Saudi’s Wellness Scene Is Serving Looks & Endorphins
Jefferson University defines wellness as, “an intentional, active process of trying to improve one’s overall quality of life.” That’s probably true, but let’s be honest, that’s snooze-level. So, let’s turn to Saudi to see how wellness is getting a glow up.
Feeling good is officially trending, and Saudi’s riding that wave with full style, strength, and serotonin. Across the Kingdom, a wellness movement is catching fire, with yoga flows, reformer Pilates studios, Lagree burn sessions, and tennis courts popping up in every major city. Whether you’re chasing an aesthetic gym fit, a mental health reset, or a new place to stretch and sweat with your friends, Saudi’s wellness game is stronger than ever.
Destination Wellness: From Desert Springs to Red Sea Retreats
You may have heard that entertainment and tourism is booming in Saudi Arabia with a host of concerts, shows and festivals, destination activations. It should be no surprise then that wellness-focused resorts, destinations, and getaways are taking advantage of Saudi’s many perfect settings. These range from the ultra-lux likes of Amaala on the Red Sea to the natural sulfur springs of Ain Najm in Al Ahsa (Saudi’s oldest wellness site). There’s also the annual AlUla Wellness Festival, a chance to absorb thousands of years of history into mind and body wellness – we’ll have more information on that as it comes, so watch out feeds.
But you don’t need to resort to resorts. This growth in wellness is also pushing more people to workout at home, hire an instructor, or join one of the many exercise studios springing up here and there.
Breathe In, Stretch Out: Yoga’s Big Moment
Let’s start with where it arguably all started: yoga. From rooftop sessions at sunset to candle-lit vinyasa get togethers, Saudi has embraced yoga so enthusiastically that one of the key figures in popularizing the pastime, instructor Nouf Al-Marwaai, was recently honoured by the Indian government. Thanks to its huge ease of access (because of course you can do it at home) it’s now popular with basically everyone at every level and there are studios popping up across the Kingdom for those who want instruction and community too. If you’re in Riyadh, check out the Yoga House, which offers mixed classes as well as men and women only sessions; if you’re in Jeddah, Karama Yoga is a popular joint; and, the appropriately named Lighthouse Yoga is where to get your seaside stretch on in the Eastern Province
Time to Shake Off the Burn: Pilates & Lagree Studios Are Booming
Sometimes, you want to stretch out beyond yoga and burn more than incense – especially if you’ve been indulging in Saudi’s crave-worthy cuisines. If so, turn from plate to pilates or even Lagree if you’re a glutton for punishment (yes, your abs will cry in French). Like Yoga, there’s plenty of people who turn home to feel the burn, but there’s also a growing number of dedicated studios like Relive Studio in Riyadh, Refine Studio in Jeddah, Riforma Studio in Dammam, and Curva in Khobar. It’s slow, strong, seriously addictive, and perfect for your reformer reel.
Book It, Sweat It, Share It
And, whether it’s a peaced-out yoga session or a blood, sweat, and tears Lagree workout you go for, you’ll find all these places are easy to book. Some have their own dedicated apps that allow you to book, customize your session, and get tips to workout at home with. Others work through website bookings or let you slide into their Insta-DMs. You can also keep an eye out for pop up sessions and collabs with local cafes (often soundtracked by a DJ of the moment to help get your heart rate up). And, looking wider, there’s also the Kingdom-wide Hawi App (available for iPhone and Android) that’s designed to connect people over their hobbies, pastimes and interests, wherever they are.
More Than Mats: Movement for Everyone
But it’s not just yoga, pilates, and other floor/exercise machine-based activities. As we’ve touched on in other articles, if you want to nourish your body or mind, Saudi is basically the place to be right now. There’s turn-up-and-play sports galore, adventure sports that push your fitness, skills, and bravery while also connecting you to the great Saudi outdoors, and that’s before we get to all the ways and places to spend time with friends or take in arts, culture, and entertainment.
In fact, the most important thing as we get to the final stretch of this article is to remember: You do you. Whether you’re a beginner or a wellness warrior, there’s never been a better time to stretch, sweat, and serve in Saudi.
No pressure, no gatekeeping—just good vibes, healthy endorphins, and great feelings all round.
