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- The third edition of the festival, running from June 21 to July 21, offers a diverse range of activities aimed at boosting physical, emotional and mental well-being
- It features 120 programmes set in iconic precincts to showcase Singapore as a wellness destination, with Glow Festival by Prudential as its anchor event
The concept of wellness is multidimensional and varied. For some, wellness involves hitting the equipment hard during a gym session, while for others it could simply be a relaxing day of meditation on the beach.
The wide range of experiences planned for the upcoming Wellness Festival Singapore (WFS) is certainly a testament to that. Returning for its third edition from June 21 to July 21, the festival will transform Singapore into an urban wellness destination with a diverse selection of offerings that promote physical, emotional and mental well-being, and also cater to different fitness levels, interests and goals.
For over four weeks, both locals and travellers in Singapore can enjoy high-quality and accessible wellness experiences, whether they are looking to maintain their fitness regimen or want to try out innovative concepts aimed at boosting well-being.
From seasoned fitness multihyphenates to the occasional yogi in search of a bit of Zen, WFS offers something for everyone at convenient locations across the city state. Here are some highlights from this year’s festival programme.
For fitness enthusiasts …
The anchor event of WFS is Glow Festival by Prudential, which will take place from July 6 to 21 at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza. The festival’s Studio Space will offer breathtaking views of Marina Bay along with more than 70 classes, workouts and workshops – ranging from yoga and Pilates to HIIT and spinning – curated by athletic apparel brand Lululemon and fitness group Pure International.
Attendees can look forward to being guided by renowned instructors such as New York City-based celebrity trainer Akin Akman and Dr Chelsea Jackson Roberts, a popular fitness coach and Peloton yoga teacher who is an expert in slow-flow and restorative yoga.
This year’s edition of Glow Festival will also feature the debut of Get Into Strides With Lululemon, a new running experience to be held on weekend mornings at sunrise throughout the event. Enjoy scenic outdoor runs led by Lululemon instructors, who will also guide participants through specially crafted warm-ups and cool-downs.
To get a hi-tech, immersive fitness experience, check out Glow Festival’s virtual reality (VR) workout zone. It provides high-intensity, interactive sports experiences such as boxing and taekwondo through the use of cutting-edge VR technology.
In the heart of Orchard Road, Trifecta Singapore – the first-of-its-kind snow, surf and skate attraction in Asia – will offer introductory programmes to these exhilarating board sports from July 6 to 20. Besides teaching new moves, they will also show how each sport revolves around the principles of mobility. Programmes include an introduction to surfing exclusively for women, as well as a beginner’s surfing workshop that also features stretching and cold immersion therapy for muscle recovery.
Over on Sentosa, fitness fanatics will get the chance to enjoy a series of sunset workouts on the beach. The lively party hotspot Tipsy Unicorn Beach Club is teaming up with various local gyms to hold sessions at Siloso Beach on Saturdays from June 22 to July 20. Classes will include boxing, HIIT and yoga, with fun interactive games added in. Participants will receive complimentary admission to the beach club, and also have the option to add on a protein shake or house pour as a post-workout treat.
For serenity seekers …
Singapore may be known as a modern metropolis, but WFS will show how it is also a place where one can slow down and recharge, through an array of enriching and relaxing experiences.
These include The Oracle by the Alpha Wave Experience, an immersive art installation that will be featured at Glow Festival. It offers a unique therapeutic experience with its blend of rotating lights, music and alpha wave frequencies, which stimulates the senses and allows visitors to unwind and enhance their focus.
Looking for more holistic wellness activities? Where Mind and Body Connect by Marina Bay Sands is a comprehensive wellness programme aimed at enhancing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being that will be running throughout WFS.
Its line-up of classes includes sound meditation, Pilates, Hatha yoga and Vinyasa yoga, with one-hour sessions held every morning on the integrated resort’s SkyPark Observation Deck to provide a panoramic backdrop of the Singapore skyline.
Foodies can immerse themselves in a different side of the vibrant local dining scene with From Farm to Plate: A Mindful Eating Experience featuring the Fairmont Singapore’s aquaponics farm, which will be offered from June 20 to 23.
Participants will get a first-hand look at the hotel’s sustainable agricultural practices with a tour of its aquaponics farm, followed by a workshop on mindful eating and how it affects moods. Then, they can put those eating techniques into practice with a lunch at The Stamford Brasserie.
For lifestyle mavens …
Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping district will transform into a wellness haven for WFS, with various activities and dining experiences available. As part of its Rest Well Package, Como Shambhala will offer 60-minute hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions from June 24 to July 19. Featuring Singapore’s first Hyperbaric Airpod chamber, this therapy uses a combination of oxygen and molecular hydrogen to rejuvenate both the mind and body, thereby promoting holistic health from within.
At Design Orchard, an integrated retail and incubation space for Singapore’s designers, Mindful Movements fitness classes will be conducted on June 22 and July 6. Sessions including acro-yoga, Zen flow, Pilates and barre will be held on Design Orchard’s upper levels, accompanied by sweeping views of Orchard Road.
In addition, Culinary Sustainability and Wellness by Orchard Turn Retail Investment will curate green and healthy gourmet experiences. For example, The 1872 Clipper Tea Co at Ion Orchard shopping mall will offer a tasting workshop featuring its exclusive Traveller’s Series of tea blends inspired by iconic landmarks around the world. Workshop sessions will be held from June 4 to July 25, during which participants can learn the art of professional tea tasting and also discover how teas can complement their wellness routines.
Art lovers can check out the Gallery Wellness Special 2024 at the National Gallery Singapore, running throughout WFS. It will feature 10 curated programmes centred around the theme of “Your Canvas”, aimed at encouraging visitors to reflect on their personal development and growth through art. They include expressing feelings through sticker art as well as the practice of slow art, which calls for taking a more mindful approach to appreciating artworks.
To wrap up a busy day of wellness activities around the city, visitors can indulge in The Night Ritual, a sensorial and relaxing workshop presented by British fragrance and lifestyle brand Jo Malone London. Participants will be able to learn and enjoy a personalised wind-down routine using the brand’s skincare products. Various sessions are available for booking from mid-June to mid-July at Jo Malone stores located in Ion Orchard, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Raffles City Shopping Centre and Takashimaya Shopping Centre.
