Hi besties,
Happy Sunday! Thrilled to be back in your inbox with all your wellness news and needs, as ever. 🤍 And did you know today is officially Happy Heart Hugs Day? A reminder to squeeze the people you love a little tighter today.
In other news...
Harriet is freshly returned from three days at RAKxa in Thailand (scroll down to the Sunday Spotlight for the full review - genuinely one of the most restorative few days she's had in a long time), and has done the switcheroo with Katie at Pelligoni - who is also returning restored, just in a very different way, after a week full of family time and making memories to last forever. (A full review on Pelligoni to follow soon too - it's a fabulous spot for families who love a barefoot, laid-back summer vibe.)
It's also been a genuinely exciting week for women's wellness - and we mean that in a bigger way than usual. From a precision diagnostics platform tackling diseases women have been routinely misdiagnosed for, to hormone-informed skincare finally treating midlife skin changes as biological rather than cosmetic, this feels like real, needed progress. The kind we've been waiting for.
We've also got a genuinely PACKED Wellness Wire today - but trust us, it's worth the read. Superyachts built entirely around wellness, LVMH circling Hyrox, your phone camera potentially becoming a health tracker, and Sephora teaming up with Sanctum (one of our longtime faves) for World Wellbeing Week. A lot to get through - let's dive in.
With love (and a few extra hugs today),
📍RAKxa, Bangkok
I'm just back from three days at RAKxa, just outside Bangkok, and I think it might be the most restorative trip I've taken in a long time.
First off, getting there was seamless - a straightforward six-hour flight from Dubai, met directly off the plane and whisked privately through immigration. (Such a small thing, but nothing says “wellness retreat” more than gliding in serenely rather than arriving looking like you've personally fought the baggage carousel and lost.) From there it's about 45 minutes by private limo to the retreat, set on an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River delta, in what's known as Bangkok's green lung.
By day, it's possible to arrive by boat instead, which I'd imagine makes for an incredible entrance - definitely the plan for next time.
RAKxa means "to cherish and heal" in Thai, and that's exactly the energy. The retreat itself is small but perfectly formed - one restaurant (though that may have just been low season; we arrived right at the start of it), the medical centre, a gym, and then the spa, with its hydrotherapy areas and infrared sauna, complete with double-height windows over the river. Despite Bangkok's skyline visible in the distance, the air feels completely different. You can feel your shoulders drop somewhere around minute three.
The retreat works on a consultancy model - you meet with a wellness consultant and doctor, who either recommend a programme or help you build your own. Naturally, I went for the "do absolutely nothing strenuous" route: a 3-day personalised programme focused purely on relaxation and decompression. Marma healing (an Ayurvedic acupressure massage), stress relief massage, Chi Nei Tsang ( abdominal massage designed to stimulate internal organs, improve digestive function, and release trapped emotional blockages and tension from your gut) craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, cupping, a Thai gold leaf facial (genuinely incredible - yes, actual gold leaf on your face, very Cleopatra), reiki and traditional Thai massage.
One thing worth saying clearly: if you're looking for a deep dive into your health - advanced diagnostics, world-class doctors, top specialists - you genuinely don't need to stray far from home; we are so lucky in the UAE to have access to that calibre of care right here. What's harder to find here is true grounding - somewhere you are fully held, cared for, and where the decisions are made for you, so you can properly switch off. That's what RAKxa does so well.
The food deserves a mention too - beautifully plated, organic, locally sourced meals at around 400-600 calories. My personal highlight: they serve coffee. So it's not the deprive-yourself-of-everything-joyful experience you might be quietly dreading from a wellness retreat. Home-baked sourdough is on offer too - small mercies, gratefully received.
The Verdict: Restorative, deeply considered, and genuinely unlike anything in this region. If grounding is what you're craving - not optimisation, not more data, just full permission to be looked after - RAKxa delivers it completely. Already planning my return. 🤍
A week filled with opportunities to slow down, reconnect and nourish yourself from the inside out. From breathwork circles and sound healing under the full moon to deeper self-discovery workshops and restorative evening experiences, this edit is all about creating space to pause and reset. Whether you're looking for community, reflection, healing or simply a moment of calm, there's something here to support whatever you need most right now.
🫁 Moms Morning: Soma Breathwork & Coffee Circle
Monday 29th June, 8:45 AM
The Lob
A gentle way to ease into the week before the summer madness begins. Expect guided breathwork, good coffee and the chance to spend the morning with other mums and mums-to-be.
To book, DM via WhatsApp +971 52 556 1548
🥣 KAILO Kitchen
Monday 29th June, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
The Demo Kitchen, Al Quoz
A wholesome morning of good food, hands-on cooking and practical nutrition tips. You'll leave with a delicious recipe, fresh inspiration and a few healthy ideas to bring into your own kitchen.
To book, DM @latelierconsulting
✨ Full Moon Sound Healing With Zarine
Monday 29th June, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Keyani Wellness Centre
If you've been feeling a little frazzled lately, this could be a lovely reset. Expect soothing sounds, gentle meditation and a chance to properly switch off for an hour under the full moon.
To book, call 058 587 0799
🎵 Prana Harmony
Monday 29th June, 8:00 PM
TODA Souk Madinat Jumeirah
An evening to slow the pace and tune back into yourself. Through live music, meditation and breathwork, you'll be guided into a calmer, more grounded state before heading home.
To book, click here
🛟 The Floating Ritual
Tuesday 30th June, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Talise Spa Pool, Jumeirah Al Qasr
If you're after something a little different, this floating sound healing experience is worth trying. Drift on a hammock in the pool, soak up calming sound vibrations, and begin the evening with a cosy vanilla chai and cacao ritual.
To book, DM @latelierconsulting
🌳 The Power of Your Roots
Tuesday 30th June, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Keyani Wellness Centre
This workshop explores how family patterns can quietly shape our relationships, choices and wellbeing. A thoughtful evening of reflection and healing if you're curious about understanding yourself on a deeper level.
To book, call 058 587 0799
🌕 Full Moon In Capricorn
Tuesday 30th June, 7:30 PM
SIRO One Za'abeel
There's something special about marking the full moon with intention. This Capricorn gathering invites you to move, reflect and let go of anything that's no longer supporting where you're headed.
To book, click here
🧘 Wellness Wednesdays
Every Wednesdays, 10:30 AM
Soulside Studio
Whether you're craving movement, stillness or a little of both, these weekly sessions make it easy to weave a little more wellbeing into your routine. A gentle reminder that looking after yourself doesn't have to be complicated.
Sign up here
✨ Energy Healing & Hypno Sound Healing
Friday 3rd July, 8:00 PM
TODA Souk Madinat Jumeirah
A deeply nourishing evening that blends Yoga Nidra, sound healing and energy work to help you properly unwind. The sort of session that leaves you walking out a little softer, a little quieter and with a little more space to breathe.
To book, click here
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS
🏃♀️ Hyrox Is About to Get a Major Luxury Backer
If you've been HYROX-curious or are already deep in your training cycle, this one's worth knowing. L Catterton - the private equity firm backed by LVMH's founding family - is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire a stake in Hyrox, the indoor fitness race format that combines running with functional workout stations. With around 90,000 participants expected to compete globally this year, the brand's growth has been staggering - and now serious luxury money wants in. L Catterton has also been linked to a $500M athlete-focused investment vehicle alongside Kevin Durant, signalling a much bigger push into consumer fitness.
Our Take: When the people behind LVMH start circling a fitness format, it tells you everything about how mainstream - and lucrative - competitive fitness has become. Hyrox going from grassroots hybrid race to luxury-backed global brand in a few short years is genuinely one of the wellness world's biggest stories.
Read More
🧬 The Women’s Diagnostics Platform Aiming to End Medical Gaslighting
We've covered the gender data gap in AI health tools - and Xella Health is tackling it from another angle entirely. The precision health company just launched a multi-omic diagnostics platform that uses AI to decode biomarker data across genomics, proteins, hormones and lifestyle inputs, calculating risk and clinical recommendations for over 130 conditions that uniquely affect women - including PMOS, Hashimoto's and endometriosis. With a $3.7M pre-seed round and a 15,000-woman waitlist already, the demand speaks for itself. Women are routinely misdiagnosed for conditions like heart disease, and can wait up to 10 years for an endometriosis diagnosis alone.
Our Take: Co-founder Kelly Lacob said it best - the goal is to "replace systemic medical gaslighting" with indisputable biological data. After years of women being told their symptoms are "just anxiety" or "just stress," a platform built entirely around taking female biology seriously feels long overdue.
Read More
🧴 Midi Health Just Entered Skincare
Midi Health - the US virtual menopause and midlife care platform - has launched into skincare, with five prescription-grade topicals addressing hormone-related skin changes. The lineup includes estriol-based eye and face creams, tretinoin and targeted treatments for sagging, melasma and fine lines - all dermatologist-developed to tackle the very real biological shifts that happen when collagen production slows during menopause. It's the latest addition to a $1B platform that's already added metabolic support, MSK health and supplements, building toward a genuine one-stop shop for women's midlife care.
Our Take: Not available here in the UAE just yet, but a brand worth keeping an eye on - particularly as more telehealth platforms recognise that skin changes during menopause are hormonal, not just cosmetic, and deserve to be treated as such.
Read More
💆 Sephora Just Got Into Mindfulness - and It's Perfectly Timed
Beauty is officially moving beyond skin deep. Sephora UK has teamed up with Sanctum (one of The Wellness Drop's longtime faves!) to launch a series of immersive wellbeing events during World Wellbeing Week (24-30 June), themed around "The Beauty Within." The highlight is "Take a Beat with Sephora & Sanctum" - a rolling headphone meditation activation trialling across Sephora UK stores in Stratford, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff - alongside a festival in London and wellness-led experiences for media and creators. It follows Sephora's global rollout of Quiet Hours, its inclusive shopping initiative, after a hugely successful pilot.
Punchline: As Sephora UK's MD put it, beauty is no longer just about how we look but how we feel. We've watched the beauty and wellness worlds merge from every angle this year - and a meditation activation inside a Sephora store, courtesy of a brand we already love, feels like a genuinely lovely way to bring that philosophy to life. UK besties, get involved!
Read More
🛥️ The World's First "Wellness-First" Superyacht Is Taking Shape
Sea Rover, a 43-metre yacht being built by Dutch Design, is being marketed as the world's only wellness-first superyacht, with delivery expected in 2028. Rather than tucking wellness spaces below deck, the spa, gym and sports court sit in the most prominent positions on board - panoramic sea views during workouts, yoga and spa treatments. Onboard features include dual hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, infrared therapy wall, a massage space, and an owner's suite with a Japanese onsen-style tub and steam room. And the founder story is brilliant - Scott Blum started out selling women's shoes at Nordstrom, built and sold a business before he was 21, founded Buy.com (later sold for $250M), and built this yacht simply because he couldn't find one designed for an active, wellness-focused lifestyle.
Our Take: This feels like a genuine sign of where ultra-luxury is heading - wellness isn't an add-on anymore, it's the entire design brief, even at sea. We'll add "deliver Sea Rover to the Gulf" to our extremely realistic list of demands.
Read More
🏃 Sir Mo Farah's Running App Just Landed Fresh Funding
URUNN - the performance running app co-founded by four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah and elite marathoner Adam Clarke - has secured a seven-figure raise to accelerate its global expansion. The app delivers ultra-personalised, AI-powered training plans drawing on Olympic-level coaching expertise, with real-time pace guidance and an on-demand AI running companion. Since launching last year, it's already reached users in over 110 countries and built partnerships with Huawei, Vodafone, Puma and Adidas. It comes off the back of a wider running boom - new run clubs on Strava have tripled year over year globally.
Our Take: The running boom keeps showing up everywhere this year - marathons, run clubs, hybrid races, and now elite-level coaching in your pocket for the price of a few coffees a month. We love that the expertise that took decades to build is becoming this accessible.
Read More
🔮 TREND TO WATCH
📱 Your Phone Camera Might Be the Next Health Tracker
Google researchers have published findings showing smartphones can passively monitor heart health during everyday use - no smartwatch, ring or dedicated hardware required. Using the front-facing camera, the system detects subtle changes in facial blood flow to estimate heart rate, turning routine screen time into a quiet cardiovascular health check. What's interesting is the access angle - wearables normalised health tracking, but they still skew young, affluent and already health-conscious. A tool that runs on a phone everyone already owns could reach people who've never had access to preventative care at all.
Our Take: The most powerful health innovations aren't always the flashiest. Sometimes they're the ones that quietly meet people where they already are. This feels like a genuinely important step toward democratising preventative care.
Read More
🔬 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
🏋️ The Exact Amount of Strength Training You Need — Finally Confirmed
A major Harvard study, analysing 30 years of data from over 147,000 people, has put real numbers behind something we've long believed: strength training matters, but more isn't necessarily better. Those doing 90 to 120 minutes a week had a 13% lower risk of early death, 19% lower risk of dying from heart disease, and 27% lower risk from neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Going beyond 120 minutes added no extra benefit, and combining strength training with aerobic exercise brought the biggest gains - up to a 45% lower mortality risk. (Worth flagging: it's observational, exercise was self-reported, and Pilates and calisthenics weren't counted as strength training - so the real picture for many of us might look even better than these numbers suggest.)
Our Thoughts: Even with those caveats, this is permission to stop overcomplicating it. A couple of solid strength sessions a week alongside your regular movement genuinely matters. Consistency over intensity, once again. 🏋️
Read The Study
