Why Our Wellness Journey Needs More Than Just a Gym

And What’s Just Landed on Leith Walk....

This month’s guest blog features Marie, Founder of Marpole Retreats in Edinburgh, as she shares 5 overlooked pillars of wellness that could be the missing piece in your journey. Her beautiful new wellness space — Marpole Retreats — is now open! It's built for people who believe wellness is a lifestyle, not a trend.

We all know what the wellness world says we should be doing: move more, eat clean, drink water, get eight hours of sleep. These things matter — no doubt. But if you’ve ever followed all the advice, ticked every box, and still felt like something was missing… you’re not alone.

Because true wellness isn’t just physical. It’s emotional. Mental. Environmental. Financial. Creative. It’s about how we live, love, learn, and grow. And yet so many wellness spaces still focus on just two things: what we eat and how we exercise.

That’s starting to change.

And here in Edinburgh, something quietly transformative is now open. Welcome to Marpole Retreats, a new wellness hub on Leith Walk — with the Marpole app live for bookings. It’s a space built around the idea that wellness should be whole — that it should meet people not just at the gym mat or the salad bar, but across every part of life that affects how we feel, think, and connect.

This isn’t about overhauling your lifestyle. It’s about supporting your version of balance. Let’s explore what that really means.

Wellness Is More Than Workouts

There’s no denying the importance of movement. It boosts mood, supports heart health, improves sleep, and helps regulate stress. At Marpole, fitness is a core part of the schedule — from low-impact classes to high-energy sessions designed to get your body moving in ways that feel good, not punishing. But movement is just one piece of a much bigger picture.

What if someone’s struggling with burnout? With self-doubt? With creative frustration or loneliness? What if they’re doing everything right physically but still don’t feel well?

That’s where the traditional wellness model starts to fall short — and where Marpole steps in.

Wellness Includes the Mind, Too

Mental and emotional health are often sidelined in the wellness conversation. But they are, in many ways, the foundation. How we talk to ourselves. How we handle stress. How we process emotions. All of it impacts our overall wellbeing.

At Marpole Retreats, people will find workshops and sessions that go far beyond surface-level advice. These are spaces to reflect, breathe, journal, reset, and learn practical tools for navigating the mental load of modern life.

Think:

• Guided mindfulness and breathwork

• Journaling prompts to reconnect with values and purpose

• Coaching sessions for personal growth and clarity

• Conversations around emotional regulation, self-talk, and self-compassion

This is the kind of work that often gets pushed aside. But it’s also the kind of work that leads to deeper confidence, better decisions, and more sustainable health in the long run.

Creativity Is a Wellness Tool

When was the last time you made something just for the joy of it? So many of us forget that creativity is a form of nourishment. Whether it’s painting, writing, music, or crafting, creative expression activates parts of the brain that support problem-solving, resilience, and emotional processing.

Marpole offers space for that too — not in a pressured, performance-driven way, but as an outlet. A way to reconnect with play, expression, and freedom.

Classes will include:

• Creative journaling and storytelling

• Art therapy and mindful painting

• Movement and sound fusion sessions

• Community workshops designed to unlock creative flow

It’s not about being an artist. It’s about remembering that humans are built to create.

The Relationships That Shape Us

Another area too often neglected in the wellness world? Relationships.

Whether it's the relationship we have with ourselves, our families, our partners, or our communities — the quality of those connections plays a huge role in our mental and emotional health.

Marpole Retreats will host group sessions and classes designed to:

• Explore communication and boundaries

• Rebuild self-trust and self-worth

• Deepen empathy and understanding

• Create meaningful community connections

  
  

It’s easy to isolate when life gets busy or overwhelming. But belonging is a basic human need — and wellness simply can’t thrive without it.

Financial Wellness Is Health, Too

Money is still a taboo topic in so many spaces — but financial stress is one of the biggest barriers to overall wellbeing. It impacts sleep, relationships, self-esteem, and even physical health.

Marpole recognises this and offers:

• Financial wellbeing sessions

• Budgeting and mindset workshops

• Tools to reduce shame and build confidence around money

Wellness isn’t just about spending on self-care. It’s also about feeling secure, empowered, and informed in the way we manage our resources.

Your Environment Matters

The space we live in has a powerful influence on how we feel day to day. Is it calming or chaotic? Does it reflect who we are? Does it support our rest and focus?

Marpole Retreats includes sessions focused on:

• Creating intentional home spaces

• Using design and decluttering to support mental clarity

• The impact of sensory environment on nervous system health

Because the home isn’t just a place we live — it’s a place that should hold and support us.

So… What Is Marpole Retreats?

To be clear: Marpole Retreats isn’t here to tell you how to be well. It’s not about trends or transformation stories. It’s a hub — a space to explore what your version of wellbeing looks like, and to be supported while you build it.

The physical space on Leith Walk is open and the Marpole app is live right now. You can already browse the full range of classes, sessions, and experiences, and book as many as you like. Think of it as building your own personal wellness menu — one that reflects where you are now, and where you want to go.

What Makes This Different?

The short answer? You.

In most wellness spaces, the brand is the hero. The instructor. The program. The transformation. But Marpole flips that script. The people walking through the doors are the main character here. Everything is designed to put your needs, rhythms, preferences, and goals first — not the other way around.

Whether you’re deep into your wellness journey or just beginning to ask new questions, this is a space that welcomes you without judgment or pressure. It’s a space to show up honestly, explore gently, and grow sustainably.

How to Get Started

If this resonates — if any part of you is craving a fuller, more balanced way to care for yourself — now is the perfect time to explore.

Here’s how:

1. Download the Marpole app (available now on iOS and Android)

2. Browse the full range of classes and workshops — from fitness to finance to mindfulness

3. Book as many as you’d like

4. Begin building a wellness rhythm that actually fits your life

No need to commit to one “type” of wellness. Just explore. Follow your curiosity. Let this be the season where wellness starts to feel like something that supports you — not something you have to earn.

Because You Deserve a Wellness Space That Sees All of You

Marpole Retreats was created for people who believe that wellness is more than a trend. It’s for people who want to move, grow, create, connect, and rest — without being boxed into a narrow definition of health.

It’s a space that acknowledges:

• You’re more than your body

• You’re more than your productivity

• You deserve support in every part of your life

And now, that support is arriving — right here on Leith Walk.

Ready to Redefine Wellness?

Marpole Retreats is opening soon — but your journey doesn’t have to wait. The app is live now. Your sessions are waiting. And your version of wellbeing is ready to take shape.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need a place that sees all of you.

Website: https://www.marpoleretreats.com

App Download: http://mndbdy.ly/e/5742479Welcome to Marpole.

Photo credit: @loumontgomerystudios