UK Wellness Industry Representation Questioned in New Podcast Episode as Sector Continues Rapid Growth
By Marie Hanby
At a glance
The podcast "Abby Chat Slot," hosted by Abby Rutland, has released an episode discussing representation issues in the UK wellness industry, featuring insights from Dr Aysha Khalid. As the wellness sector grows to over £200 billion, the episode addresses how traditional wellness stereotypes often exclude diverse groups. Dr Khalid, founder of Sol & Flex, emphasises the need for broader representation to ensure inclusivity in the industry.
UK-based podcast Abby Chat Slot, hosted by brand strategist Abby Rutland, has released a new episode exploring ongoing questions around representation in the wellness industry, featuring Dr Aysha Khalid, Senior Design Lead at Cision and founder of wellness brand Sol & Flex.
The episode comes as the UK wellness economy continues to grow, now estimated to exceed £200 billion across health, fitness, and wider wellbeing services, according to the Global Wellness Institute. At the same time, conversations around diversity and inclusion are becoming more prominent across the sector.
Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across creative leadership, academia, and entrepreneurship, Dr Khalid shares her perspective on how traditional ideas of wellness are shaped, and who they often exclude. Alongside her role at Cision, she holds a PhD in Arabic typography and founded Sol & Flex to challenge conventional approaches to access and participation.
She highlights the persistence of stereotypes within the industry:
“A lot of people still imagine a Pilates instructor as a white, skinny woman, that’s the stereotype. I am none of those things. Representation is about creating space for everyone to belong.”
The episode forms part of a wider series of candid conversations with founders and industry specialists, focusing on the realities of building brands and shaping perception in today’s market.
The episode is available to stream from 6th May 2026 via:
https://abigailbromley.com/podcast/
Issued by Abigail Bromley Brand & Design. Distributed by WebPR UK.
About Abigail Bromley Brand & Design
Abby Chat Slot is a strategic branding podcast exploring positioning, perception, and brand clarity as drivers of business growth. It features founders and specialists who see branding as a commercial tool, not just visual identity, and focuses on the shift from design execution to strategic growth. For further details please visit https://abigailbromley.com/podcast/ This episode is sponsored by Recreate Yorkshire and Silkwood Studios, who partnered with Abby Chat Slot on its production and distribution.