Get HCM digital magazine and ezines FREE
Sign up here ▸
Jobs   News   Features   Products   Magazine      Advertise  
NEWS
The pandemic is serving as a catalyst for wellness and wellbeing, Mia Kyricos tells StarrCast
POSTED 24 May 2021 . BY Megan Whitby
Kyricos was honoured for her contribution to the industry with the Leading Woman in Wellness award at the Global Wellness Summit in 2019

I started the podcast because so many of us in spa and wellness have taken different paths into their fulfilling jobs, and I’ve always found the stories fascinating
– Lisa Starr
Lisa Starr, principal of Wynne Business and 35-year spa and wellness industry veteran, has launched the StarrCast podcast, interviewing wellness professionals about their career path.

Industry figure and consultant Mia Kyricos was the latest guest, discussing her predictions for industry trends and how she sees significant growth potential in wellness communities, real-estate and wellness technology.

Kyricos serves on multiple corporate boards including as a founding board member of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) and Global Wellness Summit, and now focuses on strategic and brand advisory at her consulting firm Kyricos & Associates.

“Overall, I think we’ll see a deepening and broadening of each one of the GWI’s industry bubbles. Wellness isn’t slowing down anytime soon as COVID-19 is serving as a catalyst for the business of wellness and wellbeing," she said.

“People are also shifting their focus and the conversation we’ve tried to have about living and leading well at work and in our communities has been put on warp speed.

“The pandemic has reminded us of our mortality and, more than anything, the importance of our health. This has levelled the playing field globally and that’s exciting for all of us in the industry.”

Starr agreed and said consumers are now starting to truly comprehend and commit to wellness.

“At the end of the day we're definitely in the business of prevention and it’s ensuring our longevity for years to come,” added Kyricos.

“We have the power to help people live longer, happier and richer lives, and it’s a real privilege. We need more people to help carry this work forward and I’ve never been more bullish on the business of wellness and wellbeing than I am today.”

Kyricos is one of eight interviews from Season One of StarrCast, where individuals from six countries reflect on their career and industry experience (see list below).

Hailing from around the globe, the podcast’s interviewees are from widely different backgrounds, including everything from hospitality, F&B and fitness, to areas such as linguistics, the law, marketing, investment and acadaemia.

The goal of the podcast is to encourage those in established careers wanting to make a change, or young people thinking of their future, to consider a position in the wellness industry.

“I started the podcast because so many of us in spa and wellness have taken different paths into our fulfilling jobs, and I’ve always found the stories fascinating,” said Starr.

“There is so much opportunity to work in wellness, but career paths are undefined, often unpredictable, and even unplanned.”

StarrCast will cover the entire spectrum of the wellness industry, including spa and beauty, holistic and integrative health, nutrition, fitness, workplace wellness, wellness tourism and wellness communities.

Seasons two and three will be released in the next few weeks.

StarrCast season one line-up
RELATED STORIES
  FEATURE: Business analysis: Change management


Spa Business magazine takes a look at spas which are adapting and thriving since the pandemic struck
  FEATURE: Event review: Global Wellness Summit 2020


This year’s Global Wellness Summit saw two US surgeon generals, leading spa stakeholders and wellness professionals look towards the role they have to play following the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine gives its highlights
  Hall of Wellness Awards 2020 shortlist revealed, with nominations for Marc Cohen, Helena Grzesk and Andrew Jacka


The shortlist for the Hall of Wellness Awards (HOW Awards) has been announced, with 110 awards up for grabs, split into six categories – Middle East, Asia, Europe and UK, Oceania, Americas and Africa – plus an additional seven global prizes.
  COVID-19 is helping hoteliers recognise the value of spa revenue, says Emlyn Brown


Accor’s global VP of wellbeing, Emlyn Brown, believes COVID-19 has provided a platform for hotel spas in city locations to leverage the local market and become a crucial revenue driver.
MORE NEWS
Les Mills calls on the industry to support UNICEF
Global group exercise specialist, Les Mills, is inviting operators to sign up to its Workout for the World event on 20 June, in support of UNICEF.
HUM2N opens longevity clinic at Six Senses London
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider, HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
Researchers identify a drug which reduces muscle loss when using GLP-1 medications
Researchers in the US have identified an antibody which could greatly reduce the loss of lean muscle mass in people who are taking weight-loss medications.
+ More news   
LATEST JOBS
GP Exercise Referral Instructor
Everyone Active
Salary: £33,000pa + benefits
Job location: Harrow, Middlesex , United Kingdom
Self Employed Personal Trainer
Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Job location: Enderby
+ More jobs  

FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Elevate 2026 to mark 10-year anniversary with biggest ever waterfront drinks reception
Elevate is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in style this June, with organisers confirming the event’s largest-ever drinks reception as registrations continue to run more than 10% ahead of last year. [more...]

Reaching the people most gyms miss: Bedford Gym & Swim Campaign delivers 410 new members
One of the biggest mistakes the fitness industry still makes is advertising almost exclusively to people who already look and live like gym members. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
ukactive

ukactive is the UK’s leading trade body for the physical activity sector, bringing together more tha [more...]
Serco Leisure

Serco Leisure Operating Limited is one of the UK’s leading national operators of leisure centres, de [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

15-18 Jun 2026

HLTH Europe

RAI Convention Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
17-18 Jun 2026

Elevate London

Excel London, London, United Kingdom
+ More diary  
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
HCM
LEISURE OPPORTUNITIES
HEALTH CLUB HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Get HCM digital magazine and ezines FREE
Sign up here ▸
Jobs    News   Products   Magazine
NEWS
The pandemic is serving as a catalyst for wellness and wellbeing, Mia Kyricos tells StarrCast
POSTED 24 May 2021 . BY Megan Whitby
Kyricos was honoured for her contribution to the industry with the Leading Woman in Wellness award at the Global Wellness Summit in 2019
I started the podcast because so many of us in spa and wellness have taken different paths into their fulfilling jobs, and I’ve always found the stories fascinating
– Lisa Starr
Lisa Starr, principal of Wynne Business and 35-year spa and wellness industry veteran, has launched the StarrCast podcast, interviewing wellness professionals about their career path.

Industry figure and consultant Mia Kyricos was the latest guest, discussing her predictions for industry trends and how she sees significant growth potential in wellness communities, real-estate and wellness technology.

Kyricos serves on multiple corporate boards including as a founding board member of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) and Global Wellness Summit, and now focuses on strategic and brand advisory at her consulting firm Kyricos & Associates.

“Overall, I think we’ll see a deepening and broadening of each one of the GWI’s industry bubbles. Wellness isn’t slowing down anytime soon as COVID-19 is serving as a catalyst for the business of wellness and wellbeing," she said.

“People are also shifting their focus and the conversation we’ve tried to have about living and leading well at work and in our communities has been put on warp speed.

“The pandemic has reminded us of our mortality and, more than anything, the importance of our health. This has levelled the playing field globally and that’s exciting for all of us in the industry.”

Starr agreed and said consumers are now starting to truly comprehend and commit to wellness.

“At the end of the day we're definitely in the business of prevention and it’s ensuring our longevity for years to come,” added Kyricos.

“We have the power to help people live longer, happier and richer lives, and it’s a real privilege. We need more people to help carry this work forward and I’ve never been more bullish on the business of wellness and wellbeing than I am today.”

Kyricos is one of eight interviews from Season One of StarrCast, where individuals from six countries reflect on their career and industry experience (see list below).

Hailing from around the globe, the podcast’s interviewees are from widely different backgrounds, including everything from hospitality, F&B and fitness, to areas such as linguistics, the law, marketing, investment and acadaemia.

The goal of the podcast is to encourage those in established careers wanting to make a change, or young people thinking of their future, to consider a position in the wellness industry.

“I started the podcast because so many of us in spa and wellness have taken different paths into our fulfilling jobs, and I’ve always found the stories fascinating,” said Starr.

“There is so much opportunity to work in wellness, but career paths are undefined, often unpredictable, and even unplanned.”

StarrCast will cover the entire spectrum of the wellness industry, including spa and beauty, holistic and integrative health, nutrition, fitness, workplace wellness, wellness tourism and wellness communities.

Seasons two and three will be released in the next few weeks.

StarrCast season one line-up
RELATED STORIES
FEATURE: Business analysis: Change management


Spa Business magazine takes a look at spas which are adapting and thriving since the pandemic struck
FEATURE: Event review: Global Wellness Summit 2020


This year’s Global Wellness Summit saw two US surgeon generals, leading spa stakeholders and wellness professionals look towards the role they have to play following the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine gives its highlights
Hall of Wellness Awards 2020 shortlist revealed, with nominations for Marc Cohen, Helena Grzesk and Andrew Jacka


The shortlist for the Hall of Wellness Awards (HOW Awards) has been announced, with 110 awards up for grabs, split into six categories – Middle East, Asia, Europe and UK, Oceania, Americas and Africa – plus an additional seven global prizes.
COVID-19 is helping hoteliers recognise the value of spa revenue, says Emlyn Brown


Accor’s global VP of wellbeing, Emlyn Brown, believes COVID-19 has provided a platform for hotel spas in city locations to leverage the local market and become a crucial revenue driver.
MORE NEWS
Les Mills calls on the industry to support UNICEF
Global group exercise specialist, Les Mills, is inviting operators to sign up to its Workout for the World event on 20 June, in support of UNICEF.
HUM2N opens longevity clinic at Six Senses London
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider, HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
KX Chelsea invests £15 million to upgrade its wellness offering
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining training, recovery and relaxation.
Researchers identify a drug which reduces muscle loss when using GLP-1 medications
Researchers in the US have identified an antibody which could greatly reduce the loss of lean muscle mass in people who are taking weight-loss medications.
Peloton signals potential move into reformer Pilates with Skop acquisition
Peloton has made the strategic acquisition of the Pilates start-up, Skōp, to support the expansion of its strength ecosystem.
Crunch Fitness creates more affordable reformer Pilates concept
Crunch Fitness has announced the launch of Crunch Reform Pilates – its own reformer concept designed to bring this fast growing, but rather expensive, modality into the mainstream.
+ More news   
 
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Elevate 2026 to mark 10-year anniversary with biggest ever waterfront drinks reception
Elevate is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in style this June, with organisers confirming the event’s largest-ever drinks reception as registrations continue to run more than 10% ahead of last year. [more...]

Reaching the people most gyms miss: Bedford Gym & Swim Campaign delivers 410 new members
One of the biggest mistakes the fitness industry still makes is advertising almost exclusively to people who already look and live like gym members. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
ukactive

ukactive is the UK’s leading trade body for the physical activity sector, bringing together more tha [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

15-18 Jun 2026

HLTH Europe

RAI Convention Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
17-18 Jun 2026

Elevate London

Excel London, London, United Kingdom
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS