More than 90 countries set to participate in Global Wellness Day tomorrow

Raising awareness of depression, focusing on bringing up happy kids and encouraging digital detox will be topics in the spotlight at this year’s Global Wellness Day (GWD).

Global Wellness Day 2017 will be celebrated in more than 90 countries around the world tomorrow, Saturday, June 10, with an anticipated 4,000 locations taking part.

Hotels and resorts that have confirmed their commitment to this year’s Global Wellness Day include the Four Seasons, Fairmont, Accor, Swissôtel, Six Senses, Mandarin Oriental, Hilton and Lux hotel groups.

Jeremy McCarthy, group director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental, said: “We love celebrating a day dedicated to personal wellness.

"It’s a great reminder to slow down and prioritise our own wellbeing.” The wellness initiative, which has 85 global ambassadors and 20 key supporters, also has the backing of a number of industry organisations around the world.

These include the Day Spa Association, International Spa Association, Spafinder Wellness, Global Wellness Institute, Arizona Spa & Wellness Association and Florida Spa Association.

Participating businesses and organisations are set to organise complimentary wellness events ranging from yoga, pilates, zumba and ballet classes, to hiking and workshops and sessions focused on nutrition, mindfulness, happiness and breathwork.

Global Wellness Day was established in Turkey in 2012 by Belgin Aksoy, board member of the Aksoy Group, whose investments include Turkish destination spa Richmond Nua Wellness Spa.

Since then, the event, which has the motto “one day can change your whole life” and aims to raise awareness of “the fact that wellness is not a luxury, but the inherent right of each individual” has grown into a worldwide initiative.

Of this year’s focus on happy kids, and combatting depression, Aksoy said: “While we can’t control our children’s happiness, we are responsible for our own.

"And because children absorb everything from us, our moods do matter.” She added: “In 2017, we would also like countries to focus on the topic of technology detox at GWD celebrations throughout the world.”