Living, Loving and Spa-ing in Los Angeles

Inside Live Love Spa’s 2026 National Wellness Month Trends Event

Peace at Live Love Spa’s National Wellness Month trends event in Los Angeles. It was wonderful to gather with industry colleagues, including the ever-stylish Shane Upson.

Some gatherings remind us why wellness has always been about more than treatments, trends or technology. Live Love Spa’s National Wellness Month trends event in Los Angeles brought the industry together for a day that felt equal parts experiential, educational and deeply connective. It was a chance to discover what is shaping the next era of wellness while reconnecting with the people who have shaped so much of the journey already.

That combination is what I love most about these events. We can be introduced to extraordinary new ideas in longevity and biohacking, sit in on thoughtful conversations about where the industry is headed, and still make space for hugs, laughter, flowers and the friendships that have grown across decades of work.

The Next Era of Wellness Is Already Here

The Longevity Era panel featured Kim Marshall, Kenneth Ryan, Nayan Patel, Beth McGroarty, and David Stewart.

One of the event’s many informative sessions was The Longevity Era panel, a conversation that reflected how quickly the boundaries of wellness are expanding. Longevity is no longer a niche idea living at the edge of the spa industry. It is becoming part of a broader conversation around how we support energy, resilience, recovery and quality of life over time.

The panel brought together Kim Marshall, Kenneth Ryan, Nayan Patel, Beth McGroarty and David Stewart, each offering a distinct perspective on the science, strategy and cultural shift surrounding longevity. The conversation made one thing clear: the future of wellness will be shaped by our ability to pair innovation with experiences that still feel personal, intuitive and human.

Inside the Ammortal Chamber, a luxury, space-age wellness pod that brings 10 non-invasive biohacking technologies into one automated session. Now available in Montana at The Chiropractor Whitefish, above VIBE Wellness Lounge.

That future was tangible inside the Ammortal Chamber, a luxury, space-age wellness pod that combines 10 non-invasive biohacking technologies in a single automated session. The experience is immersive, restorative and, quite simply, bliss. It is also a compelling example of where the wellness experience is headed: sophisticated technology delivered in a way that feels seamless to the guest.

Longevity Includes the Relationships We Keep

With Kenneth Ryan, a leader and visionary. We first worked together at Turnberry Isle in Florida with another industry icon, Tammy Pahel.

Of course, longevity exists within the wellness industry in another beautiful way, too: through friendships. Reconnecting with Kenneth Ryan brought me back to our work together at Turnberry Isle in Florida with the iconic Tammy Pahel. The settings, concepts and technologies may evolve, but the relationships built through meaningful collaboration continue to move with us.

With the ever-fabulous Michelle Wilkos. Our first collaboration was at Bellagio in Las Vegas 20 years ago, and we are still moving forward in wellness and business development.

The same is true of Michelle Wilkos, who I first collaborated with at Bellagio in Las Vegas 20 years ago. Two decades later, we are still moving forward in wellness and business development. There is something extraordinary about seeing how long-standing professional relationships become part of the industry’s living history.

Heart to heart with Rianna Riego

A heart-to-heart with Rianna Riego was another reminder that the most meaningful moments at industry gatherings are often the ones that cannot be scheduled. They happen between sessions, in conversation, when colleagues have the opportunity to truly check in with one another.

The Joy of Gathering

Ladies of Wellness, right to left: Joanne Berry, Christine Clinton, Angela Searle, Sara Jones, and Kim Collier of CollierConcepts.

Wellness is serious work, but joy belongs in the room. Gathering with the Ladies of Wellness, celebrating the colleagues who continue to inspire us, and sharing a little fun between sessions are part of what makes this community so special.

A trio of fun with Jaana Roth and Alex Marcus, honoring years of collaboration with Four Seasons Resorts and Ammortal.

Thank you to Jaana Roth for the many years of collaboration and to Alex Marcus for adding to our years with Ammortal. These shared chapters are part of the real fabric of wellness: ideas introduced, properties transformed, partnerships strengthened and plenty of fun along the way.

Buying ourselves flowers and writing love notes at SpaFinder’s 40th birthday party with Sara Jones, owner of Spa & Wellness MexiCaribe and Ara Spa Consulting.

There was also time to buy ourselves flowers and write love notes at SpaFinder’s 40th birthday party. Celebrating with Sara Jones felt perfectly aligned with the spirit of the day: honoring the institutions and people who helped build the industry while continuing to imagine what can come next.

Healing lights align in beautiful places with Stacy Shymansky of Medicine Women Health.

And sometimes, the right caption says it all: healing lights align in beautiful places. It was wonderful to share the moment with Stacy Shymansky of Medicine Women Health.

Living, Loving and Spa-ing

A Live Love Spa moment in Los Angeles

I absolutely enjoy living, loving and spa-ing at events that create room for both experience and education. My gratitude goes to Lisa Michaelis, founder of Live Love Spa and National Wellness Month, for continuing to bring the industry together with such warmth, curiosity and intention.

National Wellness Month is a reminder to make time for wellbeing every August.

You had me at spa day. Save the date for August 2027 with Live Love Spa.

SAVE THE DATE: August 2027

Every August, National Wellness Month by Live Love Spa gives us another reason to gather, learn and celebrate this ever-evolving industry. Until next time: keep living, keep loving and keep spa-ing.