Experiencing Akari: a deeper recovery

Experienced by Haneen, one of our PR Senior Account Managers.

There are certain spaces that instantly shift your nervous system the moment you walk through the door, and Akari is one of them.

Tucked away in a quiet corner in One Central, Akari offers a noticeable contrast to the usually busy area. It feels less like your conventional wellness destination and more like stepping into a quiet exhale; an airy, dreamlike sanctuary painted in blush accents exuding tranquility. Every detail feels intentional yet effortless, a true reflection of the space’s name, Akari, meaning “light” or “glow”.

In a city that often glorifies intensity and constant stimulation, Akari introduces something radically different: passive wellness. Their philosophy is rooted in the belief that true wellness goes far beyond outward appearance, focusing instead on treating internal imbalances, supporting cellular health, and nurturing the body from within for long-term resilience. A deliberately concise menu offers two foundational therapies rooted in mitochondrial science, strengthening the energy that powers everything from our mental clarity to physical recovery and restorative sleep.

I am greeted with open arms by the Founder Katia de Rahm, who instantly emits a feeling of calm, as if welcoming me into her own home. Visionary yet deeply grounded, Katia has created a space that feels emotionally intuitive as it is aesthetically refined. You can sense her deep understanding of how environment shapes wellbeing, from the softness of the interiors to the pace of the experience itself. Rather than creating another trend-driven wellness concept, Katia has curated a destination that restores the body in a way that feels accessible to modern life, one we can come back to, time and time again to recalibrate.

After spending some one-on-one time listening to Katia’s inspiring story, my experience starts with the signature Red Light Therapy treatment using the NovoTHOR whole-body light bed. I lay there surrounded by warmth and stillness while the near-infrared light works its magic to boost my energy production and reduce inflammation.

Katia then guides me to the second treatment of the day: Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Training (IHHT), where you simply recline in a cocooned meditation pod covered with a scented heavy blanket breathing alternating levels of pure oxygen through a mask. It sounds clinical on paper, yet the experience is deeply meditative. It is elevated with a pair of soundproof headphones that play soothing music that puts you to sleep. It’s as I was drifting, I realise that healing does not always need to feel extreme, exhausting, or intense. Instead, restoration can happen gently through stillness while allowing the body to slow down and recharge through the breath. It takes me a few minutes to return back to reality.

The experience extends to a sleek Brain Bar, a unique nutrition concept and an extension of Akari’s care designed around the idea that supporting the brain and nervous system can be both functional and enjoyable. The menu serves adaptogen-infused brain-boosting drinks from guilt-free lattes to collagen infused Matcha to support cognitive health. A perfect mid-day recharge.

Being diagnosed with endometriosis, I leave Akari with answers to a lot of questions that were lingering. It helped me connect the dots between inflammation and science-backed habits that could treat symptoms long before imbalance becomes chronic. Its formed a new perspective on how I can support my body in a more conscious yet sustainable way.

As I step back into the noise of the world, I think about how we are constantly overstimulated and chasing the next quick fix. But what if we approach “wellness” as something more intentional. Rather than short term gratification for external gains, why not focus on consistent wellbeing for long-term, targeted results.

In many ways, Akari feels symbolic of where wellness is heading next, less about surface-level optimisation for the sake of performance, and more about creating rituals that support how we want to feel from the inside: Energised, restored, nourished. And perhaps most importantly, lighter.