists just developed a smart gel that mimics cartilage and releases anti-inflammatory drugs only during a flare-up, when joints become slightly more acidic. Unlike typical treatments, it’s powered by the body’s own chemistry - no external triggers needed - and could one day provide continuous relief without overmedication.
Zooming Out: The future of arthritis care isn’t just pain management — it’s precision, with treatments that activate only when your body needs them.
📖 Read More

GLP-1 Weight Loss Has a Blind Spot - This Scale Catches It
GLP-1s like Ozempic are shrinking waistlines at record speed - but up to 40% of the weight lost is lean muscle, not fat. That’s a problem, because muscle isn’t just about aesthetics. (Doctors now call it the body’s most important organ of longevity — protecting metabolism, strength, and independence) Enter ShapeScale, a San Francisco startup that just came out of beta with a 3D body scanner claiming DXA-level accuracy. Unlike your average smart scale (which can be off by 20%+), ShapeScale builds a photorealistic 3D model of your body with millimeter precision, highlighting whether you’re losing fat or muscle. Think before-and-after camera, DEXA scan, tape measure, and “smart” scale rolled into one.
Zooming Out: In the GLP-1 era, it’s not about getting lighter — it’s about getting stronger. The next frontier of longevity won’t be measured in pounds, but in muscle.
📖 Read More

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

👟 Fitness in Childhood, Resilience in Teen Years
A recent landmark Finnish study following kids from age 6 to 17 found that those with higher cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in childhood were less likely to struggle with anxiety or depression as teens - and they also performed better on cognitive tests. Cardio fitness in particular was the strongest predictor, with aerobic capacity linked to calmer minds and sharper brains years later. Of course, this was a small Finnish-only sample, so we’ll need to see it replicated more widely. And it didn’t shift things like hyperactivity or conduct issues — so it’s not some magic cure all. But the key insight here was the benefits held true regardless of weight or background, showing that fitness itself IS the driver.
Our Take: PE class might just have been the most important subject all along. Building fitness early sets the stage not just for strong bodies, but also for resilient minds.
📖 Read More

TREND TO WATCH

🔥 Menopause Goes Mainstream
For women, menopause isn’t optional — it’s an inevitability. Yet for decades, it’s been one of the least talked-about life stages in healthcare and society. A 2023 study found nearly half of post-menopausal women said they didn’t feel informed at all about the transition. That silence is finally breaking. Pharma giants are rolling out new treatments, employers are adding menopause benefits, and startups like Alloy are connecting women to specialists through telehealth. Add social media (hello TikTok hot flash hacks) and a new wave of women in leadership, and menopause is stepping firmly into the spotlight. Wellness tech is getting in on it too - with wearables like Withings, Oura, and Ultrahuman syncing hormone and cycle data to decode changes before symptoms hit.
Bottom Line: Menopause isn’t niche - it’s inevitable. And seeing it go from taboo to tech-enabled mainstream? That’s a cultural glow-up we’re so here for.
📖 Read More

📩 SHARE IT, SAVE IT, SEND IT

💾 Save it — for when you want the science-y wellness flex (smart gels + 3D scales, anyone?).
📲 Share it — with the friend who’s suddenly into trail running (festival vibes > treadmill miles).
📤 Send it — to the one who swears padel will never catch on in the U.S. (spoiler: it is).