Hi besties,
We don’t know about you - but this week, we’ve finally been able to exhale. Just a little. 🤍
Things in the region feel like they’re moving in the right direction, and Wednesday's news that schools and nurseries will be returning to in-person learning next week felt like a moment worth pausing on. However you feel about it - and we know it’s not straightforward for everyone - we’re choosing to take it as a positive sign. A small but meaningful step forward.
So this week, we’re showing up with a little more lightness. And a lot of good content.
We've been deep in the peptide conversation and things are getting interesting. The FDA is reconsidering some of the most talked-about peptides after years of restriction, and a new clinical-grade platform has just launched to bring some actual structure and safety to the space. If you've been curious, this week is a good place to start.
Elsewhere we're covering Trump signing a psychedelics executive order (with Joe Rogan in the Oval Office, because 2026), hormone health, Lululemon's forever chemicals investigation, GLP-1s reshaping the beauty industry, and new research on why sweating it out together is genuinely good for your mental health - which leads us perfectly to this week's Sunday Spotlight at Paus Club. Small, considered, completely unlike anything else in Dubai - and those prices? Revolutionary for this city.
In the Local Lowdown this week, beach Pilates with matcha, a candlelit cacao ritual, Earth Day sessions, and wellness sessions inside the Museum of the Future. Because if you're going to reset, you may as well do it inside one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. 🤍
And one more thing before we get into it - the other half of The Wellness Drop has been busy. Harriet has just relaunched The Growth Collective and honestly, in times like these, it might just be the space we all need right now. More inside. 🤍
A good one this week, besties. Let's get into it.
With love (and genuinely feeling the shift),
📍The Spa at Paus, Dubai
One of our absolute favourite wellness spots in Dubai just levelled up - we went to check out the new spa at Paus Club, and it really didn't disappoint.
Located upstairs, it's small - three treatment rooms and a communal sauna. But small and perfectly formed doesn't even cover it. The space is everything: think Soho Farmhouse meets Dubai, warm, cosy, considered - like genuinely nothing else in the city.
The staff are lovely, the therapists are excellent - but we really need to talk about the treatment menu, because it's unlike anything else you'll find in Dubai right now. We're talking quartz poultice massages (heated quartz compressors placed along key meridians), melted candle massages using warm oils and butters (err yes please), and the star of the show - the Vichy treatment. A full body scrub and massage on a water bed. Yes, really.
But honestly the best bit - the prices are genuinely, refreshingly reasonable. Which for a spa experience of this quality in Dubai, feels almost revolutionary.
Then there's the communal infrared sauna and this is where it gets interesting. As you'll see in our Research Spotlight this week, new research out of the UK shows that communal sauna sessions are linked to greater mental and physical wellbeing, with social connection amplifying the benefits. This is Paus Club's entire ethos. Built around connection, community and that warm, come-as-you-are energy that makes you feel instantly at home. And unlike some other communal sauna spots in the city, it's not intimidating in the slightest. As we noted in the spotlight - sitting in a hot room semi-naked with strangers isn't exactly peak British comfort zone… but if anywhere is going to convert you, it's this place. 🤍
The wellness bestie verdict: Intentional, unique, reasonably priced and completely unlike anything else Dubai has to offer right now. Paus Club just got even better and that's saying something.
📍Paus Club, Al Wasl Road
A week of easy mornings, sunset resets and plans that feel good from start to finish - from beach Pilates and candlelit rituals to floating sessions and community moments that bring you back to yourself. Whether you’re in the mood for something grounding, social or just a little different, this week’s edit is full of the kind of plans you’ll actually want to show up for.
🏛️ Reset & Recharge
April 19th – 26th, 8:00 – 9:00 AM
Museum of the Future
Wellness, but make it iconic. A series of morning sessions set inside the Museum of the Future, blending yoga, breathwork and moments to pause. Elevated, accessible and a very good way to start your day in one of Dubai’s most beautiful spaces.
To book click here
🍵 Beach Pilates & Matcha with Jess Does Well
Tuesday 21st April, 6:30 – 7:30 AM
Sunday 26th April, 7:30 – 8:30 AM
Jumeirah Beach
An easy, feel-good start to the day. A beginner-friendly Pilates flow by the beach, followed by a complimentary matcha to ease you into your morning. Simple, social and one of those plans that just works - whether it’s a weekday reset or a Sunday ritual.
To book:
Tuesday 21st April - click here
Sunday 26th April - click here
🕯️ Candlelit Sound & Cacao Ritual
Tuesday 21st April, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Yoga Garden, Talise Spa, Jumeirah Al Qasr
An evening that feels soft in all the right ways. Begin with a warming cacao ceremony, then ease into sound healing and guided meditation under the night sky. Grounding, intimate and the kind of reset that stays with you.
To book DM: @themindfulpaths
🌍 Sanctum Earth Day Special
Thursday 23rd April, 7:30 PM
SIRO One Za’abeel
Movement, music and connection - the Sanctum way. This Earth Day session invites you to slow down, drop into your body and reconnect through intentional, immersive movement. Powerful, grounding and always a vibe.
To book click here
🌿 ALO Earth Day: Ground & Restore
Friday 24th April, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
HWH Studio, Delano, Bluewaters Island
A slower kind of Friday plan. Expect grounding movement followed by immersive sound healing - designed to help you switch off, soften and ease into the evening feeling lighter.
To book click here
🌊 Floating Sleep Ritual
Friday 24th April, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Talise Spa Pool, Jumeirah Al Qasr
A full-body exhale. This floating ritual blends breathwork and stillness to help release built-up tension and guide you into deep rest - all held on water, under the night sky. Less of a class, more of a surrender.
To book DM @melissa__mcallister
☀️ The Revive Community Pop-Up
Saturday 25th April, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Fairways Mall, JGE
A feel-good morning with good energy. Expect movement, pop-ups, exclusive offers and a space that feels genuinely social and fun. The kind of plan you bring a friend to and stay longer than expected.
More info here
🏋️♀️ Fitness Hangout
Saturday 25th April, 7:00 AM
Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah
A high-energy way to move, connect and switch up your routine. Expect a mix of workouts, wellness sessions and beachside downtime, all brought together with a strong community feel. It’s active, social and one of those plans that easily turns into a full day (and night).
To book, click here
🎨 Paint & Chill - Sunday Session
Sunday 26th April, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Surf House Dubai, Umm Suqeim 2
A laid-back creative reset by the beach. A guided, surf-inspired painting session designed to help you switch off and unwind - no experience needed. Just come as you are, ease into it, and leave with something you’ve created from start to finish.
To book, click here
🌊 Pilates Collective Beach Day
Sunday 26th April, 9:00 AM
La Cantine Beach Club, Bluewaters
A slower Sunday, done properly. Start with beachfront Pilates, then ease into breakfast and a full day by the pool and beach. Relaxed, social and the kind of morning that naturally turns into the rest of your day.
To book, click here
🌅 KURE Sunrise Flow
Sunday 26th April, Early Morning
Nobu by the Beach, Atlantis The Royal
A very good reason to wake up early. An intimate sunrise session where breath, movement and ocean air come together to set the tone for your day. Energising, grounding and one to book early.
For details: +971 58 515 7222
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS
🍄 Trump Just Signed a Psychedelics Executive Order
Yes, Really. In an only-in-2026 moment, President Trump signed an executive order to fast-track the review of psychedelic drugs - including ibogaine - flanked by none other than Joe Rogan in the Oval Office. The order directs at least $50M to states developing psychedelic programmes for serious mental illness, and arrives as the FDA prepares to issue "national priority" vouchers for three psychedelics, allowing faster approval for drugs aligned with "national priorities." Ibogaine - derived from a West African plant and long championed by military veteran groups for treating PTSD - is also being cleared for its first-ever human trials in the US. A rare moment of bipartisan agreement in Washington, and a significant shift in how psychedelics are being treated at the highest levels.
Wellness Bestie Thoughts: Whatever your feelings on the messenger… the message is worth paying attention to. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has been quietly building a serious evidence base for years. If this accelerates access to treatment for people who are genuinely suffering - particularly veterans - that feels like a good thing. One to watch closely. 👀
Read More
🧬 Peptides Are Back in the Chat
After cracking down in 2023, the FDA is now reconsidering a group of popular peptides -including BPC-157, GHK-Cu and MOTS-c - moving them out of the highest risk category and into formal scientific review with independent experts. Why it matters: restrictions didn’t stop demand… they just pushed it underground. The black market for peptides has been growing fast, with people self-experimenting without real oversight. This move signals a shift - from blanket restriction to actually evaluating the science and bringing some structure back to the space. Nothing is approved (yet), but the tone is changing. And in a category that’s been moving faster than regulation, that’s a big deal.
Outtake: We’ve said it before - this space isn’t going anywhere. The question is whether it evolves safely… or keeps running ahead of the system. And please remember besties. this is one area where you really want good guidance. Curious is fine - rogue is not the move. (We might have something for that though… see below 👀)
Read More
🧬 Peptides… But Make It Legit
Protocole just emerged from stealth with $6M in funding to build a clinical-grade peptide platform - offering personalised protocols, licensed clinician oversight, and pharmacy-backed access. And it’s landing at a very interesting moment. With the FDA now revisiting and reviewing a number of peptides, the space is starting to shift from restriction toward regulation - creating real demand for platforms that can deliver this safely and properly. Because right now? Demand is booming, but the infrastructure hasn’t caught up. A lot of people are still navigating peptides through fragmented, often unregulated channels. Protocole is betting on a more structured future - where peptides sit within a medically guided, trusted system.
Bottom Line: If regulation is catching up, platforms like this could be what bridges the gap - turning curiosity into something actually safe, supported and sustainable.
Read More
🌿 A New Space to Actually Land
We often say that when it comes to The Wellness Drop, Katie is all things body and Harriet takes care of all things mind. So it feels fitting that Harriet has relaunched The Growth Collective - her online membership designed to support your nervous system, not overload it. Think less noise, more clarity. Tools, conversations and practices to help you slow down, reset, and actually integrate the work - not just consume more of it. Because let’s be honest… most of us don’t need more information, we need somewhere to land.
Wellness Bestie Thoughts: Slightly cheeky plug, we know… but it’s our newsletter, so we’re doing it. And honestly, in times like these - this kind of space is exactly what we need.
Learn More
🩸 Your Cycle, But Better Supported
Amulet - a US-based hormone health company - just raised fresh funding (with Maria Sharapova backing it) to build out its hormone-support supplements - designed to stabilise energy, mood and performance across your cycle. Think less “manage your period”… more optimise how you feel all month. Powered by biotech ingredients like lactoferrin (for iron + inflammation) and creatine (yes, for brain and body), it’s tapping into a growing shift: women moving beyond quick fixes and actually wanting to understand and support their hormones properly.
Wellness Bestie Thoughts: We’re all for better support - because PMS, cramps and cycle dips are very real. But this isn’t about pushing through or “optimising” every phase… it’s about understanding your cycle, and working with it, not against it.
Read More
🧘♀️ Lululemon Just Sparked a Bigger Conversation
It’s not been the best year for Lululemon… and its not over yet. They are now under investigation in Texas over the use of “forever chemicals” in some of its fabrics raising questions around potential links to hormone disruption, fertility issues and long-term health risks. The brand says it’s already phased them out and only used them in select waterproof products… but the conversation is clearly shifting. Because this isn’t just about Lulu. Activewear has always been built for performance - synthetics, sweat-wicking, durability - but now consumers are starting to ask what’s in the fabric, not just how it performs. As awareness around toxin exposure grows, what we wear to work out is quietly becoming part of the wellness equation. And for brands built on “performance first”… that’s a big shift.
Punchline: We’ve cleaned up what we eat, what we use on our skin… activewear might be next.
Read More
🔮 TREND TO WATCH
💉 GLP-1s Are Changing Beauty Routines
With more people using GLP-1s, we’re seeing a whole new category of beauty emerge - designed to support the side effects of rapid weight loss. Think skin laxity, dryness, dullness and even hair shedding… all being addressed with targeted skincare, supplements and scalp treatments. Brands are already responding with products for “Ozempic face,” while others are leaning into regrowth and repair. Even scent is shifting - with some users going fragrance-free due to nausea, while others are swapping sweet treats for dessert-inspired perfumes instead.
Outtake: It’s no longer just about weight loss… it’s the ripple effects after. And beauty brands are moving fast to keep up.
Read More
🔬 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
🔥 Sauna, But Make It Social
New research shows it’s not just the heat doing the heavy lifting - communal sauna sessions are linked to greater mental and physical wellbeing, with social connection amplifying the benefits. It makes sense. Sauna culture is shifting from solo ritual to shared experience - where the combination of heat, nervous system regulation, and actual human connection creates a deeper reset. Think less quiet, individual detox… more collective unwind. From bathhouses to guided rituals and social sessions, this is part of a wider move toward wellness that brings people together, not just inward.
Our Thoughts: Slightly awkward? Yes. Sitting in a hot room, semi naked with strangers isn’t exactly peak British comfort zone… but we’re embracing it. We tried the new communal sauna at Paus Club this week and loved it - more in Sunday’s Spotlight 👀
Read More
