Global Wellness Day is an entirely not-for-profit day, founded in Turkey in 2012 by Belgin Berkin Aksoy and dedicated to living well. The fundamental purpose of the day is to make us aware of the value of our lives. Even if it’s for one day of the year, to make us stop and think, to get away from the stress of city living and our bad habits, and thereby find peace within ourselves. All activities carried out under Global Wellness Day are free of charge and open to the public.

Global Wellness Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year.

A Rising Community

From year to year, this special occasion is reserved for the second Saturday in June. In 2012, the inaugural Global Wellness Day took place in Turkey. Since then, the celebration has expanded dramatically to reach over 4,000 locations in more than 100 countries, as of 2017. Moving forward, the target is to further expand that growing reach.

The project is run by GWD Administrative Office in Istanbul that lives with the motto of “One day can change your whole life”. They simply want others to consider how they can live a better and healthier life – even if it’s only for one day.

Goals to Live By

There are wider aims at work for each of these global events. At the top of the agenda is recognition that our lives have value. Meanwhile, another is to highlight that having even a single day to pause and reflect is important.

The day also encourages people to find freedom from the stresses and bad habits associated with city living, while also finding peace within. This celebration also seeks to raise awareness for trying to live well during the rest of the year.

Wellness Defined

Global Wellness Day also seeks to spread its definition of wellness, which is based on people feeling good about their mental, physical, and social circumstances. This is to reflect the importance of the whole self in wellness, while touching upon the following principles:

• Holism:life and wellness are interlinked. Their inter-relation will underpin a full and healthy life.
• Balance:daily life is filled with stressful challenges. The concept of balance is to ensure that each dimension of life is given plenty of attention.
• Self-responsibility:this is the idea that people should take responsibility for their own health or happiness and not let others control their decisions.
• Positive and proactive:a commitment to being positive and proactive in life will give people a stronger purpose in their existence.

GWD 7 Step Manifesto

In order to make Wellness a lifestyle, Global Wellness Day aims to adopt the following seven simple steps. Even if one can’t implement all of the steps all at once, what is important is to incorporate at least just few of them into your daily life on a regular basis.

WALK FOR AN HOUR

You feel happier as you walk because the brain secretes endorphin while you are walking. You can keep fit by walking. Your muscles get stronger, you lose belly fat, the level of cholesterol reduces and it helps you overcome your weight problems.

DRINK MORE WATER

People who drink less water might suffer exhaustion, attention deficiency and memory problems. The more water you drink the less carbonated drink you consume.

DON’T USE PLASTIC BOTTLES

The plastic bottles made of petroleum waste cause innumerable damage to our health and the environment.

EAT HEALTHY FOOD

Try to consume foods which are produced through natural methods by using appropriate fertilization and weed control techniques without using pesticides and certain chemicals.

DO A GOOD DEED

Do a good deed to break your prejudices, to make the world a better place to live. See how you will change your life by changing someone else’s.

HAVE A FAMILY DINNER WITH YOUR LOVED ONES

Eat a family dinner with your loved ones in a room where, if possible, there are no smart phones and TV. Talk about your day. Listen to each other’s recommendations. Some research shows that having family dinners with the loved ones have a psychologically positive effect on the children who suffer obesity.

SLEEP AT 10:00 PM

Sleep is a critical process during which our body regulates everything and repairs and heals itself. It slows down ageing and protects us from diseases. HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is released by the brain into the bloodstream during sleep and it’s release is part of the repair and restoration function of sleep. The major period of HRH release is in the first period of stage 3 sleep during the night.

Worldwide Support

GWD has the support of the governments of USA, Cyprus, Turkey, Ireland, Serbia, Costa Rica, Thailand,Canada, Aruba, India, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico.

Over the past two years, Global Wellness Day received the support of Hollywood stars such as Ving Rhames, Josh Charles, Ty Burrell, Jessie Taylor Ferguson, Mayim Bialik, Joe Morton, authors such as Deepak Chopra and Agapi Stassinopoulos, sports stars such as Venus Williams and Rainbeau Mars and leaders of the business world including Founder of Virgin Group, Richard Branson, Co-creator of SKYPE, Jonas Kjellberg, Wendy Kopp, CEO / Co-Founder of Teach for All and Jason Silva, American television personality, filmmaker, and public speaker and  British rock singer and songwriter Rod Stewart.

The project also has taken the attention of International Mass Media since 2012. The news of GWD have been published in Huffington Post, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, European Spa Magazine, Blue Wings Magazine, Cabines France, Vanity Fair, Insider’s Guide to Spas, Direto de Forte, Spa & Wellness Magazine, La Depeche, Women’s Health Magazine, Spa Business, World Travel Magazine, Turisticki Svet, Spa Opportunities, American Spa Magazine, Vogue, GQ and LA YOGA.

The news about GWD have been also broadcasted on channels such as; Bloomberg HT, CNBC-E, RTBF, TVCOM, CNNTURK, FOX, PHYSIQUE TV.

Four Seasons, Fairmont Hotels, Constance Hotels and Resorts, ROYAT, Talise Spa (group of Jumeriah Hotels & Resorts), LUX Hotels & Resorts Group, GRACE Hotels of America, GOCO Spas & GOCO Retreats, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, SIX SENSES, Marriott Spas, Thalasso & Spa Serge Blanco, Richmond International, St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, SENSE SPA, Kurotel, Divani Apollon Palace, Best Alpine Wellness Hotels, WTS International, HILTON, Red Door Spas, OBEROI Spas, Chuan Spas, Shangri-la Bosphorus Istanbul, Swiss Hotel, The St.Regis Istanbul are some of the hotels that confirmed their participation to Global Wellness Day with the wellness activities including yoga, zumba, pilates, dance, healthy eating and nutrition seminars.

GWD is also getting the support of schools and institutions worldwide such as; CIDESCO Schools, Thuya Escuela School in Spain, American Leisure, Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Exercise is Medicine, Day Spa Association, SpaFinder Wellness 365, Treatwell, Global Wellness Institute, Arizona Spa & Wellness Association, Florida Spa Association, International Spa Association (ISPA), Nihon Esthetic Association, Turkish Heart Foundation, South African Spa Association, Spa – A (Fédération des professionnels du bien-être) and S.P.A.S (Syndicat Professionnel des Activités de SPA).

International Recognition

The success of Global Wellness Day has increased its international recognition even further in 2016. ISPA (International Spa Association) has awarded Global Wellness Day with the Innovate Award in Philanthropic Initiatives Category.