Hi besties,
It's Harriet here…
Katie's on her way back from her second Greek holiday of the summer (not jealous, not jealous at all), and we've also decided to shake things up a bit - Katie and I are going to take it in turns writing to you each week, so you get a proper peek into both our worlds. Each week, whoever's writing will share a little of what's been on our radar or getting us through - think of it as a small window into our own wellness lives, not just what's trending out there.
(Our friends joke that we’re a a bit of a mind-and-body double act - I'm all nervous system and big feelings, and Katie's the one dragging us out for movement.. So you can expect a slightly different flavour depending on whose week it is!)
One more thing that's slightly different this edition.. There’s no Sunday Spotlight feature. Truthfully, it's been a tricky month for me - I lost my dad at the end of July, and I've spent the weeks since navigating that, finding the things that help. Sleep's been a particular struggle (eclipse energy seriously has me wrecked), and this sleep hypnosis has genuinely been getting me through.
This newsletter has been such an outlet too - we get the loveliest messages from so many of you about how much you enjoy opening this every Sunday, and honestly, in a world of AI generated inboxes, that means more than you know. Thank you for being the reason we keep showing up here.
Please know we read every single reply - always have, always will. If there's ever anything you want us to try or dig into, just say the word.
Right, onto this week's edition - and it's a good one. If you're in Abu Dhabi, SKIN111 has landed at Yas Mall, so no more trekking to Dubai. A Dubai founder is quietly giving away AED1M in free wellness support. There's science suggesting art might genuinely slow down ageing (permission slip for that pottery class, granted), and apparently, three minutes of sprinting might beat 90 minutes on the treadmill - yes, really.
With love, (and endless gratitude for all of you, truly),
Harriet
The end of August is going out on a high. This week we’ve got throwback workouts, Pilates under the Dubai Mall waterfall, full moon rituals, a conscious sober rave and even a wellness morning aboard a yacht. A very Dubai mix of movement, connection and experiences worth getting out of bed for.
❤️🔥 Retro Sweat
Wednesday 26th – Friday 28th August
The Burn Room
Your workout, but make it Y2K. Pick your burn with heated Hot Pilates and red light therapy or slow, seriously spicy Lagree on the Megaformer, all soundtracked by the best throwback beats.
To book, sign up here
💪 Sweaty Betty x GIGI
Thursday 27th August, 7:15 AM
Dubai Mall, Waterfall Area
Pilates underneath the Dubai Mall waterfall is definitely worth the early alarm. Come for the movement, then stay for refreshments and a little Sweaty Betty shopping afterwards. A pretty good way to start a Thursday.
To book, click here
Or DM @instarunwayofficial for more details
🌘 Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Special
Thursday 27th August, 7:30 PM
SIRO One Za’abeel
A full moon, lunar eclipse and Sanctum session all rolled into one. Expect restorative movement, conscious breath and a chance to pause, reflect and let go of anything you don’t fancy taking into September with you.
To book, click here
🌕 Full Moon Floating Breathwork
Thursday 27th August, 8:00 PM
Mandarin Oriental, Downtown Dubai
Floating under the full moon while being guided through immersive breathwork sounds pretty dreamy to us. One for anyone who needs an hour away from the noise and a proper chance to switch off.
To book, DM @breasy.ae
🤸♀️ Power Mat Pilates with ALO
Friday 28th August, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
HWH Studio Delano
A powerful mat Pilates class, a room full of women and a little ALO gifting to finish. A lovely way to mark Emirati Women’s Day while getting a very good Friday evening workout in too.
To book, click here
🌕 Full Moon Release Ceremony x Emirati Women’s Day
Friday 28th August, 7:30 PM
Sage
A lovely way to mark Emirati Women’s Day. Led by Alolai, this Full Moon Release Ceremony is all about reflection, intention setting and making a little space for what comes next. There are some nice extras on the day too, including two complimentary classes with any 10-class package and an additional 30 minutes with any massage booked.
To book, DM @villa.sage
🌳 Balance & Breathwork
Saturday 29th August, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ekaya Studio
Even the most confident yogis might meet their match when the slackline comes out. This playful workshop combines balance challenges with simple breathwork techniques and is open to friends, families and complete beginners. Something a little different for a Saturday afternoon.
To book, click here
🎶 Upaya Prelude: Conscious Sober Rave
Saturday 29th August, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sohum Wellness Sanctuary
A sober rave with soulful house, ceremonial cacao and a crowd that actually wants to connect? We’re intrigued. Come early for the icebreakers, stay for the Boiler Room-style dance floor and grab something from Sohum’s kitchen afterwards.
To book, click here
🚢 BREASY x Xclusive Yachts
Sunday 30th August, 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Dubai Harbour → World Islands
Definitely not your average Sunday morning. Set sail aboard a 40-metre yacht for somatic movement, immersive breathwork, ice baths, ocean swimming, music and healthy bites while cruising towards the World Islands. Very Dubai, and a pretty incredible way to round off the weekend.
To book, click here
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND NEWS
🤍 A Dubai Wellness Founder Is Giving Away AED1M In Free Wellness Support
Dani Afiouni, founder of Longevity Wellness Hub, has launched the Human Reset Initiative - an AED1 million programme giving 200 UAE residents free access to a Quantum Health Assessment and a personalised three-month wellness plan. It's a response to growing concerns around workplace pressure, conflict-related anxiety and wider mental health struggles, and it's fully self-funded by Longevity - described by the brand as a contribution, not a promotion.
Our Take: It's genuinely lovely to see a wellness founder put real money behind accessibility like this. Preventative, personalised support shouldn't only be available to those who can already afford a premium longevity membership - here's hoping it's the first of more initiatives like it.
Read More
🛒 Target Just Traded Silly Putty for Supplements
Over at the US hypermarket giant, Target has expanded its wellness assortment by 30%, adding thousands of new items across food, beauty, supplements, baby care and apparel, much of it priced under $10. Highlights include new supplement brands like Cymbiotika, functional drinks like RYZE mushroom coffee, skincare from Prequel and La Roche-Posay, and a refreshed "Wellness Hub" for shopping by goal.
Wellness Bestie Take: When we were kids, a trip round Target meant Lip Smackers and Gak (aka the slime for 90’s kids!) - so it's genuinely refreshing to see the aisles now stocked with supplements, functional drinks and proper skincare instead. Wellness has well and truly gone from niche to non-negotiable when a mass retailer restructures a third of a category around it.
Read More
💊 Lily Collins Just Became the Newest Face (and Shareholder) of David Beckham's Supplement Brand
IM8, the longevity supplement brand co-founded by David Beckham, has signed Lily Collins as its first ambassador from film and television, joining a roster built entirely around elite athletes until now. Collins isn't a paid spokesperson - she's a shareholder, having reportedly used the product for months before IM8 ever approached her, and every ambassador on the roster holds actual equity rather than a fee. It lands as parent company Prenetics raises its 2026 revenue guidance to $220M+.
Our Thoughts: The "shareholder, not spokesperson" model is a genuinely interesting shift in celebrity wellness partnerships and definitely a stronger signal of belief than a typical paid campaign, (although still worth remembering these deals are commercially structured, however authentic the origin story!)
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🏥 SKIN111 Is Bringing Its Doctor-Led Wellness Model to Abu Dhabi
SKIN111, the Dubai-based aesthetic and wellness brand (est. 2007, 50,000+ patients a year, top-6 GCC aesthetic clinic six years running), has opened at Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi - bringing aesthetics, injectables, medical weight management, IV therapy and longevity care closer to the many capital-based patients who'd previously been making the Dubai trip. Standout tech includes PicoWay for pigmentation, Ultraformer MPT for non-surgical lifting, and weight programmes built around body-composition assessments.
Our Thoughts: Nice to see an established brand expanding rather than a new concept trying to prove itself - genuinely useful news for our Abu Dhabi readers who've had to make the trek until now.
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🎨 Want to Age More Slowly? Make Time For Art
A University College London study found that regularly engaging with the arts - whether that’s dancing, singing, painting, or simply going to museums, concerts or the theatre - was linked to a 4% slower rate of biological aging, roughly a year younger biologically. Researchers used epigenetic clocks (which measure biological rather than chronological age) across 3,500 adults, and found the effect held for both “doers” and “watchers” of art. Notably, it’s a similar effect size to what’s typically seen with regular physical activity.
Our Thoughts: Worth flagging this is observational, not proof of cause and effect - even the researchers say it needs replicating, and we don’t yet know if picking up a new creative hobby later in life would have the same impact. Still, it’s a lovely nudge to protect the things that light you up, not just the things on your workout calendar. Consider this your permission slip for that pottery class you keep talking about.
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🔮 TREND TO WATCH
🐟 Salmon DNA Skincare Is Officially Going Mainstream
PDRN (DNA fragments derived from salmon, purified for skin compatibility) has spent the last couple of years as a K-beauty clinic secret, mostly delivered by injection. Now it's crossing over properly: The Ordinary launches a £9 lacto-PDRN eye cream on 28 August, and Rejuran, the brand behind the original "salmon injections," just landed at Sephora across the US. It works by triggering cell repair and collagen production, backed by real clinical history in wound healing.
Our Thoughts: Worth knowing before you add to cart - the strongest evidence is for the injectable, clinic version, not the serums flooding the shelves now. Topical PDRN is newer and less proven, since the molecule is large and doesn't penetrate as deeply as a needle does. Not snake oil, but not a needle-free miracle either - manage your expectations accordingly.
Read More
🔬 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
⚡ Three Minutes of Sprinting Might Beat 90 Minutes of Moderate Cardio
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that six 30-second all-out sprints changed nearly a quarter of the proteins measured in participants' blood immediately afterward, compared to less than a quarter of 1% after 90 minutes of moderate cycling. The sprint session also triggered a rapid surge of proteins linked to blood vessel growth, tissue repair and hormone signalling, and altered more than 200 metabolites almost instantly - versus a much slower, smaller response from moderate exercise. When researchers cross-referenced the responding proteins with health data from over 53,000 UK Biobank participants, 32 out of 33 proteins linked to lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease were triggered by sprinting, compared to just 3 from moderate exercise.
Our Thoughts: This doesn't mean ditch your steady-state cardio - both clearly matter, and this was still a small, early-stage study. But it's a genuinely compelling case for adding short bursts of real intensity into your week, even if it's just a few minutes here and there. Sometimes less really can be more, as long as you're willing to properly push yourself for it.
Read the study
