Hi lovely,

A little hola from Ibiza! ☀️ Katie and I are out here hosting a Connected Collective retreat (think breathwork, beach walks, and probably one too many spicy margs) — but don’t worry, we’re still delivering the wellness goods straight to your inbox.

This week’s big headline?

WeightWatchers is heading toward bankruptcy. And while it might sound like the end of an era, it feels more like a reminder - that in wellness, the trends may change, but the pressure often doesn’t.

And while GLP-1 meds like Ozempic and Wegovy are genuinely helping many people, the cultural narrative that comes with them deserves a second look.

Because when weight loss becomes the headline again, we have to ask: are we healing, or just rebranding the same old story?

We’re keeping our eyes on the evolving research and whilst we do, let’s not forget the real flex.. Feeling good in your body, trusting your choices, and tuning out the noise.

And as always:

Stay curious. Trust your body.

And remember - you are always enough.

Scroll down for this week’s Wellness Wire, Local Lowdown, and Sunday Spotlight. From candlelit earth wisdom and immersive yoga to matcha brunches and Barbara O’Neill live - your calendar’s about to get glowy ✨ 

Big love,
Harriet + Katie xoxo

📍 Plume Studios

Some spaces just get it - and Plume Studio seriously understood the assignment.

Located in the heart of Jumeirah 2, Plume Studio is a calming, light filled space made for moving, breathing, and simply feeling good.

Think barre, mat Pilates, reformer, yoga, and even aerial yoga (yes, we’ll be trying that soon!) It's a ladies only sanctuary where elegance meets energy - and where your post-class zen moment is basically guaranteed.

And if you fancy a little post-workout treat? There's a gorgeous outdoor pool just waiting for you. Bliss.

Trust us - once you’ve been, you’ll want to come back again and again.

From Breathwork to Brunch: Dubai’s Best Wellness Events - May 4 to May 18

An Evening with Spiritual Guide & Healer Michelle MacEwan
Saturday 10 May | 6:30pm - 8:30pm
A candle lit guided inner journey with spiritual guide and healer Michelle Macewan. Expect deep meditative practices rooted in earth wisdom to uplift your spirit.

🎟 Book via Villa Sage.

Hormones & Natural Healing with Barbara O’Neill
Saturday 11 May | Doors open 4pm, talk starts 5:30pm
The legend herself, Barbara O’Neill, is coming to Dubai — joined by her two daughters for an unforgettable evening focused on hormone health and natural remedies. Expect practical tips, empowering knowledge, and a rare chance to learn from one of the world’s leading voices in natural wellness.

🎟 Book via LVL UP

Immersive Yoga at TODA

Saturday 11 May | 10am
Move, breathe, and recharge in breathtaking immersive worlds. Start your Saturday with a yoga session that’s energising, mindful, and fully immersive. Led by Seetal, a fitness and health expert with 25 years of experience, this bi-weekly class is for all levels — from relaxation seekers to those craving a full-body sweat.
🎟 Book via TODA Dubai.

Matcha Brunch at Kayto

Every Friday | 12.30pm - 3.30pm
Mindful indulgence, incoming. Matcha Fridays at Kayto are a reimagining of the ancient tea ceremony – a celebration of balance, harmony, and vibrant flavour. Enjoy an exclusive four-course set menu, with each dish thoughtfully paired with refreshing matcha drinks.
🎟 Book via Kayto Dubai.

Alo Wellness Weekend: The Reset

Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May, 9am to 7pm
Two dreamy days of movement, meditation, sound healing and serious reset energy with an overnight stay at the gorgeous new Delano Bluewaters. Hosted by HWH Studio and Alo Yoga with a top line-up of instructors to help you move, breathe and just feel good again.
🎟 Book via HWH Studio.

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

🏛️ INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS

🏋️‍♀️ The Future of Lifting Is Female
Strength training is having a serious glow up - and women are running (lifting?) the show. In the Middle East (hi, Dubai girlies), women’s only gym and training spaces are thriving. Over in the US, Crunch Fitness says women now account for more than half of lifting platform users and have removed over 40% of their cardio machines to make room for weights. Hot Take? Strength is the new cardio - and this era of empowered lifting is transforming gyms, supplements, and how we age.
📖 Read more

🫱The Rise of the “Fourth Space”
According to Eventbrite, younger generations are ditching solo scrolls for IRL wellness - think cold plunges, run clubs, and sober hangs. These “fourth spaces” blend purpose, health, and community, with fitness event attendance up 146% and 84% of Gen Z and millennials saying they’ve made close friends through them.
We’ve Said it Before & We’ll Say it Again: Belonging is the new biohack.
📖 Read more

🪖Rucking: The Weighted Walk That’s Suddenly Everywhere
If you’ve seen your neighbour power-walking in what looks like a bulletproof vest - don’t panic - it’s just rucking. This military-inspired workout (walking with a weighted backpack or vest) burns up to 45% more calories than a regular walk and builds strength without the gym. Even Equinox has launched a rucking treadmill class, proving this trend is officially luxe-wellness certified.
Our Take: Because walking is great, but have you tried suffering slightly?
📖 Read more

 🧠 Move Over, Burning Man — Eudēmonia Is the New Pilgrimage
Huberman. Hyman. Buettner. Bernstein. Brooks. Doblin. The wellness Avengers are assembling in West Palm Beach this November for the Eudēmonia Summit — a future-forward gathering of minds redefining health, purpose, and what it means to thrive. No livestreams. No replays. It won’t be televised — you have to be there.
The Vibe? Davos meets sound bath — in linen.

📖 See the lineup

🏃‍♀️HYROX & the Rise of the Hybrid Athlete
If your feed’s been flooded with sled pushes and wall balls, you’re not alone. HYROX — the global race combining running with functional fitness — is fueling the rise of hybrid training. Think strength meets stamina, minus the chalky CrossFit energy. It’s competitive, scalable, and suddenly everywhere.
The Result? Functional fitness with a side of grit — and just enough branding to make it sexy.
📖 Read the GQ take

🧪 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

🌿 Imagining Nature Can Calm Your Nervous System
A recent study from the University of Turku found that simply imagining natural environments can reduce stress. Participants who visualised nature experienced slower heart rates and increased calmness compared to those who imagined urban scenes. Even thinking about flowers or insects had measurable effects.
The Takeaway? Your mind is a mood board - fill it with forests, not freeways.
📖 Read more

🔥 Hotter Climates = Faster Aging? Say It Ain’t So
A new study out of USC found that living in extreme heat may actually accelerate biological aging — by up to 14 months. Yep, your climate might be adding wrinkles. Considering we live in a city where it’s 38°C before 9am… let’s just say we’re side-eyeing the forecast and reaching for the SPF. Even Kelly Ripa wasn’t having it - she called the study “a bunch of BS” live on air and joked she’ll balance it out with an ice bath in the desert.
Our take? Sure, heat might speed up aging - but let’s not forget these studies often ignore things like access to cooling, community (and collagen!) So nope, we’re not packing our bags for Iceland just yet.
📖 Read more

📉 WELLNESS FAIL OF THE WEEK

🫠 GLP-1 Controversy Continues: The Influencer Edition
Wellness influencer Janelle Rohner, who built a major following sharing her weight loss journey and selling $200 courses, recently revealed she was also using a GLP-1 medication - a detail she hadn’t disclosed until now. The news sparked confusion and disappointment among followers, leading her to issue an apology and offer refunds to anyone who felt misled.
Thoughts? As GLP-1s continue to shape the wellness space, transparency matters more than ever.
📖 Read more

🔮 TREND TO WATCH

🧘‍♀️ Wellness Weddings Are the New Destination Retreats
Move over, traditional wedding weekends - couples are now curating multi-day wellness experiences for their guests. Think yoga sessions, sound baths, IV drips, and even tarot readings woven into the celebration. It’s not just about saying "I do," but about fostering connection, relaxation, and holistic well-being for everyone involved.
The New Wedding Flex? Less champagne toasts, more cacao ceremonies.
📖 Read more

📩 SHARE IT, SAVE IT, SEND IT

Loved this edition of The Wellness Wire?
→ Forward it to the friend who’s still avoiding the weight rack
→ Save that rucking inspo for your next hot girl weighted walk
→ Or reply and tell us which trend you’re trying first — wellness wedding or fourth space meetup? 👀