By Barbara Scofidio
Here are 5 ways the IRF meeting incorporated wellness—and you can, too.
At registration, the IRF created a Zen Den with massages and a singing bowl meditation. They also had a giveaway for Citizen smart watches that track and predict your circadian rhythms. Immediately, attendees knew that this organization respects their personal wellbeing and that they could look forward to other wellness opportunities throughout the event.
The IRF also re-arranged the agenda from previous years, replacing a full day of education with two half days. Of course, many meetings might not be able to do this to this extent, but it’s no longer uncommon to build in substantial breaks and wellbeing activations.
It’s no longer uncommon to see people wearing sneakers with business clothing at trade shows, or Lilly Pulitzer dresses at meetings. In many settings, it’s fine for attendees to dress comfortably—whatever that means for them—and that was also the case here.
Plant-based food is no longer the exception, it’s the rule. The IRF host hotel, the Conrad Hotel at Resorts World in Las Vegas, was on top of this, with dishes like ube pancakes at lunch (ube is a purple yam, Japanese in origin) and Beyond meat “corned beef hash,” placed right alongside the real deal at breakfast.
The IRF included two morning wellness classes, both of which were well-attended: Soul Cycle and Bodyweight Bootcamp. You can also include less-strenuous options, like a guided beach walk or gentle yoga. But attendees have come to expect something at every meeting—and that no longer means a fun run for the best in shape of the group.