StarrCast

As the world continues to be obsessed with all things "wellness," it makes sense that the money will follow. Over the last several years, investment company CI Capital has purchased a string of high-profile wellness businesses and united them as Arch Amenity Group. We speak with Senior Vice Presidents Chris Griebe and Susan Grey on why CI Capital is so bullish on the wellness industry.

Often the future is best seen by those who benefit from the lens of past experience. Wellness Pioneer Anna Bjurstam shares her journey from celebrity fitness trainer to spa & wellness guru, creating global spa brands and most recently driving the renaissance of Six Senses Resorts. Anna enlightens us on radiesthesia, biohacking, biogeometry and energy healing, as well as what it means to be a pioneer, along the way.

Everyone is interested in mindfulness practices, but we don't always know where to start. What is meditation, exactly? And how do I know if I'm doing it "right?" Dr. Nina Smiley, Director of Mindfulness Programming at Mohonk Mountain House, walks us through the process, and supplies some excellent tips and tricks to get started.

When world-renowned wellness resort Chiva-Som decided to open a second location, they settled on a beautiful spot on the tip of Qatar, surrounded by the breezes of Arabian Gulf. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is a pioneer in Middle East wellness destinations and features full immersion of wellness services dedicated to promoting physical, mental, and emotional health, fully embracing the philosophy of Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM). Director of Health & Wellness Sandie Johannessen shares the opening journey with us.

As spas, wellness, medical and fitness modalities continue to converge, business leaders need new strategies to stay ahead. Open a window into the future as Emlyn Brown, Global Head of Well-Being for Accor, Sara Codner, Senior Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental, and Kent Richards, Corporate Operations Director for Six Senses, share their insights and and plans for this competitive landscape for the coming year. This was recorded live during a webinar for We Work Well industry events in January 2023.

Spas play an important role in relaxation and stress relief for their guests, but sometimes we forget to focus on the mental wellness needs of our staffs and ourselves. Our guest, Professor Gerry Bodeker, is a public health researcher and academic specializing in lifespan wellness and integrative healthcare, who has worked over the decades with several UN organizations as well as global associations. Dr. Bodeker shares some insightful strategies to optimize selfcare for spa & wellness professionals.

Music is certainly a universal language, and we've all experienced how certain music can elicit a strong personal and emotional response. Researchers have continued to study the science behind the emotion, and Freddie Moross, the MD of Myndstream, explains how and why the company is using the research to enhance the artistic process, creating music designed to support wellness businesses and their clients.

Imagine spending 10-20 minutes per day to improve your brain function, lower stress, and improve creativity! Dr. Patrick Porter and team have created an effective and easy-to-use system, utilizing both software and optional hardware, that does just that. Listen in to the science behind BrainTap, and learn about the many ways this tool can be effective in spa and wellness settings, as well as for home use.

Massage is the most sought-after service in any spa, but that wasn't always the case! Join us as industry veteran C.G. Funk, former massage therapist and instructor, and current Senior Vice President of Culture and Industry Relations for Massage Heights, shares the evolution of massage within spa and wellness businesses, and sheds some light on the current therapist hiring challenges.

Many people dream of starting their own business, but this busy NYC marketing executive made her dreams become reality. Lisa Bare created and ran a very successful day spa in the Hudson Valley for almost twenty years, through financial downturns and pandemics, and the usual daily dramas, and still came out smiling! Listen in as Bare shares the lessons learned along the way.