Join a meditation masterclass at an art gallery, do Pilates on board a luxury ship, or join a wellness tour to discover hidden gems in local neighbourhoods. These are some of the offerings that will be part of the inaugural Wellness Festival Singapore (WFS) that will run from 3 to 12 June 2022.
As more international visitors return, the festival will be a key part of the Singapore Tourism Board’s strategy to position the city as a leading Urban Wellness haven. It is the first nationwide effort to promote holistic wellbeing, and is organised in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore (Enterprise SG), Health Promotion Board (HPB), National Arts Council (NAC), Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), and Sport Singapore (SportSG).
Ms Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports & Wellness, Singapore Tourism Board said, “Wellness Festival Singapore is central to our push for Singapore to be an urban wellness haven, and we are excited to partner both the public and private sectors to showcase our breadth of accessible wellness offerings. As we emerge from the pandemic, we hope locals and visitors can rest and rejuvenate in Singapore, while discovering more of what our city has to offer.”
Apart from inspiring locals and visitors to embrace holistic wellness as a way of life, the festival aims to boost the discoverability of Singapore’s wellness offerings, grow a strong base of wellness advocates, and catalyse partnerships among industry players.
Participants can look forward to a 10-day line-up of over 120 physical and virtual wellness offerings from fitness studios, attractions, hotels, shopping malls, artists and arts groups and other wellness and lifestyle businesses. There will also be a symposium and networking opportunities for businesses to connect and expand their wellness offerings.
Ms Dilys Boey, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Lifestyle & Consumer, Enterprise Singapore, said: “The wellness industry is estimated to be a USD$1.5 trillion industry across Asia Pacific. This is expected to grow, with more consumers seeking new and innovative products, services, and experiences across different wellness categories from fitness, personal care & beauty, and complementary health among others. We hope that through platforms like the Wellness Symposium, solution providers, product developers and venue owners can discuss, network and foster partnerships to discover new innovations, and capture new opportunities domestically and internationally.”
There will be several large-scale activations in popular locations across Singapore. These include:
The Wellness Sensorium, a multi-sensory pop-up at The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay that will have six zones offering innovative and instagrammable experiences. These include the Stone Ritual, which engages visitors in the mindful and collaborative exercise of stone-stacking to heighten their spatial awareness, and the Light and Sound Bath, a darkened environment filled with slow-moving coloured lights and ambient sound to induce a state of calm. Visitors can also take part in free daily programmes at the Masterclass Studio. For example, participants can learn the practice of slow-stitching meditation from textile artist Agatha Lee, or join a cooking demonstration and nutrition workshop that celebrates health and Singapore’s local flavours with Charlotte Mei and Sarah Huang Benjamin. Other activities include fitness workouts, wellness talks, and mental health circles.
Zentosa Fest, a play on Sentosa’s name, will transform Singapore’s iconic leisure destination into a wellness island retreat, leveraging Sentosa’s scenic environment and island charm to help guests escape, rejuvenate, and recharge, away from the stresses of urban living and grind. Organised as part of Sentosa’s 50th anniversary celebrations, specially curated wellness-themed stayover programmes, beach activities, and a diverse pipeline of lifestyle offerings would be held across Sentosa throughout the month of June, helping guests discover the art of living well. The Southernmost Point of Continental Asia, for instance, will be transformed into an escapade called “Stress Stop”, which will feature meditations, breathwork, and sound bathing sessions; while Palawan Green will be transformed into a tentpole Zentosa Festival Village, featuring masterclasses, sports workshops, and outdoor performances.
Three Merli Wellness Trails will be launched by 42Race, a hybrid race platform, across the Singapore Botanic Gardens, HortPark-Harbourfront and Fort Canning Park, where participants can explore the parks and garden, and answer questions in exchange for exclusive Merli and Friends virtual badges.
Mr Chew Tiong Heng, Divisional Director, Business and Experience Development, Sentosa Development Corporation said, “With wellness issues exacerbated by the pandemic, it is more critical than ever that we raise awareness on the importance of our wellbeing. Zentosa Fest will leverage Sentosa’s unique island charm to help our guests recharge and rejuvenate away from urban stresses, while surrounded by our golden beaches, lush greenery and waters. Alongside the multi-faceted lifestyle offerings that Sentosa has been well-known for, the whole island will be activated at Zentosa Fest to empower guests to reconnect with themselves and loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the heart of living well at Zentosa Fest, as we commemorate Sentosa’s Golden Jubilee.”
Rest and rejuvenate your mind
The arts play an important role in nurturing social, emotional and mental wellbeing, with the power to uplift spirits and improve wellness. From 3 – 12 June, look forward to islandwide arts offerings in the heartlands and city centres. In the Civic District, National Gallery Singapore will offer experiences including Somatic Movement workshops that allow participants to express themselves through qi gong, silat and other movements accompanied by traditional instruments and an eclectic playlist; a Slow Art programme that encourages mindful art appreciation and an immersive Sound Bath Experience specially designed for 10-14 year olds to enjoy soothing sounds that will relax the body and mind. Programmes by NAC’s Arts and Culture Nodes, an islandwide network of arts touchpoints also include visual arts workshops to enhance self-discovery and mindfulness; Chinese percussion and Latin dance workshops as well as a 10-metre art mural accompanied by a meditative soundscape.
Ms Lynette Pang, Deputy Chief Executive, National Arts Council said: “The arts play an important role in nurturing social, emotional and mental well-being, with the power to uplift our spirits. We engage in the arts in our daily lives, be it when listening to music on the go, reading a book at the end of the day, or enjoying a performance with our friends and families over the weekend. NAC is happy to be a part of the first WFS to bring more of Singapore’s diverse arts and culture offerings to locals and visitors all around the island with partners and arts organisations as these experiences can enrich our lives and support our well-being in simple and meaningful ways.”
COMO Shambhala Urban Escape will host a full-day open house on 12 June to inspire individuals, couples, young families and children to embrace fun and curiosity in their journey towards lifelong wellness. Guests can experience mindfulness-based art and movement for children, partner yoga, Pilates classes as well as nutrition and fertility talks.
Ms Joanna Chan, Group Director, Programmes, Health Promotion Board said: “The idea of a nationwide wellness festival is a great way to spur the industry to infuse health and wellness into their offerings and it complements our approach of making healthier choices accessible and engaging to the community. The programmes brought in by HPB such as the National Steps ChallengeTM and workshops for both individuals and their families will enable Singaporeans from all walks of life and different ages to experience how healthy living can be achieved and inspire them to lead healthier lifestyles in holistic ways – by keeping active, eating healthily, and taking time out to care for one another’s mental well-being.”
Re-energise with fitness classes and lifestyle offerings
From 11-12 June, visitors to Jewel Changi Airport can enjoy complimentary fitness and health classes at the Shiseido Forest Valley, set against the backdrop of the HSBC Rain Vortex. These classes are organised by Jewel Changi Airport Devt, Changi Airport Group, SportSG and STB. Participants can expect K-Kardio, Spin classes and a mass Taichi workout that promotes serenity through gentle movements, led by 2015 SEA Games Wushu gold medallist Lee Tze Yuan.
ClassPass will also conduct free virtual fitness/wellness classes at Gardens by the Bay and the scenic Civic District. These will be coupled with a mini virtual tour of each location so that everyone can experience Singapore and our wellness offerings from afar.
Locals and visitors can also boost their physical health through fitness and lifestyle activities such as Pilates followed by a curated meal and sail aboard Luxury Tall Ship Royal Albatross at Sentosa, a healthy Thai cooking class taught by Chef Donnapa of Greenhouse at Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, and a guided walking tour around Little India by VegThisCity that introduces participants to Ayurvedic practices.
Dr Chiang Hock Woon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Sport Singapore said, “Being part of this year’s Wellness Festival is a natural fit for Sport Singapore – with our shared passion and belief in positive lifestyle habits. Sport and physical activity have long shown to have a strong and positive influence on one’s well-being. Besides enjoying physical fitness and social interaction, the value of sport also extends to mental and emotional health benefits. We aim to bring the science and know-how behind our wide range of exciting programmes catered for all ages and abilities, to the community through our experts at convenient and conducive facilities, ActiveSG Sport Champions at our sport centres and our coaches and volunteers from our Active Health labs. With the relevant tools and expertise, it is our hope to support the community to move better and live an active, healthy lifestyle.”
Invigorate the senses with unique retail and food-themed experiences
A pop-up activation at Crane (Arab Street) will feature up to seven Made with Passion wellness brands on 4 and 5 June. There will also be brand-led workshops including Herbology Talks by FoodCulture, Scent by Six Perfume Workshops, and a Kombucha workshop with Starter Culture. Herbal Pharm will be collaborating with Cantina to provide smoothies for the breakfast crowd using a special smoothie bike.
Foodies can also indulge in a special ‘six-hands’ collaboration at 1-Arden, Singapore’s latest sky-high dining destination. The experience brings chefs and farmers together to prepare a wholesome meal, chosen from over 130 edible plant varieties and over 2,000 plants for their traditional healing properties, incorporated into contemporary culinary creations.
Festivalgoers can sign up for Wellness food tours such as the ‘TCM in Food’ Tour by Let’s Go Tour Singapore, where participants can discover how traditional Chinese medicine is applied into food preparation. They can also go on a ‘Family Farm Adventure’, an outdoor tour of Kampung Kampus by Earth Adventures that includes a farm-to-table plant-based organic lunch on the farm.
CapitaLand will hold its first wellness and community festival called Live It Up! across its malls and workspace properties. Participants can look forward to activities such as art therapy workshops and tea making classes, to embrace good health and wellness practices as part of their daily lives.
Driving business opportunities for the Singapore wellness sector
Apart from consumer-focused offerings, enterprises in the wellness sector can look forward to industry-specific events at Gardens by the Bay, organised by Enterprise SG as part of the Wellness Festival. The inaugural Wellness Symposium will bring together business leaders, industry experts and professionals to share insights on the market opportunities and consumer demand in spiritual, mental and preventative health. The Wellness Industry Roundtable, a by-invite session, will allow enterprises across sectors to network and discuss growth opportunities, explore innovation ideas and potential collaborations. Attendees at both events will also be able to experience wellness at the Wellness Sensorium located at the Gardens.
More information can be found at the WFS website: https://www.wellnessfest.sg/
