BRIGETTE ELIZABETH FARMER
Discover the path to holistic health as we explore the best spots in Riyadh for rejuvenating your mind, body, and spirit. From healthy food spots, tranquil wellness centers and meditation retreats to cutting-edge fitness studios and natural healing therapies, we’ll guide you to the top destinations that promote overall well-being.
The pursuit of holistic health in Riyadh is steadily gaining traction—and for good reason. Far from being a passing trend, natural medicine has roots that span thousands of years, embracing a multidimensional approach that nurtures mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) focuses on empowering the body to heal itself by nourishing and supporting its natural processes. Unlike conventional medicine, which often targets symptoms, CAM emphasizes identifying and addressing the root causes of health issues. This proactive, whole-body approach promotes long-term wellness rather than temporary relief.
Key practices within CAM include nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture, movement therapy, and mind-body practices. Each plays a critical role in fostering balance and harmony within the body. So, let’s dive in and explore these practices further—and discover where you can experience them right here in Riyadh!
Nutrition – cleanse, detox, and nourish
You are what you eat…. literally. The foods we choose to consume are the building blocks of our bodies. The food you eat is broken down to form every single cell in your body and our whole entire body is made up of those cells. Take time to educate yourself and fuel up with plenty of meals, packed with nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables in all the colours of the rainbow as each colour represents different nutrients which our bodies need to keep healthy.
Thankfully, for those of us who are time-poor or not entirely sure how to create healthy, wholesome meals, Riyadh has some excellent health-food options that can help begin your health-journey with ease.
CLEANSE AND GLOW in Olaya is an excellent hotspot for raw, cold pressed juices, pre-packed meals, as well as 3–7-day juice and meal programs to get you on the right track.
Use the code DQ15 for an exclusive 15% discount when ordering.
Cleanse & Glow
CALO is another wholesome venue which supplies an extensive array of nutritionist-approved meals to suit a range of dietary requirements. Catch them online and download their app which will allow you to choose a customized plan to help fulfill your health goals. Alternatively, if you’re looking to get out and about, visit them in store, to switch off and enjoy a coffee or juice in Calo’s tranquil, Riyadh-based, dining space.
CALO
Movement therapies and body-mind practices
Activities such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong, integrate physical activity with mindfulness and breath control. These practices enhance physical health, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve mental well-being. They address the root cause of many health issues by promoting physical strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.
FORMÈ WELLNESS is the perfect spot to visit to incorporate gentle movement and body-mind practices into your routine with classes that combine the perfect blend of yoga, fitness and Pilates.
“Formé Wellness is driven by a passion for movement, wellness and empowering our clients to thrive by nurturing the body, mind and soul through transformative experiences” Esmé Harvey, FW Operations and fitness director.
Formé provides an extensive list of classes each for different fitness and body goals from toning and sculpting to gentle pre/post-natal classes. If you’re yet to try yoga or Pilates, know that these low impact workouts both provide physical and mental benefits. Together they can improve your muscle strength, flexibility, balance as well as reducing stress levels, improving sleep quality, mindfulness and aiding in weight loss.
Formé Wellness, located at Ar Rabi has proved to be so popular, you will likely need to join a waitlist to get in, and from what we’ve heard, it’s worth the wait. Luckily for us, due to popularity, they have now opened a second Riyadh branch in Al Aqiq which continues to run small, focused classes prioritising quality over quantity and will also include more holistic services such as sound healing, Lagree Megaformer, yoga and a Himalayan salt room. Be sure to follow Formé Wellness on socials to stay updated.
Be among the first 10 to use the code DQ10 when booking your first Salt Room class and enjoy a 10% discount! Offer valid throughout February and March—don’t miss out!
Formé Wellness
The Yoga House, located in Al Yasmine, is the new home for movement, connection and wellbeing in Riyadh. While rooted in practices like Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, they also invite their community to explore transformative experiences such as the meditative power of sound therapy, the disciplined flow of the Ashtanga Mysore program, and the uplifting challenges of Yoga Barre and Aerial yoga.
As the founder, Corinne, beautifully puts it, “When I moved here as an expat, I longed for a place that felt like the vibrant, welcoming spaces I’d discovered while traveling the world. I wanted to create a home where our community could feel seen, supported, and inspired to thrive.” At The Yoga House, they have built just that—a home where every individual can belong. You can join their community by head over to their website and downloading the Yoga House APP which makes choosing and booking classes simple.
Use the code DQ15 for your first booking to receive a 15% discount. Valid for February/March.
The Yoga House
The Art of Qi Wellness Space is the perfect place to learn the ancient, holistic art of Qi gong and Tai Chi. Qi gong and Tai Chi are ancient movement practices, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. They blend gentle movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to enhance both physical and mental well-being. Qi Gong, which means “energy work,” focuses on cultivating and balancing vital energy (qi) through a series of specific postures and exercises. Tai Chi, often described as “meditation in motion,” incorporates slow, flowing movements that enhance flexibility, balance, and strength. Both practices are known for their ability to lower stress, improve circulation, and promote overall health by harmonizing the mind, body, and spirit. If you would like to learn these ancient arts, ‘The Art of Qi’ is the first of its kind in Riyadh to teach them. This tranquil space of Zen instantly transports you to a place of serene relaxation instantly putting your mind and body at ease. Head over to their website to peruse classes and timetables and download their MINDBODY app which makes booking a breeze.
The Art of Qi
Acupuncture and naturopathy are powerful practices that promote health by harnessing the body’s natural ability to heal.
Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, uses fine needles at specific points to alleviate pain, reduce stress, improve sleep, and enhance overall well-being by stimulating natural healing processes. Naturopathy focuses on natural remedies and preventive care, offering guidance on nutrition, herbal medicine, and lifestyle changes to boost healing, strengthen the immune system, and improve mental and physical health.
Both practices address root causes rather than just symptoms, with naturopaths providing invaluable education to empower patients to take charge of their health, creating lasting benefits for overall well-being.
Earthy Center, located in An Nakheel and Mughrizat, is the go-to place in Riyadh for chiropractic and holistic/functional medicine. Using a patient-centred approach, they offer Naturopathy, Acupuncture, chiropractic, therapeutic massage, hydrotherapy and much more. The range of hydrotherapy treatments include the use of mineralised hot and cold baths, detoxifying herbal compresses and wraps, saunas, steam rooms, as well as balneotherapy. The benefits of regular sauna use, for the removal of toxins, has been scientifically proven to be highly beneficial. Although it is almost impossible to distance ourselves from the ever-increasing amount of environmental toxins we are currently being exposed to each day, we can control what we do to remove them, and saunas, among other things, are an excellent way to do that. With so many beneficial treatments and services on offer, it makes sense to pay Earthy Centre a visit and start prioritising your health. Chat to one of their many qualified practitioners who can direct you to the best suited treatments for your needs.
Apply the code DQ10 for your first booking to receive a 10% discount. Valid for February/March.
Earthy Center
