Breathe Initiative 2026 Trends Initiative Chair: Sandy Abrams, Founder, TheCEOm.com, United States Initiative Vice-Chair: Peter M. Litchfield, PhD, President, Professional School of Behavioral Health Sciences, United States The 2026 micro trends identified by the Global Wellness Institute’s Breathe Initiative reflect this evolution. Together, these trends point to a fundamental shift in how breath is understood and applied. TREND 1: Breathing Science, An Emerging New Field When…
Aging Well Initiative 2026 Trends Initiative Chair: William Wesley Myers, Mather, Assistant Vice President, Wellness Strategy, United States Initiative Vice-Chair: Meredith Boyle, Mather, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, United States TREND 1: Functional Longevity Replaces Anti-Aging as the New Wellness Status The concept of “anti-aging” is rapidly losing relevance among adults over 50, replaced by a functional longevity mindset that prioritizes strength, mobility, cognitive clarity and…
Africa Wellness Initiative 2026 Trends Initiative Chair: Mariane Akwenye, Managing Director, Nomad Group, Namibia Initiative Vice-Chair: Michelle Saudan, Founder & Facilitator of Amanzi Wellbeing, Dubai-Zimbabwe TREND 1: Afro-Longevity The term “afrolongevity” represents a newly created word that sums up an African perspective for examining aging. The biophilosophical model brings together metaphysical insights from traditional thought with modern ethical analysis. Afrolongevity emphasizes the qualitative depth of aging:…
Psychedelics & Healing Initiative 2026 Trends Initiative Chair: Mary-Elizabeth Gifford, EVP, Psyence, United States Initiative Vice-Chair: Julia Mirer, MD, Director of Strategy, NeuroPain Health, United States Initiative Vice-Chair: Rick Doblin, Pdh, Founder & Executive Director, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), United States If it seems the world is falling in love with psychedelics, it may be easy to understand why. Ground-breaking studies on these innovative…
World Happiness Report 2026 shows a complex global picture of social media and happiness The annual report is out, and it’s again a story of Nordic domination, with Finland (#1 for the 9th year in a row), Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica and Sweden ranking as the five happiest countries. Costa Rica at #4 climbed to its highest ever position (it was 23rd in 2023) and there were also positive gains for countries such…
Nutrition For Healthspan Initiative 2026 Trends Initiative Chair: Michael Don Ham, Founder, Wild Orchard Tea Company, United States Initiative Vice-Chair: Alina Tyszkiewicz, International Business Development, Chief Wellbeing Officer, Poland TREND 1: The Ultra-Processed Food Backlash and Radical Transparency – Redefining What “Real Food” Means In 2026, a growing backlash against ultra-processed foods is reshaping the global wellness conversation. Consumers are increasingly questioning not only what…
