A floating sound bath at Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace marked the official launch of Kayan Festival, the Middle East’s largest wellness festival, bringing sound healing, hypnotherapy, and conscious leadership to the forefront of Abu Dhabi’s wellness scene. Powered by Altha & Beyond Wellness.

Hosted at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, the Marie Claire Arabia Wellness Event explored the future of wellness through movement, longevity, and nervous-system regulation. ALTHA’s Hypno-Sound Bath introduced a therapeutic blend of hypnosis and sound healing, supporting stress reduction, mental clarity, and recovery for professionals navigating fast-paced life in Abu Dhabi.

Relocating to a new country is both exciting and disorienting. After spending 21 years in Los Angeles, I recently made the move to the Emirates to bring Altha’s signature wellness experiences to the Middle East. When I first arrived, I hadn’t yet decided whether to settle in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. While I appreciated Dubai’s fast-paced, entrepreneurial energy, I ultimately felt more aligned with the cultural richness and more relaxed rhythm of Abu Dhabi.

The logistics of settling in have been overwhelming: applying for licenses, setting up a new home, traveling with my dog Zen, navigating cultural differences, and rebuilding community from scratch.

In the midst of this transition, I’ve leaned on the very tools I share with others through Altha — sound healing, breathwork, and therapeutic hypnosis — to stay grounded, centered, and at peace.