The Intersection of Wellness and Hospitality

Why caring for ourselves is the most authentic form of hospitality we can offer

For most of my career, I thought I understood hospitality. I thought it was about taking care of others — clients, colleagues, guests, teams. And it is. But what I’ve come to learn, sometimes the hard way, is that real hospitality begins with how we take care of ourselves.

When I launched my agency in my early thirties, I was singularly focused on building it. I poured everything into my work — my energy, my creativity, my time. The business grew quickly and beautifully, but my own health and balance declined just as fast.

I stopped prioritizing movement. I let client demands outweigh sleep and self-care. I socialized through work events and late dinners, usually with a few glasses of wine — not to excess, but enough to become habit. Over time, those habits caught up with me. I gained weight. I lost energy. My body started to send me signals that I was ignoring.

Then, one day, it stopped whispering and started shouting.

A wake-up call

At my lowest point, I was experiencing severe back pain, tingling in my arms, fatigue, and mounting anxiety. My doctor ran a series of tests — including one for multiple sclerosis — because my symptoms mirrored something far more serious. Thankfully, the results came back negative. But it was a clear message: if I didn’t change my life, my life was going to change me.

I remember sitting on a plane that Thanksgiving, looking at my then-husband, and saying quietly, “It’s a miracle I made it onto this plane. When we get back, I must change my life.”

And I did.

The shift

When we returned home, I reached out to a longtime friend — someone I’d known since high school — who had completely transformed her own life through nutrition and movement. She had lost 110 pounds and dedicated herself to helping others do the same.

With her help, and with the support of medical and fitness leaders, I began to rebuild. Slowly. Intentionally. I learned how to nourish my body with real food. I moved my body every day, even if it was only for 15 minutes. I surrounded myself with people who knew more than I did about wellness and let them teach me. Over 18 months, I lost more than 80 pounds, but what I gained was far greater: energy, clarity, and confidence.

I also found yoga during this time. What started as a physical practice soon became something much deeper — a mental and spiritual one. It gave me space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect.

In 2020, I completed my yoga teacher training with my longtime mentor, Mimi Ghandour, and I’ve since continued my studies in philosophy, methodology, and teaching. Today, I not only practice but also teach — guiding others through yoga and even leading business-focused modules in teacher trainings here in Miami.

Wellness as a leadership practice

What I’ve learned over the years is that wellness and hospitality are inseparable.

When I show up well — rested, grounded, and present — I can show up better for everyone else. My clients feel it. My colleagues feel it. My work reflects it. I make decisions more clearly, communicate more thoughtfully, and recover from stress more quickly.

I still enjoy a glass of wine. I still have dessert. I believe in balance and joy, not deprivation. But I do those things mindfully, not mindlessly. And that distinction has made all the difference.

Hospitality, at its core, is about extending care. The most powerful version of that is when we extend it to ourselves first.

The industry’s moment of reflection

The hospitality industry runs on passion — but that same passion can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and imbalance. Chefs, servers, managers, publicists, and executives often pour so much of themselves into creating experiences for others that they forget to create them for themselves.

The result? An industry full of heart but often running on empty.

We have a responsibility to ourselves and to those we lead to change that narrative. To redefine hospitality not just as something we offer outwardly, but as something we cultivate inwardly.

Wellness isn’t a luxury. It’s a requirement for longevity, creativity, and joy.

Key Takeaways

• True hospitality begins with how we care for ourselves.

• Balance and self-awareness lead to better creativity, leadership, and longevity.

• Movement, mindfulness, and nourishment are essential tools for entrepreneurs.

• When we show up well, we serve others more meaningfully.

• The future of hospitality depends on healthier, more grounded leaders.