Dr. Avani Shridharani, Dentist & Owner
Bellaire Dental Suite
Why did you start working in the health and wellness space?
I am committed to educating on the importance of oral health because I come from a background where it wasn’t prioritized unless there was pain or discomfort. Since our mouth is the gateway to the rest of our body, keeping it free from disease can greatly enhance our overall health.
What do you see as the latest trends?
The growing focus on looking and feeling one's best. Teeth whitening, alignment treatments like Invisalign, and cosmetic dentistry are becoming more popular. A beautiful smile is now recognized as an aesthetic asset and a key factor in boosting self-esteem and personal well-being.
What is your overall recommendation for improving health and wellness?
Invisalign has proven effective for various dental concerns, including cosmetic and functional. Along with clinical benefits, Invisalign is comfortable and convenient and aids in maintaining optimal oral hygiene care during the course of treatment.
What is the number one product you recommend to enhance health and wellness?
A waterpik can be a fantastic tool for cleaning hard-to-reach areas that floss might miss. While it's important to continue practicing with traditional floss, a waterpik is a great complement to your oral hygiene routine.
How can people start 2025 on the right health journey?
While you visit a dental professional several times a year, most care is in your hands. Establishing a consistent routine for maintaining your teeth at home is key. Plus, find a dentist you trust who knows your health history, works with you on a long-term solution to reach your dental goals, and is available to respond to your dental emergencies. bellairedentalsuite.com
Dion & Cindy Ruzicka, Co-Founders
Loyly Sauna Lounge
Why did you start working in the health and wellness space?
After Dion was diagnosed with lymphatic leukemia, we wanted to heal as naturally as possible. Dion tried deliberate cold exposure and, a year later, was feeling better than ever. Cindy had her own transformative experience after adopting daily contrast therapy.
These experiences inspired us to create a space offering contrast therapy guided by an expert staff and a proven science-backed protocol in a community-centric wellness space.
What is your overall recommendation for improving health and wellness?
Regulate your nervous system with daily practices – breathwork, sunlight, cold plunges, good sleep, and things that bring happiness.
What is the number one product you recommend to enhance health and wellness?
Infrared saunas help us detox from chemicals we encounter in our modern lives. They recharge us on the cellular level, improve mental health, and act like a cardiovascular workout.
If you could only recommend two health and wellness services or modalities, what would they be and why?
Contrast therapy and fascia massage. Contrast therapy boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage to clear toxins from the body. Fascia is an overlooked system in our body. It’s connective tissue from our head to our toes, and when it's in an unhealthy state, so is our body. Using tools to release your fascia tissue while in the sauna improves your overall health and appearance.
How can people start 2025 on the right health journey?
Prioritize wellness. Contrast therapy relaxes the body, regulates the nervous system, gives you a boost of energy and feel-good hormones, and helps you sleep better so you have the motivation to take on your goals. loylysaunalounge.com
George Lancaster, Owner
Manduu
Why did you start working in the health and wellness space?
I started working out at Manduu when I was visiting Nashville. Since college, I have been serious about fitness and exercise. In addition to working out with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) at Manduu, I do traditional strength training 3 times per week.
Why are you so passionate about working in this industry?
The main reason I got involved with Manduu is because it works. So many gyms and workouts get stale and are only as good as what you put into them. Manduu is different because it is fast (15 minutes), reliable, and results are visible. Most of our customers become evangelists, and almost all our new business is word-of-mouth.
What do you see as the latest health and wellness trends?
EMS training is leaning into technology and data. Combining the regular InBody composition analysis with the custom dialed-in 15-minute full-body workout, each client gets a bespoke, tailored, and optimized experience.
What is your overall recommendation for improving health and wellness?
Use gym typologies for optimal fitness and, of course, EMS training.
What is the number one product you recommend to enhance health and wellness?
Anyone can buy a continuous glucose monitor like the Libre Freestyle 3 at a pharmacy without a prescription. Learning about your body, how it reacts to certain stimuli, and how you can intervene provides a lot of self-knowledge for your wellness journey.
If you could only recommend two health and wellness services or modalities, what would they be and why?
EMS and stretching. I am an addict at Stretch Lab. It is a fabulous, consistent product and additive to anyone’s life. manduu.com
Maricela Olivo (CEO, COO), Ashley Escobar (CSO, COO)
Montrose Med Spa
Why are you so passionate about working in this industry?
Ashley and I want to make a difference in people’s lives, helping them feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally by blending advanced medical technology with holistic treatments.
What do you see as the latest health and wellness trends?
The rise of advanced, non-invasive therapies like EMSCULPT NEO and EMFACE offer accessible, effective, and personalized treatments as clients seek faster, safer, and more efficient ways to improve body composition.
Recovery-focused therapies like cryotherapy, infrared saunas, and compression therapy support muscle recovery, reduce soreness, and boost circulation, helping people feel rejuvenated and ready for the next challenge.
What is your overall recommendation for improving health and wellness?
Take a holistic, personalized approach that integrates physical and mental wellness, leveraging the latest advancements in non-invasive therapies, technology, and self-care. Balance aesthetic treatments, fitness, recovery, and mental health tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals.
If you could only recommend two health and wellness services or modalities, what would they be and why?
EMSCULPT NEO treatment combines high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) with radiofrequency (RF) to burn fat and build muscle simultaneously. In just a few quick, painless sessions, you’ll be burning fat and building muscle simultaneously. It’s perfect for tackling those tricky areas that don’t seem to budge, no matter how many crunches you do.
EMFACE strengthens, lifts, smooths, and tightens your facial muscles without needles or downtime, leaving you looking fresh and rejuvenated.
How can people start 2025 on the right health journey?
Map out what you want to achieve this year. Having a clear goal keeps you motivated. montrosemedspa.com
Kathleen Szelei-Stevens, MD & Owner
Optimal Wellness and Lifestyle Balance
Why did you start working in the health and wellness space?
I have been a physician since 1995 and have seen patients interested in non-pharmaceutical methods to enhance their health.
Why are you so passionate about working in this industry?
I want everyone to know that they have power over their health that can usually be achieved naturally.
At 40, I was feeling tired despite living healthily. I explored natural remedies, took multivitamins, Vitamin D, fish oil, and added adaptogens for stress management. I switched to resistance training and stretching, and completed fellowship training in integrative medicine, blending Eastern and Western practices.
What do you see as the latest health and wellness trends?
Personalized medicine. For example, some people need help with stress, whereas others need an immune system boost. New apps monitor vital signs and health indicators, assisting physicians in offering recommendations.
What is your overall recommendation for improving health and wellness?
Get out and move. You get old because you stop moving. Some people with mobility issues can do chair exercises to maintain health and well-being.
What is the number one product you recommend to enhance health and wellness?
Have an annual physical with lab work, follow a healthy diet, take at least a multivitamin and Vitamin D3, and exercise daily.
If you could only recommend two health and wellness services or modalities,
what would they be and why?
Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables and walk at least 30 minutes daily.
How can people start 2025 on the right health journey?
Take it one day at a time. Do what you can, when you can. Consistency is key. owlbalance.com