It’s no secret that wellness can take many forms. To some, wellness means a lavish day at the spa. For others, it can simply be opting for a fresh, bright salad at lunch. And to me, it means taking proactive care of your mental and physical health.
That’s why, after a few months of finding myself in a self-care slump, I had the pleasure of attending the Well Festival, a one-day, interactive event held at the Brooklyn Expo Center. Centered around the idea of “wellness for everyone,” the festival hosted a wide array of exhibitors and provided attendees with an experiential look at brands contributing to the booming wellness marketplace. Of course, there were clean beauty and protein companies sampling their wares, but it was interesting to see some new faces in the bunch.
One of the most unique exhibitors was Sleep Crown, an over the head pillow designed to muffle ambient sound and block out light – two factors that can often contribute to a poor night’s sleep. The Founder, Julie Westervelt, “tucked” in attendees to a full-size twin bed, and I can safely testify that I did feel much more relaxed once I wore the crown.
After almost being lulled to sleep, it was time for a pick me up, and The Class by Taryn Toomey did just the trick. As an avid follower of wellness influencers, I’d heard about “The Class” and have always wondered whether it is worth the hype. I can now tell you frankly – it was. I laughed, I broke a sweat, and I cried. This all happened in a matter of an hour, and it is safe to say that I’ll never opt for an elliptical workout again.
There were also a few “pop-up” activations at the festival including BeTime, a mobile mediation bus, that held 20-minute classes throughout the day. This Zen haven, filled with plush cushions and ambient light, provided the perfect backdrop for guided breathing exercises. Kindbody also drove in their Mobile Fertility Clinic which allowed attendees to access free fertility hormone tests along with full fertility exams.
I left the festival very sore from my three workout classes. But also filled with new ideas, new contacts and a newfound appreciation for the power of self-care. A 45-minute workout class can leave you feeling as energized as a 6-mile run, and changing your skincare routine to clean products is much easier than you think – just repeat the mantra “one product at a time.”
Especially in the travel space, we are in a prime position to adopt this self-care mentality. Whether it’s developing an in-room meditation program for business travelers or a clean beauty bar at the spa, these small touches can help to transform a transactional guest relationship to an experience that nurtures the soul and may be remembered for years to come.
– Emily Shearburn, Social Media Strategist