Due to the global pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on health and a spotlight shone on wellness. On 13 June 2020, the ninth annual Global Wellness Day will be hosted using a 24-hour live stream to highlight the importance of wellness.

The event will focus on mental health, stress, immunity, nutrition, indoor exercise, love and compassion, with the motto; “One day can change your whole life”.

With participants from six continents, Global Wellness Day will feature a range of educational and complimentary presentations, ranging from wingsuit base jumping, dancing and astrology to nutrition, Muay Thai exercises and plant-based cooking classes.

Content will be streamed through the event’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Belgin Aksoy founded Global Wellness Day in 2012 and it has since been celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June with free wellness activities across the globe.

In 2019, the event reached more than 7,000 locations in 150+ countries across six continents – resulting in millions of people getting involved, including high-profile celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey. New to the roster of countries this year are Hong Kong, New Zealand, Zambia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Nigeria.

According to Aksoy, the 2020 event will be educational, non-commercial and complementary since her motivating belief is that wellness is not a luxury but the inherent right of every individual.

“The inception of Global Wellness Day was planted into my heart while I underwent radio-iodine therapy in isolation in a hospital during 2004,” explained Aksoy, “I realised what really mattered in life, and understood that life is all about love and compassion and that ultimately our health is the most precious gift we have.

“I had to share this realisation with the world, and together with the Global Wellness Day family we’ve touched millions of hearts around the world. If Global Wellness Day was born in my nine days of isolation at the hospital, then imagine the range of positive ideas that’ll come from all the closed doors during quarantine across the globe.”

Aksoy commented: “Although Global Wellness Day lasts for 24 hours, our message is intended to last a lifetime.”