Born in the South of France and immersed in a multicultural environment, Céline Vadam’s love affair with the Mediterranean’s heritage and art de vivre began early, sparking a passion for travel, exploration, and healthy living that would one day define her career. In her early 20s, after earning a bachelor of arts in economics and a master’s in business administration focused on tourism management, Vadam moved to London to start a new chapter with her baby daughter in one arm and big dreams in the other.
This journey led her into the dynamic world of hospitality and tourism, where she spent more than a decade traveling and working across the globe on hotel and destination development projects. As a senior manager of development at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, she collaborated with the world’s leading experts on longevity, nutrition, and wellbeing. This experience fueled her to launch WE(i)Think, a consultancy focused on creating wellness and sustainability concepts. She also launched her own coaching brand, Retrouv’I, creating and leading retreats for Blue Zones.
Beyond her professional roles, Vadam is a certified integrative health coach, yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, and breathwork expert. She is a celebrated public speaker, co-founder of the Hospitality of the Future Think Tank, and a leading voice in wellness and sustainability. Fluent in four languages, Vadam is a storyteller who empowers others to live more fulfilling lives. Here, she shares how she practices what she preaches.
What does wellness mean to you?
For me, wellness is a living philosophy, an “art of living.” It has become an industry, a thing, whereas it has unconsciously always been part of my upbringing, my values, and my life choices. It just didn’t have a name and a list of activities and elements associated with it.
What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?
I take time in the morning for myself to do my workout and sit in peace with my cup of tea or cacao. I also like to do a 10- to 15-minute meditation or breathwork in the afternoon to reenergize. I love cooking and getting fresh herbs from the garden. The scent of rosemary is great for a brain boost. I also try to be outside as much as I can.
Is there a specific fitness activity that you love and why?
I started Tracy Anderson’s online workouts during the pandemic, and I’ve been doing them a few times a week since then. I love the dancing aspect and the choreography, which involve my brain and emotions as much as my body. Her end-of-class talks are always inspiring and insightful. I love hiking, dancing, yoga, swimming, but my number one favorite activity is trapeze. I no longer have access to weekly classes, but I have a trapeze in my garden. It is the most empowering, challenging, scary but fun activity. It also involves a very supportive and cool community.
What is your favorite healthy food, and do you have a favorite way of preparing it?
It might sound boring but soups, I make soup all the time, and it’s the best way to get a high dose of veggies and tastes great paired with a slice of quiche. My favorite recipe is cauliflower, butter beans, coconut milk, ginger, garlic, and coriander. I also mix whatever veggies are in season, like my grandma did. In the summer, I switch to smoothies.
What is your favorite healthy beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and do you have any insider tips for preparing it?
I have always been very connected to tea and got introduced to cacao through my travels and spiritual growth. I was lucky to have been initiated to traditional tea, matcha, and cacao rituals through my travels, and I prepare and drink every cup with the upmost respect and gratitude. I put on some special music, take my time, and make it a sacred and serene moment.
What is your greatest wellness achievement?
Learning to listen to my body, my internal and external (moon phases, seasons) cycles, and my heart, and act accordingly.
What person in wellness do you most admire and why?
I followed Jessica Sepel’s journey since the early stages, and I love how she is growing her brand and reach—steadily, with integrity and authenticity, and staying true to herself, her values, and kindness.
What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?
We are our own healers. This is something that was underlined a lot when I did the Institute of Integrative Nutrition health coaching training and that Tracy Anderson talks a lot about in her after-class chats. The other two are not specifically wellness related but contribute to my wellness mindset: “Be the lighthouse,” which means navigating through dark times, always acting with kindness and in the spirit of mahalo (used to express gratitude), and as Lady Gaga sings, “Just dance, gonna be ok.”
What do you think is the most exciting wellness innovation you have recently discovered?
I love the research that is growing around the nervous system and the impact of breath, smell, music, and movement. We live in an increasingly demanding world, disregulating our nervous systems with consequent health issues, both emotional and social. I am geeking out on everything that relates to supporting people to be more in tune with themselves and others and that comes from being in a place of homeostasis.
What is your idea of balanced healthy happiness?
When my mind is clear and creative, my soul is serene, my body is strong and fit, and my heart is filled with love.
What do you think is the most overused word or words in wellness?
Wellness, healthy, and longevity. Simple things done for hundreds of years are turned into marketing concepts; we try to sell quick fixes. Instagram trends are made to look more legit than boring yet effective hustles. It is creating an unsafe and untrustworthy environment where it is difficult to know what is real and who is truly competent.
Do you have a secret health or wellness tip you would like to share?
Build your toolbox when you are at your best, so you have tools to go to when things get rocky. Make a playlist; learn to make some easy, healthy dishes; and create your own rituals. I set up a painting tripod in my living room and have this ritual in which I put lavender essential oil on my wrists and temples, play some chill music, and paint. My paintings look like artwork from a six-year-old, but it is a great way to calm down and spark my creativity.
What is your favorite place for a healthy vacation or escape?
A place where people smile and take care of their culture and environment. I have very versatile travel tastes. Depending on my mood, I am as appreciative of a city break in which I can enjoy the art and try new classes, hipster cafes, elevated food, and new welltech hot spots as I am of immersing myself in nature and connecting with the locals, myself, and the surroundings. A wellness trip for me is one that touches my soul and makes me smile, joyful, and serene when I think about it.
Is there a particular wellness company or brand that truly impresses you with their efforts and why?
I am closely following the evolution of welltech and how technology can support democratizing and personalizing wellness. Welltech is actually the topic of WE(i) Think’s latest magazine. I like how companies like Gharieni integrate the latest research on vibroacoustics, frequencies, brain waves, light therapy, infrared, and more into their products. I have tried a few of their new models and felt incredible. I am also impressed by Technogym and how they continuously work with athletes, scientists, and designers to redefine gym equipment. I visited the company headquarters in Italy and had the chance to collaborate with some of their master trainers, and they know what they are talking about.
What is your favorite self-care routine?
I am a big fan of massages and used to focus on them until I discovered that, with all the nerves in our faces and the tensions we hold in our jaws, facials are not just for beauty but also relaxing. A massage and facial is my favorite combo. I use natural products for everything—my face, my body, and also for cleaning my house, for the food I eat, the material I surround myself with, and the clothes I wear. I try to stay away as much as possible from chemicals. I love saunas and the combination of sauna and swimming in the pool for mild contrast therapy. I am a breathwork instructor and do breathwork a few days a week. I go to the farmers’ market and cook using fresh herbs from my garden. All the herbs and flowers in my garden have medicinal properties.
What is your go-to for de-stressing?
Scream singing with loud music loud, especially while driving, and then walking it off.
What aspect of your wellbeing do you struggle with the most, or would most like to improve?
My approach to my wellbeing journey is linked to my travel journey. I learn and grow from every trip, every culture, and every place I visit, rather than by specific areas.
What wellness-related books or authors do you recommend, and why?
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before: Everyday Tools for Life’s Ups & Downs, by Dr. Julie Smith, is a book I offer to lots of people, and I think it is a must-read for mental health. The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body, by Cameron Diaz, is one of the first books I read on holistic wellness and health. It opened my curiosity and explained a lot of topics in a simple and accessible way.
How do you celebrate small victories?
With a nice homemade meal and a French desert. French cuisine actually has lots of healthy options, but they are found at home, not at the shop.
What brings you joy?
Waking up in the morning and knowing that there is a new blank page to fill with colors.
