By Stephan Boerhof, CEO of GlobalSpaTouch and Global Wellness Day Ambassador for Italy,
When I reflect on why I decided to organise a Global Wellness Day event in my local community this year, my thoughts return to a defining moment in my life - 2020.
I had just arrived in Italy when the COVID‑19 pandemic changed the world. I found myself in a new country, without speaking the language, far from my personal and professional network, at a time when human connection had suddenly become almost impossible. As a spa consultant, I also witnessed an industry built on touch, care and presence come to a complete standstill.
Yet during this period of uncertainty, I felt a strong need to contribute in a meaningful way.
For me, wellness has always been more than a profession. It is a way of creating care, grounding and connection - both for myself and for others.
Shortly after my arrival, I joined the International Women Association of Modena and began connecting with women online. I started offering skincare workshops as a way to create small moments of wellbeing during isolation. What began as simple digital sessions soon evolved into something far more meaningful: a shared space for exchange, support and presence.
As restrictions eased, I brought these gatherings into my garden. The skincare workshops gradually became multidisciplinary wellness experiences, developed in collaboration with local practitioners and enriched with yoga, Pilates and meditation. Through these moments, I came to understand something essential about myself: my true passion lies in creating wellness experiences that bring people together through ritual, the senses and shared connection.
A few years later, through my collaboration with Sodashi, I was invited to the Maldives to deliver training for a spa team at one of their partner properties. During this time, I was also asked to lead a Global Wellness Day activation for guests.
Using Sodashi’s chakra blends and skincare rituals I designed a sensory experience that combined meditation, aromatherapy and skincare. It was a deeply grounding and meaningful moment - one that confirmed my alignment with experiential wellness and the values behind Global Wellness Day.
That experience stayed with me and strengthened my connection to the Global Wellness Day movement. This year, I am honoured to have been appointed Global Wellness Day Ambassador for Italy - a role that reflects both my personal journey and my ongoing commitment to making wellness more accessible.
This is also why I chose to bring Global Wellness Day to my own community in Modena, in collaboration with the International Women Association and local wellness professionals. My intention is simple: to create meaningful, shared experiences of wellbeing that are open to all.
The morning will be dedicated to gentle movement, skincare rituals, meditation and moments of connection - guided by practitioners who share a holistic vision of wellbeing. Rather than focusing on performance or outcomes, the experience is designed to invite presence, listening and care.
I believe wellness should not be reserved for specific destinations, occasions or lifestyles. It is something we can cultivate through everyday rituals, human connection and moments of awareness.
Today, my work goes beyond spa consulting and training. I focus increasingly on supporting spas and wellness destinations in designing guest experiences that move beyond treatments - experiences that integrate ritual, education and emotional connection.
I am especially grateful to continue this journey alongside Sodashi, a brand that shares a holistic vision of wellbeing, where skincare becomes ritual and experiences become moments of genuine care.
As we celebrate Global Wellness Day, I am reminded that wellness lives not only in what we do, but in how we come together.
