Launched in 2012, and always taking place on the second Saturday in June, Global Wellness Day was created to inspire people around the world to take a moment away from everyday stressors and be at peace with themselves—while also, ideally, finding inspiration and motivation to live well the other 364 days of the year. Since then, the day has been celebrated simultaneously in over 150 countries, with everything from a 45K marathon to volunteer healthcare work along the Thailand-Myanmar border.
This year, however, making time to take stock and set intentions feels particularly important. “During this time of unprecedented stress and anxiety, we all need calming and life-affirming experiences,” says Jeremy McCarthy, group director of spa and wellness for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. “Now, more than ever, people are realizing the importance of physical health and mental well-being in our lives.”
Some of your favorite hotels might be able to help jump-start that journey. While many luxury brands and individual hotels have beefed up their virtual “at home” programming during the pandemic, some will be using those web and social media platforms to offer live, guided wellness programming on Saturday, June 13. Note that while several brands and properties have plans to upload specially created videos on Global Wellness Day, these examples below will all be taking place live—allowing you to connect with participants around the world as you also look inward.
-
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Image Credit: Courtesy Mandarin Oriental Yoga along the river in Bangkok, a healthy cooking class in Miami, tennis drill in Kuala Lumpur, sunset sound healing on the Turkish coast—all that and more is available for free this Global Wellness Day, courtesy of Mandarin Oriental’s worldwide collection of hotels. Available via each hotel’s Instagram account (and, in some cases, the main @mo_hotels account), the calendar of livestreamed events will begin with a discussion of wellness trends in the age of COVID, set for 7 am Hong Kong time—or 7 pm EDT on Friday, June 12—and will continue for the next 23 hours. Because of the time difference, a big chunk of the sessions will be taking place overnight in the US—so if you can’t sleep, there’s always 3 am mat Pilates live from London, or a 4am mindful movement class from Hong Kong. Find a complete schedule and list of Instagram handles here.
-
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Image Credit: Courtesy Four Seasons Take a hulu class from Hawaii, a boxing or Barre class from Beverly Hills, a cooking or body scrub workshop from Koh Samui, a “tea meditation” session from Chiang Mai and more, courtesy of the Four Seasons portfolio. Some properties will be posting pre-made videos to their individual social media and YouTube accounts, but several have planned a day of live programming, so check their respective calendars for times and details. Standouts inlcude The Beverly Wilshire schedule—which includes some fun options like tips on eyebrow grooming—as well as the Four Seasons Koh Samui schedule (with intriguing sessions like the “Mindfulness of Speech”) and the Four Seasons Chiang Mai schedule (with that naturopath-led tea meditation and a plant-based cooking class.)
-
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
Image Credit: Courtesy Carillon Miami Kick off Saturday with a 9 am EDT meditation and slow flow yoga class hosted by this noted Miami Beach wellness-focused hotel. Led by instructor Sarah Kouri, the session will include a 15-minute guided meditation, followed by a 30-minute class in gentle slow flow yoga that’s been designed to emphasize a meditative pace to encourage peace and calm in both the body and mind. The complimentary class can accommodate up to 500 people; register here to reserve your spot.
-
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Image Credit: Courtesy Rosewood Connect with the @rosewoodhotels Instagram TV channel on Saturday for 24 hours of live fitness and wellness sessions created by 13 Rosewood properties around the world. Among the offerings are a 20-minute full-body workout led by an expert personal trainer, set against the backdrop of Cabo’s Las Ventanas al Paraiso; tips for self-healing massage and stretching from Rosewood Little Dix Bay; a how-to on making natural body scrubs from a Rosewood San Miguel de Allende senior spa therapist; Caribbean-influenced Zumba from Rosewood Bermuda; a gua sha and “head scraping” session from Rosewood Sanya; and a talk on immunity and the benefits of CBD from Rosewood Miramar Beach.
-
Palmaïa, The House of AïA
Image Credit: Courtesy Palmaïa Located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, this recently opened oceanfront resort aims to help guests renew their spirit by reconnecting with nature. Until you can experience its magic in person, enjoy a Global Wellness Day meditation at 11 am EDT, led by the hotel’s resident shaman. For the Zoom link to the session, head to The Unknown Tribe, Palmaïa’s digital community “for artists and alternative thinkers.”
