Global Wellness Day, the first day dedicated to living well, will take place this Saturday (June 10) in over 100 countries at 4,000 different locations. A variety of brands and organizations are supporting it with everything from free yoga, cooking, dance and fitness classes, to community runs and walks. Its founder, Belgin Aksoy, was named “Leading Woman in Wellness” by the Global Wellness Summit in 2016 for creating this important global movement.
Must-Reads from the Wellness World (Week of June 6, 2017)
“Saks Taps into Wellness Economy in Immersive, Experiential Concept Shop” – Luxury Daily, May 15, 2017
In a first move for a department store, NYC’s Saks Fifth Avenue has created The Wellery, a “store-within-a-store” devoted to wellness experiences: everything from hundreds of fitness classes, athleisure, skincare products/treatments, meditation, massage, reiki, a gym equipment showroom…even salt rooms. Open through October, it’s a striking indication that wellness has taken hold of luxury retail and that struggling department stores are looking to wellness for revitalization.
Wasteful Paradox: Workplace Wellness Programs and 10+ Hour Workdays
One key difference between the Anglo-Saxon world and Europe: In the former, conservative populist leaders/measures have recently won, while in the latter, they continue to be defeated. Another notable difference is shorter work hours in European nations. Malleret considers why – when shorter work hours lead to happier, more productive employees – companies bother with workplace wellness programs when they demand 10+ hour days.
Constant Digital Connection is Killing Wellbeing
The stats about our constant connection to devices are alarming. We check our phones roughly 50 times a day, while half of us check our phones in the middle of the night. It’s becoming too much for most of us to process, and burnout is mounting. Malleret ponders how difficult finding solutions will be. Will French laws mandating that employers cut the cord on communications after work be emulated elsewhere? Will wellness retreats focused on unplugging become “the new cool”? We need solutions…
Wellness Evidence: New Study: Yoga Shows Significant Impact on Depression
A new study from Brown University analyzed the impact of weekly hatha yoga (versus health education classes) on people with severe depression that take antidepressants. Findings: While the yoga group didn’t see significant benefit at 10 weeks, they certainly did at three and six months. More than half of depression sufferers doing yoga saw their symptoms improve by over 50 percent.
Video: Let’s Move “Beyond the Ghettos of Wellness”
Andreas Braun, PhD, (CEO, Destinations Wattens, Austria) gives a witty and philosophical talk on the need to move “Beyond Ghettos of Wellness” – examining how rising inequalities have created a wellness industry too associated with the 1 percent.
