Flock & Gather Podcast. Allan Share talks with Anna Bjurstam from Wahayla
Flock and Gather Podcast, Episode 229: Anna Bjurstam from Wahayla on Living Better, Longer: The Future of Wellness
Health Span Over Lifespan
In Episode 229 of the Flock & Gather podcast, Allan Share, President of the Spa Industry Association, welcomes Anna Bjurstam, founder of Wahayla (wahayla.com). Together, they talk about what longevity really means, the wellness basics no one can skip, and the lessons Anna learned building one of the world’s best-known wellness brands.
Anna’s career began in 1989 as an aerobics instructor, followed by personal training and spinning. She earned a master’s degree in finance and helped open a gym chain in Sweden, but a deep Vipassana meditation retreat showed her that physical fitness isn’t everything; people also need mental, emotional, and spiritual fitness. She opened her first spa in the Maldives in 1999 and built her own company, Resense, which she sold in 2013 to a New York private equity firm that also owned Six Senses. She then led Six Senses’ shift from a traditional spa hotel brand to a true wellness brand, stayed on through its sale to IHG and the pandemic, and finished by opening Six Senses London and its membership club. Earlier this year she founded Wahayla, which works with fitness chains, hotel groups, clinics, and cruise ships, and recently launched a new venture bringing medical wellness to yachts and cruise ships.
Beyond Physical Fitness
To start, Anna explains how her understanding of wellness evolved beyond physical fitness. After years in the fitness industry, a deep meditation experience helped her recognize the importance of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Today, she believes true wellness requires a more holistic approach that connects the body, mind, purpose, and nature.
What Longevity Really Means
Next, the conversation turns to longevity and the difference between simply living longer and living healthier. Anna explains that while longevity can mean different things to different people, her focus is on health span: extending the years people live in good health and delaying the onset of chronic disease. She also discusses how the industry is embracing longevity through wellness experiences, medical wellness, and emerging treatments.
The Foundations of Healthy Aging
Allan and Anna then explore the everyday habits that have the greatest impact on longevity, including quality sleep, proper nutrition, movement, and mental health. Anna emphasizes the importance of maintaining muscle mass, mobility, balance, and cardiovascular fitness as we age. The two also discuss the GLP-1 boom. Anna notes that roughly one in eight Americans now use these drugs and that around 40 percent of the weight lost can be muscle. She stresses the importance of exercise and proper nutrition.
Building a Better Wellness Business
The conversation continues to flow as Anna shares lessons from her years working with international hotel and spa brands. She stresses the importance of creating consistent wellness experiences across properties, building strong company cultures, and having the right people behind a brand’s vision. She also explains why she chooses to work with clients who are genuinely interested in innovation and creating meaningful wellness experiences rather than simply following trends.
Key Takeaways
Finally, Anna offers a broader perspective on where the wellness industry is headed and why the future is about more than looking younger or living longer. From the importance of spiritual well-being to the role of technology and medical innovation, she encourages the industry to take a more comprehensive approach to health and longevity.
Whether you’re a spa professional, wellness entrepreneur, hospitality leader, or simply interested in the future of healthy aging, this episode offers valuable insight into the next evolution of wellness.
Topics covered: Anna Bjurstam, Wahayla, wahayla.com, Spa Industry Association, Allan Share, Six Senses, Resense, IHG, longevity, health span, wellness, sleep, nutrition, movement, mental health, spiritual wellbeing, indigenous wisdom, muscle mass, mobility, VO2 max, zone two training, GLP-1 medications, medical wellness at sea, brand strategy, company culture, and leadership.
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