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The Wellness Questionnaire with Mandarin Oriental’s Jeremy McCarthy

Get to Know Industry Insiders with a Look at their Personal Wellness Thoughts, Philosophies, and Practices.
Heather Mikesell

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Jeremy McCarthy, group director of spa and wellness for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, has more than 25 years of experience operating luxury spas in resort and hotel properties worldwide. Based in Hong Kong, he leads Mandarin Oriental’s guest and colleague wellness programs and the company’s internationally acclaimed spa division. He also served as director of global spa development at Starwood Hotels and Resorts and was vice chair of the International Spa Association (ISPA). McCarthy has a masters of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is author of The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing: A Guide to the Science of Holistic Healing. Here, he shares some of his thoughts on living a well life.

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness is about helping people who are already healthy to improve the quality and length of their lives. It is about living the best life possible.

What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?

Move my body. Rest my mind. Love my people. If I can take some time to do these three things every day, I’m doing pretty well.

Is there a specific fitness activity that you love and why?

I follow an obscure movement practice known as the Ido Portal Method (named for the head teacher out of Israel.) I often say, “movement is the new fitness.” This practice is about exploring and improving our capacity for movement in the broadest sense possible.

What person in wellness do you most admire and why?

Honestly, I can think of so many people. I love this industry because it is filled with people who dedicate their lives to helping others live their best possible life.

What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?

Ray Fowler was one of my professors when I studied Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He taught a course on the impact of exercise on the brain. He inspired me to start exercising every single day—not only for the physical health benefits but also for the impact on cognitive performance and mental wellbeing.

What do you think is the most exciting wellness innovation you have recently discovered?

Morozko Forge ice baths (for home use.) One is on my wish list.

What do you think is the most overused word or words in wellness?

I hate the word “detox”. It is a term that sounds like it’s important but actually means very little.

Do you have a secret health or wellness tip you would like to share?

Intermittent fasting. A very effective and relatively painless way to reduce total caloric intake. I think this is one of the best things you can do for your health in the age of abundance we live in. I fast every day until noon and then break the fast with a vegan lunch. For dinner, I eat whatever I want!

What is your favorite place for a healthy vacation or escape?

Anywhere with good waves to surf.

What wellness-related books or authors do you recommend, and why?

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. This book had a massive impact on my life.

What brings you joy?

My family.

About The Author
Heather-Mikesell-author-1

Heather, co-founder of Well Defined and the former editor-in-chief of American Spa, is an award-winning journalist and content strategist, skilled in writing, copyediting, and media relations. She is also a freelance writer and has contributed to Elite Traveler, Islands, Kiwi, Luxury Travel Advisor, Organic Spa, Porthole Cruise, Travel Agent, abcnews.com, jetsetter.com, outside.com, and wellandgood.com, in addition to various custom publications. She is frequently called upon to comment on various spa and wellness trends for various media outlets.