Anna Bjurstam, Raison d’Etre and Six Senses
/ photo: Six Senses
What’s been your biggest life lesson? The first is to never rely on a contract or ethics. I was naive and unaware of this in the early days when setting up a Raison d’Etre spa at a resort in the Maldives. It went so well the owner ripped up our contract, took down our sign, poached our staff, concept and products, gave it a new name and ran it himself. He was able to do that because he had more money and power.
The second is to never give up. During the financial crisis in 2009, Raison d’Etre almost didn’t make it. We hung in, got creative and founded LivNordic, a brand based on Nordic health traditions, which is now highly profitable. What you can do with a dedicated, talented and passionate team when everyone feels part of the whole is fantastic and many are still with us today.
The third is not to be afraid to take risks – you either succeed or you fail and learn a valuable lesson. When I was given a blank canvas to turn Six Senses into a wellness company, there were a lot of non-believers in the initiatives we created. However, we walked the road less travelled and it paid off.
How has the industry evolved since 2003? Back then, most people didn’t even know what the word ‘spa’ meant and doctors certainly didn’t acknowledge it. When I graduated with a master’s degree in finance in 1997 and joined the fitness industry, my father thought I’d thrown away my education and career.
I was a founding board member of the Global Spa Summit in 2007, which is now known as the Global Wellness Summit and gradually this organisation, led by Susie Ellis, has helped our industry earn the respect of doctors and scientists. Just about everyone is interested in wellness and it’s an amazing time to work in this sector right now.
Who have been the biggest industry influencers? Susie Ellis, founder of the Global Wellness Institute, definitely, as well as Alberto Villoldo and his work in energy medicine, neo-shamanism and the connection with the non-visible realm.
Also Dave Asprey, the father of biohacking. Mark Hyman, a pioneer in functional medicine and Deepak Chopra for the way he’s spread the knowledge of ayurveda – for me, personally, this is the most important healing method in the world today and it would be my ‘go-to’ if I ever got seriously sick.
More recently, there are neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, longevity expert Peter Attia, genetics professor David Sinclair, fitness, nutrition and health coach Ben Greenfield and many more.
What innovations have made a difference? I have to mention tech and the wearable market and how we can use both to understand more about our health. When I started, it was all about touch and technology was looked upon as a disturbance of wellness. Today it’s part of the solution and AI is opening up a whole new world of personalised wellness and medicine.
Also biohacking. I stumbled across Dave Asprey 10 years ago and realised what an opportunity it presented – interventions are typically not labour intensive, are low risk and offer a high ROI.
I use a cryotherapy chamber as well as a red light bed a couple of times a week and truly feel the difference.
What societal trends are impacting the market? One of the biggest trends right now is that just about everyone is interested in wellness. Before it was only the early adopters and those who encountered some kind of health problem that wellness helped them solve.
A more feminine era is raising consciences and people are choosing differently for themselves, others and our earth.
The quest for not being lonely is another driver. We need to find new ways to meet ‘our tribe’ and wellness will play a big part.
The need for mental health and people seeking spiritual development is fuelling the psychedelic market. It’s booming and is not going away – it’s built up too much momentum. It’s also driving a market for indigenous therapies, shamanism and the invisible realm.
What business models will be the most exciting? The combination of medical, wellness, mental and spiritual modalities under one roof in tandem with an online presence, wearables and real-time health and lifestyle advice 24/7 is what excites me most.
What do you wish had been invented but hasn’t yet? I’ve always dreamt of walking through a portal at a spa reception, that scans all your vitals and tells me exactly what I need for that day. What type of exercise I should do when I go to the gym, what kind of massage I should have or what foods I need to eat. It would only take a minute, be accurate and easy to understand. It could also write up a week’s wellness programme, a month’s lifestyle advice or a yearly plan to reach my goals. I’m sure this is coming and can’t wait to experience it.
What’s holding the global spa industry back? It’s too fragmented and a bit ‘wild west’ right now. False claims are everywhere. There are products that don’t deliver what they say they will and influencers who don’t know what they’re talking about.
As we become more mature, standards will form and those products and services that hold true to their promise will emerge. But, at the moment, my biggest fear is that powerful, large profit-hungry companies with questionable values will infiltrate the wellness sector – just as they have the food industry – and destroy it.
What do you still hope to accomplish? So much! I’ve always seen my purpose to be a bridge builder, to help people cross into a more healthy world where they can live better for longer. And there’s so much coming down the line in terms of personalised wellness, stem cells, exosomes, peptides and biohacking.
At the same time, having been initiated as a shaman and working in the non-visible realm has shown me that the world is much more than what we can see. Spiritual wellbeing, connection, purpose, love, creativity, quantum physics, psychedelics and learning from nature and ancient practices are equally important as the new science.
In fact, the two go hand in hand. I’m determined to help create a world where there’s less judgement and more curiosity and where doctors, healers, scientists and spiritual masters work together.
Spa Business birthday message
"I always look forward to reading Spa Business. It educates, inspires, questions and connects the industry.
I’m incredibly grateful to Liz Terry
and the team behind it"
More from spa industry leaders...
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
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News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
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Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
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GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
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the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
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Anna Bjurstam, Raison d’Etre and Six Senses
/ photo: Six Senses
What’s been your biggest life lesson? The first is to never rely on a contract or ethics. I was naive and unaware of this in the early days when setting up a Raison d’Etre spa at a resort in the Maldives. It went so well the owner ripped up our contract, took down our sign, poached our staff, concept and products, gave it a new name and ran it himself. He was able to do that because he had more money and power.
The second is to never give up. During the financial crisis in 2009, Raison d’Etre almost didn’t make it. We hung in, got creative and founded LivNordic, a brand based on Nordic health traditions, which is now highly profitable. What you can do with a dedicated, talented and passionate team when everyone feels part of the whole is fantastic and many are still with us today.
The third is not to be afraid to take risks – you either succeed or you fail and learn a valuable lesson. When I was given a blank canvas to turn Six Senses into a wellness company, there were a lot of non-believers in the initiatives we created. However, we walked the road less travelled and it paid off.
How has the industry evolved since 2003? Back then, most people didn’t even know what the word ‘spa’ meant and doctors certainly didn’t acknowledge it. When I graduated with a master’s degree in finance in 1997 and joined the fitness industry, my father thought I’d thrown away my education and career.
I was a founding board member of the Global Spa Summit in 2007, which is now known as the Global Wellness Summit and gradually this organisation, led by Susie Ellis, has helped our industry earn the respect of doctors and scientists. Just about everyone is interested in wellness and it’s an amazing time to work in this sector right now.
Who have been the biggest industry influencers? Susie Ellis, founder of the Global Wellness Institute, definitely, as well as Alberto Villoldo and his work in energy medicine, neo-shamanism and the connection with the non-visible realm.
Also Dave Asprey, the father of biohacking. Mark Hyman, a pioneer in functional medicine and Deepak Chopra for the way he’s spread the knowledge of ayurveda – for me, personally, this is the most important healing method in the world today and it would be my ‘go-to’ if I ever got seriously sick.
More recently, there are neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, longevity expert Peter Attia, genetics professor David Sinclair, fitness, nutrition and health coach Ben Greenfield and many more.
What innovations have made a difference? I have to mention tech and the wearable market and how we can use both to understand more about our health. When I started, it was all about touch and technology was looked upon as a disturbance of wellness. Today it’s part of the solution and AI is opening up a whole new world of personalised wellness and medicine.
Also biohacking. I stumbled across Dave Asprey 10 years ago and realised what an opportunity it presented – interventions are typically not labour intensive, are low risk and offer a high ROI.
I use a cryotherapy chamber as well as a red light bed a couple of times a week and truly feel the difference.
What societal trends are impacting the market? One of the biggest trends right now is that just about everyone is interested in wellness. Before it was only the early adopters and those who encountered some kind of health problem that wellness helped them solve.
A more feminine era is raising consciences and people are choosing differently for themselves, others and our earth.
The quest for not being lonely is another driver. We need to find new ways to meet ‘our tribe’ and wellness will play a big part.
The need for mental health and people seeking spiritual development is fuelling the psychedelic market. It’s booming and is not going away – it’s built up too much momentum. It’s also driving a market for indigenous therapies, shamanism and the invisible realm.
What business models will be the most exciting? The combination of medical, wellness, mental and spiritual modalities under one roof in tandem with an online presence, wearables and real-time health and lifestyle advice 24/7 is what excites me most.
What do you wish had been invented but hasn’t yet? I’ve always dreamt of walking through a portal at a spa reception, that scans all your vitals and tells me exactly what I need for that day. What type of exercise I should do when I go to the gym, what kind of massage I should have or what foods I need to eat. It would only take a minute, be accurate and easy to understand. It could also write up a week’s wellness programme, a month’s lifestyle advice or a yearly plan to reach my goals. I’m sure this is coming and can’t wait to experience it.
What’s holding the global spa industry back? It’s too fragmented and a bit ‘wild west’ right now. False claims are everywhere. There are products that don’t deliver what they say they will and influencers who don’t know what they’re talking about.
As we become more mature, standards will form and those products and services that hold true to their promise will emerge. But, at the moment, my biggest fear is that powerful, large profit-hungry companies with questionable values will infiltrate the wellness sector – just as they have the food industry – and destroy it.
What do you still hope to accomplish? So much! I’ve always seen my purpose to be a bridge builder, to help people cross into a more healthy world where they can live better for longer. And there’s so much coming down the line in terms of personalised wellness, stem cells, exosomes, peptides and biohacking.
At the same time, having been initiated as a shaman and working in the non-visible realm has shown me that the world is much more than what we can see. Spiritual wellbeing, connection, purpose, love, creativity, quantum physics, psychedelics and learning from nature and ancient practices are equally important as the new science.
In fact, the two go hand in hand. I’m determined to help create a world where there’s less judgement and more curiosity and where doctors, healers, scientists and spiritual masters work together.
Spa Business birthday message
"I always look forward to reading Spa Business. It educates, inspires, questions and connects the industry.
I’m incredibly grateful to Liz Terry
and the team behind it"
More from spa industry leaders...
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
