Wellness news of the month: An oxygen bar on the mountainside, a fitness app by a mother-daughter team, and a walk

Tendency

Crowdsourcing

Are we tired of taking care of ourselves? Judging by recent articles in The Atlantic and the Los Angeles Times, it would seem so. “The more overwhelmed and exhausted we are, the more seemingly we have to seek ‘well-being,'” writes Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic. Yet things that can help us achieve wellness, say a nap or a walk, are overlooked because they are not marketable like a weighted blanket or a smartwatch. “Personal care through consumption and some marketed activities can exacerbate stress. If we don’t reach our inner Zen, we blame ourselves,” writes Rina Raphael in the LA Times. One problem is that self-care is increasingly a solitary endeavor while social connection is integral to achieving well-being. Instead of buying the next gadget or piece of equipment, ask a friend to go for a walk. “Real self-care is not a do-it-yourself activity,” Raphael writes.

Retirement

Breathe

Start the new year with a breath of really fresh air. As part of parent company Accor’s Beyond Limits collection of experiences, the Fairmont Banff Springs will transform the mountainside Cliffhouse Bistro (elevation: 7,000 feet) into an oxygen bar for two weeks in January. Dubbed Haute O2, the bar will host just eight guests per day. In addition to high altitude breathing, there will be a culinary element. “Inspired by the terroir, the ingredients presented will come from local farmers, ranchers and fishermen. Indigenous elements such as haskaps, known as ‘long life berries’, and foraged mushrooms will also be incorporated into the dining experience, fostering a deeper connection to this incredible landscape,” said Brian Calder, Director hotel sales and marketing. .

High O2, $499 up allbeyondlimits.com.

Obsession

Canadian mother-daughter duo Gabriela Schonbach and Amanda June Giannakos launched Movement by NM, a subscription-based fitness app, with the goal of being a space where everyone feels comfortable with movement. The inclusive class offer includes strength training, dance and cardio classes, which last from five to 30 minutes, as well as classes adapted for people with reduced mobility, led by a wheelchair athlete, and sessions for beginners on the move. With a membership, users also receive a personal movement plan. Paired with a Movement by NM teacher, the plan includes lessons specific to individual fitness abilities, goals, and schedules. “We’re very intentional with the specific exercises and disciplines we give you – daily movement ideas based on your lifestyle, and even relevant articles, movies and playlists to inspire you to get moving” , explains Giannakos, creative director and general manager of the company.

Movement by NM monthly subscription, $15, annual subscription, $99 up to movementbynm.com.

Investment purchase

Green and clean

Briiv, which just launched in Canada, is a Sonos version of an air purifier. The sleek unit has a glass top filled with greenery, giving it the look of a futuristic potted plant. But by using natural fibers to filter the air, including moss, coconut shell and charcoal, a Briiv has the same cleaning effect on a room as just over 3,000 plants. interior. Because these materials can be composted at home or through municipal waste programs, there are no HEPA filters to replace and dispose of. The unit cleans the air of pollen, mold spores, pet dander and harmful gases like VOCs, and can be paired with a smart home device, like Google or Alexa, for hands-free use.

Briiv air filter, $549.99 up to ecomvmt.ca.

Company

Policy Statement

Earlier this month, at the annual Global Wellness Summit, host organization Global Wellness Institute released a report titled Defining Wellness Policy, a call to action for governments and public organizations to embark on the quest for wellness. be. “Widespread adoption of preventative approaches and healthy lifestyles is essential if we are to address our growing global health crises and soaring economic costs. And yet, not everyone has the resources, motivation, knowledge, or enabling environment to do so,” write report authors Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston. The global wellness economy is worth US$4.4 trillion and growing for the wealthiest consumers. The authors argue that wellness policy can contribute to, among other things, protecting the environment, promoting locally sourced and developed products, and mitigating rising healthcare costs. “In many cases, policies at the macro level (such as reducing poverty, ending armed conflict, or addressing climate change) will have a greater impact on our health and well-being than policies targeting individual behaviors and community environments,” Yeung and Johnston write. .