StarrCast

Africa is a continent rich with indigenous wellness rituals and unique botanicals, but growing the wellness industry within Africa is a challenge on many levels. Mariane Akwenye of NomadSpa and Michelle Saudan of Amanzi Wellbeing, Chair and Vice-Chair of the African Wellness Initiative from GWI, are passionate about the continent's history and culture and determined to spread the word globally.

Chiropractor and Concierge Wellness Doctor Jonathan Leary recognized the need among patients for an opportunity to participate in holistic healing activities that did not feel isolated, and the idea for Remedy Place was born. On the cusp of opening their 4th location, Dr. Leary discusses the journey so far and his vision for the future of this new and exciting business model.

Entrepreneur Jennifer Pahl took a yoga class and said, I can do this too! Using a practical approach, Jennifer shares her journey from idea to studio owner, yoga instructor, and yoga studio business coach, creating a vibrant Twist-Yoga community along the way.

What's ahead this year in wellness? The eagerly awaited annual Global Wellness Summit Trend report, released live in NYC, sheds light on how to position and market our wellness businesses for the future. We spoke with journalists and attendees Heather Mikesell, Jennifer Walsh, Sandra Sadowski, Francisco Lugo and Sallie Fraenkel for their expert opinions and first impressions. Learn more details here on the GWS site.

The world watched in horror as the recent L.A. wildfires engulfed neighborhoods, businesses and lives. Local wellness professionals Kim Marshall, Catherine Dambrosia and Sparrow Harrington share their first-hand stories of destruction and sorrow, with hope for the future. For ideas on how to help, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california, https://www.gofundme.com/f/berosygofundme, https://www.lafoodbank.org/donate/disaster-relief, www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html

Charging ahead with continued 7% growth, the global wellness economy continues to roll along. Global Wellness Institute Senior Research Fellows Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston share some of the stories behind the numbers, and what is fueling this continued growth and consumer interest in wellness.

Yoga has never been more popular, and yet many studios still struggle to survive. International yoga business consultant and Yogapreneur Josh Biro shares some of the tactics and strategies required for long-term success in a class-based business model.

Wellness is difficult to define, and yet global brands build their reputations on standards and consistency. The visionary Michael Newcombe, VP of Wellness for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts globally, shares some of the unique elements that define Four Seasons spa and wellness experiences across 100+ properties in 44 countries.

Music is an important component of everyday life for many of us, pacing our actions and accompanying our activities, and has always been a crucial component of a well-rounded spa experience. We are fortunate to hear from Freddie Moross, Founder of Myndstream, which has made playing a wide assortment of purpose-built and royalty-free music easy for spa and wellness businesses globally.

Live from the Global Wellness Summit, the premier global gathering of wellness professionals, industry leaders Cathy Chon, Dr. Marc Cohen, Don Genders, Erin Lee and Charles Davidson share their insights on the wellness industry for 2025.